interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第21节
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do little more。〃
Henri and Jean came often。 And more than once during the first ten
days Jean spent the night rolled in a blanket by the kitchen fire； and Henri
disappeared。 He was always back in the morning； however； looking dirty
and very tired。 Sara Lee sewed more than one rent for him； those days； but
she was strangely incurious。 It was as though； where everything was
strange； Henri's erratic comings and goings were but a part with the rest。
Then one night the unexpected happened。 The village was shelled。
Sara Lee had received her first letter from Harvey that day。 The maid
at Morley's had forwarded it to her； and Henri had brought it up。
〃I think I have brought you something you wish for very much；〃 he
said； looking down at her。
〃Mutton？〃 she inquired anxiously。
〃 Better than that。〃
〃Sugar？〃
〃A letter； mademoiselle。〃
Afterward he could not quite understand the way she had suddenly
drawn in her breath。 He had no memory； as she had； of Harvey's obstinate
anger at her going； his conviction that she was doing a thing criminally
wrong and cruel。
〃Give it to me； please。〃
She took it into her room and closed the door。 When she came out
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
again she was composed and quiet； but rather white。 Poor Henri！ He was
half mad that day with jealousy。 Her whiteness he construed as longing。
This is a part of Harvey's letter：
You may think that I have become reconciled； but I have not。 If I
could see any reason for it I might。 But what reason is there？ So many
others； older and more experienced； could do what you are doing； and
more safely。
In your letter from the steamer you tell me not to worry。 Good God；
Sara Lee； how can I help worrying？ I do not even know where you are！ If
you are in England； well and good。 If you are abroad I do not want to
know it。 I know these foreigners。 I run into them every day。 And they do
not understand American women。 I get crazy when I think about it。 I have
had to let the Leete house go。 There is not likely to be such a chance soon
again。 Business is good； but I don't seem to care much about it any more。
Honestly； dear； I think you have treated me very badly。 I always feel as
though the people I meet are wondering if we have quarreled or what on
earth took you away on this wild…goose chase。 I don't know myself； so
how can I tell them？
I shall always love you； Sara Lee。 I guess I'm that sort。 But sometimes
I wonder if； when we are married； you will leave me again in some such
uncalled…for way。 I warn you now； dear； that I won't stand for it。 I'm
suffering too much。 HARVEY。
Sara Lee wore the letter next her heart； but it did not warm her。 She
went through the next few hours in a sort of frozen composure and ate
nothing at all。
Then came the bombardment。
Henri and Jean； driving out from Dunkirk； had passed on the road
ammunition trains； waiting in the road until dark before moving on to the
Front。 Henri had given Sara Lee her letter； had watched jealously for its
effect on her； and then； his own face white and set； had gone on down the
ruined street。
Here within the walls of a destroyed house he disappeared。 The place
was evidently familiar to him； for he moved without hesitation。 Broken
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
furniture still stood in the roofless rooms； and in front of a battered bureau
Henri paused。 Still whistling under his breath； he took off his uniform and
donned a strange one； of greenish gray。 In the pocket of the blouse he
stuffed a soft round cap of the same color。 Then； resuming his cape and
Belgian cap； with its tassel over his forehead； he went out into the street
again。 He carried in his belt a pistol； but it was not the one he had brought
in with him。 As a matter of fact； by the addition of the cap in his pocket；
Henri was at that moment in the full uniform of a lieutenant of a Bavarian
infantry regiment； pistol and all。
He went down the street and along the road toward the poplars。 He
met the first detachment of men out of the trenches just beyond the trees；
and stepped aside into the mud to let them pass； calling a greeting to them
out of the darkness。
〃Bonsoir ！ they replied； and saluted stiffly。 There were few among
them who did not know his voice； and fewer still who did not suspect his
business。
〃A brave man；〃 they said among themselves as they went on。
〃How long will he last？〃 asked one young soldier； a boy in his teens。
〃One cannot live long who does as he does；〃 replied a gaunt and
bearded man。 〃But it is a fine life while it continues。 A fine life！〃
The boy stepped out of the shuffling line and looked behind him。 He
could see only the glow of Henri's eternal cigarette。 〃I should like to go
with him；〃 he muttered wistfully。
The ammunition train was in the village now。 It kept the center of the
road； lest it should slide into the mud on either side and be mired。 The men
moved out of its way into the ditch； grumbling。
Henri went whistling softly down the road。
The first shell fell in the neglected square。 The second struck the rear
wagons of the ammunition train Henri heard the terrific explosion that
followed； and turning ran madly back into the village。 More shells fell into
the road。 The men scattered like partridges； running for the fields； but the
drivers of the ammunition wagons beat their horses and came lurching and
shouting down the road。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
There was cold terror in Henri's heart。 He ran madly； throwing aside
his cape as he went。 More shells fell ahead in the street。 Once in the
darkness he fell flat over the body of a horse。 There was a steady groaning
from the ditch near by。 But he got up and ran on； a strange figure with his
flying hair and his German uniform。
He was all but stabbed by Rene when he entered the little house。
〃Mademoiselle？〃 Henri gasped； holding Rene's bayonet away from his
heaving chest。
〃I am here；〃 said Sara Lee's voice from the little salle a manger。 〃Let
them carry in the wounded。 I am getting ready hot water and bandages。
There is not much space； for the corner of room has been shot away；〃
She was as dead white in the candlelight； but very calm。
Yon cannot stay here；〃 Henri panted。 〃At any time …〃
Another shell fell； followed by the rumble of falling walls。
Some one must stay；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃There must be wounded in the
streets。 Marie is in the cellar。〃
Henri pleaded passionately with her to go to the cellar；but she refused。
He would have gathered her up in his arms and carried her rhere； but Jean
came in； leading a wounded man； and Henri gave up in despair。
All that night they worked； a ghastly business。 More than one man
died that night in the little house； while a blond young man in a German
uniform gave him last mouthful of water or took down those pittifully
vague addresses which were all the dying Belgians had to give。
I have not heard … last at Aersehot； hut now … God knows where。〃
No more shells fell； At dawn； with all done that could be done。 Sara
Lee fainted quietly in the hallway。 Henri carrried her in and placed her on
her bed。 A corner of theroom was indeed gone。 The mantel was shattered
and the little stove。 But on the floor lay Harvey's photograph uninjured。
Henri lifted it and looked at it。 Then he placed it on the table； and very
reverentiv he kissed the palm of Sara Lee's quiet hand。
Daylight found the street pitiful indeed； Henri； whose costume Rene
had been casting wondering glances all night； sent a request for men from
the trenches to clear away the bodies of the horses and bury them； and
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
somewhat later over a single grave in the fields there was a simple
ceremony of burial for the men who had fallen。 Henri had changed again
by that time； but he sternly forbade Sara Lee to attend。
〃On pain；
