interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第22节
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by that time； but he sternly forbade Sara Lee to attend。
〃On pain；〃 he said； 〃of no more supplies； mademoiselle。 These things
must be。 They are war。 But you can do nothing to help； and it will be very
sad。〃
Ambulances took away the wounded at dawn； and the little house
became quiet once more。 With planks Rene repaired the damage to the
corner； and triumphantly produced and set up another stove。 He even put
up a mantelshelf； and on it； smiling somewhat； he placed Harvey's picture。
Sara Lee saw it there； and a tiny seed of resentment took root and
grew。
〃If there had been no one here last night；〃 she said to the photograph；
〃many more would have died。 How can you say I am cruel to you？ Isn't
this worth the doing？〃
But Harvey remained impassive； detached； his eyes on the
photographer's white muslin screen。 And the angle of his jaw was set and
dogged。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XII
That morning there was a conference in the little house … Colonel
Lilias； who had come in before for a mute but appreciative call on Sara
Lee； and for a cup of chocolate； Captain Tournay； Jean and Henri。 It was
held round the little table in the salle a manger； after Marie had brought
coffee and gone out。
〃They had information undoubtedly；〃 said the colonel。 〃The same
thing happened at Pervyse when an ammunition train went through。 They
had the place； and what is more they had the time。 Of course there are the
airmen。〃
〃It did not leave the main road until too late for observation from the
air；〃 Henri put in shortly。
〃Yet any one who saw it waiting at the crossroads might have learned
its destination。 The drivers talk sometimes。〃
〃But the word had to be carried across；〃 said Captain Tournay。 〃That is
the point。 My men report flashes of lights from the fields。 We have
followed them up and found no houses； no anything。 In this flat country a
small light travels far。〃
〃I shall try to learn to…night；〃 Henri said。 〃It is； of course； possible that
some one from over there …〃 He shrugged his shoulders。
〃I think not。〃 Colonel Lilias put a hand on Henri's shoulder
affectionately。 〃They have not your finesse； boy。 And I doubt if； in all their
army； they have so brave a man。〃
Henri flushed。
〃There is a courage under fire； with their fellows round … that is one
thing。 And a courage of attack … that is even more simple。 But the bravest
man is the one who works alone … the man to whom capture is death
without honor。〃
The meeting broke up。 Jean and Henri went away in the car； and
though supplies came up regularly Sara Lee did not see the battered gray
car for four days。 At the end of that time Henri came alone。 Jean； he said
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
briefly； was laid up for a little while with a flesh wound in his shoulder。 He
would be well very soon。 In the meantime here at last was mutton。 It had
come from England； and he； Henri； had found it lying forgotten and lonely
and very sad and had brought it along。
After that Henri disappeared on foot。 It was midafternoon and a sunny
day。 Sara Lee saw him walking briskly across the fields and watched him
out of sight。 She spoke some French now； and she had gathered from Rene；
who had no scruples about listening at a door； that Henri was the bravest
man in the Belgian Army。
Until now Sara Lee had given small thought to Henri's occupation。 She
knew nothing of war； and the fact that Henri； while wearing a uniform；
was unattached； had not greatly impressed her。 Had she known the
constitution of a modern army she might have wondered over his freedom；
his powerful car； his passes and maps。 But his detachment had not seemed
odd to her。 Even his appearance during the bombardment in the uniform of
a German lieutenant had meant nothing to her。 She had never seen a
German uniform。
That evening； however； when he returned she ventured a question。
They dined together； the two of them； for the first time at the little house
alone。 Always before Jean had made the third。 And it was a real meal； for
Sara Lee had sacrificed a bit of mutton from her soup； and Henri had
produced from his pocket a few small and withered oranges。
〃A gift！〃 he said gayly； and piled them in a precarious heap in the
center of the table。 On the exact top he placed a walnut。
〃Now speak gently and walk softly；〃 he said。 〃It is a work of art and
not to be lightly demolished。〃
He was alternately gay and silent during the meal； and more than once
Sara Lee found his eyes on her； with something new and different in them。
〃Just you and I together！〃 he said once。 〃It is very wonderful。〃
And again： 〃When you go back to him； shall you tell him of your good
friend who has tried hard to serve you？〃
〃Of course I shall；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃And he will write you； I know。 He
will be very grateful。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
But it was she who was silent after that； because somehow it would be
hard to make Harvey understand。 And as for his being grateful …
〃Mademoiselle；〃 said Henri later on； 〃would you object if I make a
suggestion？ You wear。a very valuable ring。 I think it is entirely safe； but …
who can tell？ And also it is not entirely kind to remind men who are far
from all they love that you …〃
Sara Lee flushed and took off her ring。
〃I am glad you told me；〃 she said。 And Henri did not explain that the
Belgian soldiers would not recognize the ring as either a diamond or a
symbol； but that to him it was close to torture。
It was when he insisted on carrying out the dishes； singing a little
French song as he did so； that Sara Lee decided to speak what was in her
mind。 He was in high spirits then。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃shall I show you something that the eye of
no man has seen before； and that； when we have seen it； shall never be
seen again？〃
On her interested consent he called in Marie and Rene； making a great
ceremony of the matter； and sending Marie into hysterical giggling。
〃Now see！〃 he said earnestly。 〃No eye before has ever seen or will
again。 Will you guess； mademoiselle？ Or you； Marie？ Rene？〃
〃A tear？〃 ventured Sara Lee。
〃But … do I look like weeping？〃
He did not； indeed。 He stood； tall and young and smiling before them；
and produced from his pocket the walnut。
〃Perceive！〃 he said； breaking it open and showing the kernel。 〃Has
human eye ever before seen it？〃 He thrust it into Marie's open mouth。
〃And it is gone！ Voila tout！〃
It was that evening； while Sara Lee cut bandages and Henri rolled
them； that she asked him what his work was。 He looked rather surprised；
and rolled for a moment without replying。 Then： 〃I am a man of all work；〃
he said。 〃What you call odd jobs。〃
〃Then you don't do any fighting？〃
〃In the trenches … no。 But now and then I have a little skirmish。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
A sort of fear had been formulating itself in Sara Lee's mind。 The
trenches she could understand or was beginning to understand。 But this
alternately joyous and silent idler； this soldier of no regiment and no detail
… was he playing a man's part in the war？
〃Why don't you go into the trenches？〃 she asked with her usual
directness。 〃You say there are too few men。 Yet … I can understand
Monsieur Jean； because he has only one eye。 But you！〃
〃I do something；〃 he said； avoiding her eyes。 〃It is not a great deal。 It
is the thing I can do best。 That is all。〃
He went away some time after that； leaving the littie house full and
busy justifying its existence。 The miller's son； who came daily to chat with
Marie； was helping in the kitchen。 By the warm stove； and only kept from
standing over it by Marie's sharp orders； were as many men as could get
near。 Each held a bowl of hot soup； and … that being a good day … a piece of
bread。 Tall soldiers and little ones； all dirty； all weary； almo
