interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第27节
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wall was the bag of grain Maurice had carried from the crossroads。
〃A mill which grinds without grain；〃 Henri said to himself。
There was a boxed…in staircase to the upper floor； and there； with the
door slightly ajar； he stationed himself； pistol in hand。 Now and then he
glanced uneasily at the clock。 Sara Lee must not be back before he had
taken his prisoners to the little house and turned them over to those who
waited there。
There were footsteps outside； and Henri drew the door a little closer。
But he was dismayed to find it Marie。 She crept in； a white and broken
thing； and looked about her。
〃Maurice！〃 she called。
She sat down for a moment； and then； seeing the disorder about her；
set to work to clear the table。 It was then that Henri lowered his pistol and
opened the door。
〃Don't shriek； Marie；〃 he said。
She turned and saw him； and clutched at the table。
〃Monsieur！〃
〃Marie；〃 he said quietly； 〃go up these stairs and remain quiet。 Do not
walk round。 And do not come down； no matter what you hear！〃
She obeyed him； stumbling somewhat。 For she had seen his revolver；
and it frightened her。 But as she passed him she clutched at his sleeve。
〃He is good … Maurice；〃 she said； gasping。 〃Of the father I know
nothing； but Maurice …〃
〃Go up and be silent！〃 was all he said。
Now； by all that goes to make a story； Sara Lee should have met Mabel
at the Hotel des Arcades in Dunkirk； and should have been able to make
that efficient young woman burn with jealousy … Mabel； who from the
safety of her hospital in Boulogne considered Dunkirk the Front。
Indeed Sara Lee； to whom the world was beginning to seem very small；
had had some such faint hope。 But Mabel was not there； and it was not
until long after that they met at all； and then only when the lights had gone
down and Sara Lee was again knitting by the fire。
There were a few nurses there； in their white veils with the red cross
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
over the forehead； and one or two Englishwomen in hats that sat a trifle
too high on the tops of their heads and with long lists before them which
they checked as they ate。 Aviators in leather coats； a few Spahis in cloak
and turban； with full…gathered bloomers and high boots； some American
amhulance drivers； rather noisy and very young； and many officers； in
every uniform of the Allied armies … sat at food together and for a time
forgot their anxieties under the influence of lights； food and warmth； and
red and white wine mixed with water。
When he chose； Jean could be a delightful companion； not with
Henri's lift of spirits； but quietly interesting。 And that evening he was a
new Jean to Sara Lee； a man of the world； talking of world affairs。 He
found her apt and intelligent； and for Sara Lee much that had been clouded
cleared up forever that night。 Until then she had known only the
humanities of the war； or its inhumanities。 There； over that little table； she
learned something of its politics and its inevitability。 She had been
working in the dark； with her heart only。 Now she began to grasp the real
significance of it all； of Belgium's anxiety for many years； of Germany's
cold and cruel preparation； and empty protests of friendship。 She learned
of the flight of the government from Brussels； the most important state
papers being taken away in a hand cart； on top of which； at the last
moment； some flustered official had placed a tall silk hat！ She learned of
the failure of great fortifications before the invaders' heavy guns。 And she
had drawn for her such a picture of Albert of Belgium as she was never to
forget。
Perhaps Sara Lee's real growth began that night； over that simple
diuner at the Hotel des Arcades。
〃I wish；〃 she said at last； 〃that Uncle James could have heard all this。
He was always so puzzled about it all。 And … you make it so clear。〃
When dinner was over a bit of tension had relaxed in her somewhat。
She had been too close； for too long。 And when a group of Belgian omcers；
learning who she was； asked to be presented and gravely thanked her； she
flushed with happiness。
〃We must see if mademoiselle shall not have a medal；〃 said the only
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
one who spoke English。
〃A medal？ For what？〃
〃For courage；〃 he said； bowing。 〃Belgium has little to give； but it can
at least do honor to a brave lady。〃
Jean was smiling when they passed on。 What a story would this slip of
a girl take home with her！
But： 〃I don't think I want a medal； Jean；〃 she said。 〃I didn't come for
that。 And after all it is you and Henri who have done the thing … not I。〃
Accustomed to women of a more sophisticated class； Jean had at first
taken her naivete for the height of subtlety。 He was always expecting her
to betray herself。 But after that evening with her he changed。 Just such
simplicity had been his wife's。 Sometimes Sara Lee reminded him of her …
the upraising of her eyes or an unstudied gesture。
He sighed。
〃You are very wonderful； you Americans；〃 he said。 It was the nearest
to a compliment that he had ever come。 And after that evening he was
always very gentle with her。 Once he had protected her because Henri had
asked him to do so； now he himself became in his silent way her protector。
The ride home through the dark was very quiet。 Sara Lee sat beside
him watching the stars and growing increasingly anxious as they went； not
too rapidly； toward the little house。 There were no lights。 Air raids had
grown common in Dunkirk； and there were no street lights in the little city。
Once on the highway Jean lighted the lamps； but left them very low； and
two miles from the little house he put them out altogether。 They traveled
by starlight then； following as best they could the tall trees that marked the
road。 Now and then they went astray at that； and once they tilted into the
ditch and had hard pulling to get out。
At the top of the street Jean stopped and went on foot a little way
down。 He came back； with the report that new shells had made the way
impassable； and again Sara Lee shivered。 If the little house was gone！
But it was there； and lighted too。 Through its broken shutters came the
yellow glow of the oil lamp that now hung over the table in the salle a
manger。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Whatever Jean's anxieties had been fell from him as he pushed open
the door。 Henri's voice was the first thing they heard。 He was too much
occupied to notice their approach。
So it was that Sara Lee saw； for the last time； the miller and his son；
Maurice； saw them； but did not know them； for over their heads were bags
of their own sacking； with eyeholes roughly cut in them。 Their hands were
bound； and three soldiers were waiting to take them away。
〃I have covered your heads；〃 Henri was saying in French； 〃because it
is not well that our brave Belgians should know that they have been
betrayed by those of their own number。〃
It was a cold and terrible Henri who spoke。
〃Take them away；〃 he said to the waiting men。
A few moments later he turned from the door and heard Sara Lee
sobbing in her room。 He tapped； and on receiving no reply he went in。 The
room was unharmed； and by the light of a candle he saw the girl； face
down on the bed。 He spoke to her； but she only lay crouched deeper； her
shoulders shaking。
〃It is war； mademoiselle；〃 he said； and went closer。 Then suddenly all
the hurt of the past days； all the bitterness of the last hour； were lost in an
overwhelming burst of tenderness。
He bent over her and put his arms round her。
〃That I should have hurt you so！〃 he said softly。 〃I； who wouki die for
you； mademoiselle。 I who worship you。〃 He buried his face in the warm
hollow of her neck and held her close。 He was trembling。 〃I love you；〃 he
whispered。 〃I love you。〃
She quieted under his touch。 He was very strong； and there was refuge
in his arms。 For a moment she lay still； happier than she had been for
weeks。 It was Henri who was shaken now and the girl who was
