interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第35节
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Sara Lee。
But with Jean sometimes he showed the black depression beneath。 He
would never be a man again。 He was done for。 He gained strength so
slowly that he believed he was not gaining at all。 He was not happy； and
the unhappy mend slowly。
After the time he had asked Jean to take away Harvey's photograph he
did not recur to the subject； but he did not need to。 Jean knew； perhaps
even better than Henri himself； that the boy was recklessly； hopelessly； not
quite rationally in love with the American girl。
Also Henri was fretting about his work。 Sometimes at night； following
Henri's instructions； Jean wandered quietly along roads and paths that
paralleled the Front。 At such times his eyes were turned； not toward the
trenches； but toward that flat country which lay behind； still dotted at that
time with groves of trees； with canals overhung with pollard willows； and
with here and there a farmhouse that at night took on in the starlight the
appearance of being whole again。
Singularly white and peaceful were those small steadings of Belgium
in the night hours … until cruel dawn showed them for what they were …
skeletons of dead homes； clothed only at night with wraithlike roofs and
chimneys； ghosts of houses； appearing between midnight and cock crow。
Jean had not Henri's eyes nor his recklessness nor his speed； for that
matter。 Now and then he saw the small appearing and disappearing lights
on some smaIl rise。 He would reach the spot； with such shelter as possible；
to find only a sugar…beet field； neglected and unplowed。
Then； one night； tragedy came to the little house of mercy。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XX
HARVEY proceeded to put his plan into effect at once； with the
simple method of an essentially simple nature。 The thing had become
intolerable； therefore it must end。
On the afternoon following his talk with Belle he came home at three
o'clock。 Belle heard him moving about in； his room； and when she entered
it； after he had gone； she found that he had shaved and put on his best suit。
She smiled a little。 It was like Harvey to be literal。 He had said he was
going to go round and have a good time； and he was losing no time。 But in
their restricted social life； where most of the men worked until five o'clock
or even later； there were fewer afternoon calls paid。 Belle wondered with
mild sisterly curiosity into what arena Harvey was about to fling his best
hat。
But though Harvey paid a call that afternoon it was not on any of the
young women he knew。 He went to see Mrs。 Gregory。 She was at home …
he had arranged for that by telephone … and the one butler of the
eighborhood admitted him。 It was a truculent young man； for all his
politeness； who confronted Mrs。 Gregory in her drawing…room … a quietly
truculent young man； who came to the point while he was still shaking
hands。
〃You're not going to be glad to see me in a minute；〃 he said in reply to
her greeting。
〃How can you know that？〃
〃Because I've come to get you to do something you won't want to do。〃
〃We won't quarrel before we begin； then；〃 she said pleasantly。
〃Because I really never do anything I don't wish to do。〃
But she gave him a second glance and her smile became a trifle forced。
She knew all about Harvey and Sara Lee。 She had heard rumors of his
disapproval also。 Though she was not a clever nor a very keen woman； she
saw what was coming and braced herself for it。
Harvey had prepared in his mind a summary of his position； and he
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
delivered it with the rapidity and strength of a blow。
〃I know all about the Belgians； Mrs。 Gregory；〃 he said。 〃I'm sorry for
them。 So is every one； I suppose。 But I want to know if you think a girl of
twenty ought to be over there practically at the Front； and alone？〃 He gave
her time to reply。 〃Would you like to have your daughter there； if you had
one？〃
〃Perhaps not； under ordinary circumstances。 But this is war。〃
〃It is not our war。〃
〃Humanity；〃 said Mrs。 Gregory； remembering the phrase she had
written for a speech …〃 humanity has no nationality。 It is of all men； for all
men。〃
〃That's men。 Not women！〃
He got up and stood on the hearthrug。 He was singularly reminiscent
of the time he had stood on Aunt Harriet's white fur rug and had told Sara
Lee she could not go。
〃Now see here； Mrs。 Gregory；〃 he said； 〃we'll stop beating about the
bush； if you don't mind。 She's got to come home。 She's coming； if I have to
go and get her！〃
〃You needn't look at me so fiercely。 I didn't send her。 It was her own
idea。〃
Harvey sneered。
〃No；〃 he said slowly。 〃But I notice your society publishes her reports
in the papers； and that the names of the officers are rarely missing。〃
Mrs。 Gregory colored。
〃We must have publicity to get money；〃 she said。 〃It is hard to get。
Sometimes I have had to make up the deficit out of my own pocket。〃
〃Then for God's sake bring her home！ If the thing has to go on； send
over there some of the middle…aged women who have no ties。 Let ‘em get
shot if they want to。 They can write as good reports as she can； if that's all
you want。 And make as good soup；〃 he added bitterly。
It could be done； of course；〃 she said； thoughtfully。 〃But … I must tell
you this： I doubt if an older woman could have got where she has。 There is
no doubt that her charm； her youth and beauty have helped her greatly。 We
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
cannot … 〃
The very whites of his eyes turned red then。 He shouted furiously that
for their silly work and their love of publicity； they were trading on a girl's
youth and beauty； that if anything happened to her he would publish the
truth in every newspaper in the country； that they would at once recall
Sara Lee or he would placard the city with what they were doing。 These
were only a few of the things he threw at her。
When he was out of breath he jerked the picture of the little house of
mercy out of his pocket and flung it into her lap。
〃There！〃 he said。 〃Do you know where that house is？ It's in a ruined
village。 She hasn't said that； has she？ Well； look at the masonry there。
That's a shell hole in the street。 That soldier's got a gun。 Why？ Because the
Germans may march up that street any day on their way to Calais。〃
Mrs。 Gregory looked at the picture。 Sara Lee smiled into the sun。 And
Rene； ignorant that his single rifle was to oppose the march of the German
Army to Calais … Rene smiled also。
Mrs。 Gregory rose。
〃I shall report your view to the society；〃 she said coldly。 〃I understand
how you feel； but I fail to see the reason for this attack on me。〃
〃I guess you see all right！〃 he flung at her。 〃She's my future wife。 If
you hadn't put this nonsense into her head we'd be married now and she'd
be here in God's country and not living with a lot of foreigners who don't
know a good woman when they see one。 I want her back； that's all。 But I
want her back safe。 And if anything happens to her I'll make you pay … you
and all your notoriety hunters。〃
He went out then； and was for leaving without his hat or coat； but the
butler caught him at the door。 Out in the spring sunlight he walked rapidly；
still seething； remembering other bitter things he had meant to say； and
repeating them to himself。
But he had said enough。
Mrs。 Gregory's account of his visit she reported at a meeting specially
called。 The narrative lost nothing in the repetition。 But the kindly women
who sat in the church house sewing or knitting listened to what Harvey
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
had said and looked troubled。 They liked Sara Lee； and many of them had
daughters of their own。
The photograph was passed around。 Undoubtedly Sara Lee was living
in a ruined village。 Certainly ruined villages were only found very near the
Front。 And Rene unquestionably held a gun。 Tales of German brutalities to
women had come and were coming constantly to their ears。 Mabel
Andrews had written to them for supplies； and she had added to the
chapter of horrors。
Brief
