interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第36节
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Andrews had written to them for supplies； and she had added to the
chapter of horrors。
Briefly； the sense of the meeting was that Harvey had been brutal； but
that he was right。 An older woman in a safe place they might continue to
support； but none of them would assume the responsibility of the crushing
out of a young girl's life。
To be quite frank； possibly Harvey's appeal would have carried less
weight had it not coincided with Sara Lee's request for more money。
Neither one alone would have brought about the catastrophe； but
altogether they made question and answer； problem and solution。 Money
was scarce。 Demands were heavy。 None of them except Mrs。 Gregory had
more than just enough。 And there was this additional situation to face：
there was no end of the war in sight； it gave promise now of going on
indefinitely。
Joifre had said； 〃I nibble them。〃 But to nibble a hole in the Germany
Army might take years。 They had sent Sara Lee for a few months。 How
about keeping her there indefinitely？
Oddly enough； it was Harvey's sister Belle who made the only protest
against the recall。
〃Of course； I want her back；〃 she said slowly。 〃You'd understand better
if you had to live with Harvey。 I'm sorry； Mrs。 Gregory； that he spoke to
you as he did； but he's nearly crazy。〃 She eyed the assembly with her tired
shrewd eyes。 〃I'm no talker；〃 she went on； 〃but Sara Lee has done a big
thing。 We don't realize； I guess； how big it is。 And I think we'll just about
kill her if we bring her home。〃
〃Better to do that than to have her killed over there；〃 some one said。
And in spite of Belle's protest； that remained the sense of the meeting。
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It was put to the vote and decided to recall Sara Lee。 She could bring a
report of conditions； and if she thought it wise an older woman could go
later； to a safer place。
Belle was very quiet that evening。 After dinner she went to Harvey's
room and found him dressing to go out。
〃I'm going with a crowd to the theater；〃 he said。 〃First week of the
summer stock company； you know。〃
He tied his tie defiantly； avoiding Belle's eyes in the mirror。
〃Harvey；〃 she said； 〃they're going to bring Sara Lee home。〃
He said nothing； but his hands shook somewhat。 〃And I think；〃 Belle
said； 〃that you will be sorry for what you have done … all the rest of your
life。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXI
By the time Henri was well enough to resume his former activities it
was almost the first of May。 The winter quiet was over with a vengeance；
and the Allies were hammering hard with their first tolerably full supply of
high…explosive shells。
Cheering reports came daily to the little house …； of rapidly augmenting
armies； of big guns on caterpillar trucks that were moving slowly up to the
Allied Front。 Great Britain had at last learned her lesson； that only shells
of immense destructiveness were of any avail against the German batteries。
She was moving heaven and earth to get them； but the supply was still
inadequate。 With the new shells experiments were being made in barrage
fire … costly experiments now and then； but the Allies were apt in learning
the ugly game of modem war。
Only on the Belgian Front was there small change。 The shattered army
was being freshly outfitted。 England was sending money and ammunition；
and on the sand dunes small bodies of fresh troops drilled and smiled
grimly and drilled again。 But there were not； as in England and in France；
great bodies of young men to draw from。 Too many had been caught
beyond the German wall of steel。
Yet a wave of renewed courage had come with the sun and the green
fields。 And conditions had improved for the Belgians in other ways。 They
were being paid； for one thing； with something like regularity。 Food was
better and more plentiful。 One day Henri appeared at the top of the street
and drove down triumphantly a small unclipped horse； which trundled
behind it a vertical boiler on wheels with fire box and stovepipe。
〃A portable kitchen！〃 he explained。 〃See； here for soup and here for
coffee。 And more are coming。〃
〃Very soon； Henri； they will not need me；〃 Sara Lee said wistfully。
But he protested almost violently。 He even put the question to the
horse； and blowing in his ear made him shake his head in the negative。
She was needed； indeed。 To the great base hospital at La Panne went
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
more and more wounded men。 But to the little house of mercy came the
small odds and ends in increasing numbers。 Medical men were scarce； and
badly overworked。 There was talk； for a time； of sending a surgeon to the
little house； but it came to nothing。 La Panne was not far away； and all the
surgeons they could get there were not too many。
So the little house went on much as before。 Henri had moved to the
mill。 He was at work again； and one day； in the King's villa and quietly；
because of many reasons； Henri； a very white and erect Henri； received a
second medal； the highest for courage that could be given。
He did not teli Sara Lee。
But though he and the men who served under him worked hard； they
could not always perform miracles。 The German planes still outnumbered
the Allied ones。 They had grown more daring with the spring； too； and
whatever Henri might learn of ground operations； he could not foretell
those of the air。
On a moonlight night in early May Sara Lee； setting out her dressings；
heard a man running up the street。 Rene challenged him sharply； only to
step aside。 It was Henri。 He burst in on Sara Lee。
〃To the cellar； mademoiselle！〃 he said。 〃A bombardment？〃 asked
Sara Lee。
〃From the air。 They may pass over； but there are twelve taubes； and
they are circling overhead。〃
The first bomb dropped then in the street。 It was white moonlight and
the Germans must have seen that there were no troops。 Probably it was as
Henri said later； that they had learned of the little house； and since it
brought such aid and comfort as might be it was to be destroyed。
The house of the mill went with the second bomb。 Then followed a
deafening uproar as plane after plane dropped its shells on the dead town。
Marie and Sara Lee were in the cellar by that time； but the cellar was
scarcely safer than the floor above。 From a bombardment by shells from
guns miles away there was protection。 From a bomb dropped from the sky；
the floors above were practically useless。
Only Henri and Rene remained on the street floor。 Henri was
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
extinguishing lights。 In the passage Rene stood； not willing to take refuge
until Henri； whom he adored； had done so。 For a moment the uproar
ceased； and in a spirit of bravado Rene stepped out into the moonlight and
made a gesture of derision into the air。
He fell there； struck by a piece of splintered shell。
〃Come； Rene！〃 Henri called。 〃The brave are those who live to fight
again； not …〃
But Rene's figure against the moonlight was gone。 Henri ran to the
doorway then and found him lying； his head on the little step where he had
been wont to sit and whittle and sing his Tipperaree。 He was dead。 Henri
carried him in and laid him in the little passage； very reverently。 Then he
went below。
〃Where is Rene？〃 Sara Lee asked from the darkness。
〃A foolish boy；〃 said Henri； a catch in his throat。 〃He is； I think；
watching these fiends of the air； from some shelter。〃
〃There is no shelter；〃 shivered the girl。
He groped for her hand in the darkness； and so they stood； hand in
hand； like two children； waiting for what might come。
It was not until the thing was over that he told her。 He had gone up
first and so that she would not happen on his silent figure unwarned； had
carried Rene to the open upper floor； where he lay； singularly peaceful；
face up to the awful beauty of the night。
〃Good night； little brother；〃 Henri said t
