interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第39节
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
eternity … on one side of the scale and you on the other。 And I would
choose you。 Is that love？〃 He freed her。
〃It's insanity；〃 said Sara Lee angrily。 〃You don't mean it。 And I don't
want that kind of love； if that is what you call it。〃
〃And you will go back to that man who loves himself better than he
loves you？〃
〃That's not true！〃 she flashed at him。 〃He is sending for me； not to get
me back to him； but to get me back to safety。〃
〃What sort of safety？〃 Henri demanded in an ominous tone。 〃Is he
afraid of me？〃
〃He doesn't know anything about you。〃
〃You have never told him？ Why？〃 His eyes narrowed。
〃He wouldn't have understood； Henri。〃
〃You are going back to him；〃 he said slowly； 〃and you will always
keep these days of ours buried in your beart。 Is that it？ His eyes softened。
〃I am to be a memory！ Do you know what I think？ I think you care for me
more than you know。 We have lived a lifetime together in these months。
You know me better than you know him； already。 We have faced death
together。 That is a strong tie。 And I have held you in my arms。 Do you
think you can forget that？〃
〃I shall never want to forget you。〃
〃I shall not let you forget me。 You may go … I cannot prevent that
perhaps。 But wherever I am； Saralie； I shall stand between that lover of
yours and you。 And sometime I shall come from this other side of the
world； and I shall find you； and you will come back with me。 Back to this
country … our country。〃
They were boyish words； but back of them was the iron determination
of a man。 His eyes seemed sunken in his head。 His face was white。 But
there was almost a prophetic ring in his voice。
Sara Lee went out and left him there； went out rather terrified and
bewildered； and refusing absolutely to look into her own heart。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXIII
Late in May she started for home。 It had not been necessary to close
the little house。 An Englishwoman of mature years and considerable
wealth； hearing from Mr。 Travers of Sara Lee's recall； went out a day or
two before she left and took charge。 She was a kindly woman； in deep
mourning； and some of the ache left Sara Lee's heart when she had talked
with her successor。
Perhaps； too； Mrs。 Cameron understood some of the things that had
puzzled her before。 She had been a trifle skeptical perhaps about Sara Lee
before she saw her。 A young girl alone among an army of men！ She was a
good woman herself； and not given to harsh judgments； but the thing had
seemed odd。 But Sara Lee in her little house； as virginal； as without sex…
consciousness as a child； Sara Lee with her shabby clothes and her stained
hands and her honest eyes … this was not only a good girl； this was a brave
and high…spirited and idealistic woman。
And after an evening in the house of mercy； with the soldiers openly
adoring and entirely respectful； Mrs。 Cameron put her arms round Sara
Lee and kissed her。
〃You must let me thank you；〃 she said。 〃You have made me feel what I
have not felt since…〃
She stopped。 Her mourning was only a month old。 〃I see to…night that；
after all； many things may be gone； but that while service remains there is
something worth while in life。〃
The next day she asked Sara Lee to stay with her； at least through the
summer。 Sara Lee hesitated； but at last she agreed to cable。 As Henri had
disappeared with the arrival of Mrs。 Cameron it was that lady's chauffeur
who took the message to Dunkirk and sent it off。
She had sent the cable to Harvey。 It was no longer a matter of the
Ladies' Aid。 It was between Harvey and herself。
The reply came on the second day。 It was curt and decisive。
〃Now or never；〃 was the message Harvey sent out of his black despair；
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
across the Atlantic to the little house so dose under the guns of Belgium。
Henri was half mad those last days。 Jean tried to counsel him； but he
was irritable； almost savage。 And Jean understood。 The girl had grown
deep into his own heart。 Like Henri； he believed that she was going back
to unhappiness； he even said so to her in the car； on that last sad day when
Sara Lee； having visited Rene's grave and prayed in the ruined church；
said good…by to the little house； and went away； tearless at the last；
because she was too sad for tears。
It was not for some time that Jean spoke what was in his mind； and
when he had done so she turned to him gravely：
〃You are wrong； Jean。 He is the kindest of men。 Once I am back； and
safe； he will be very different。 I'm afraid I've given you a wrong
impression of him。〃
〃You think then； mademoiselle； that he will forget all these months …
he will never be unhappy over them？〃
〃Why should he？〃 said Sara Lee proudly。 〃When I tell him everything
he will understand。 And he will be very proud that I have done my share。〃
But Jean's one eye was dubious。
At the wharf in Dunkirk they found Henri； a pale but composed Henri。
Jean's brows contracted。 He had thought that the boy would follow his
advice and stay away。 But Henri was there。
It was as well； perhaps； for Sara Lee had brought him a letter； one of
those missives from the trenches which had been so often left at the little
house。
Henri thrust it into his pocket without reading it。
〃Everything is prepared；〃 he said。 〃It is the British Admiralty boat； and
one of the officers has offered his cabin。 You will be quite comfortable。〃
He appeared entirely calm。 He saw to carrying Sara Lee's small bag on
board； he chatted with the officers； he even wandered over to a hospital
ship moored near by and exchanged civilities with a wounded man in a
chair on the deck。 Perhaps he swaggered a bit too much； for Jean watched
him with some anxiety。 He saw that the boy was taking it hard。 His eyes
were very sunken now； and he moved his right arm stiffly； as though the
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
old wound troubled him。
Jean did not like leave…takings。 Particularly he did not like taking leave
of Sara Lee。 Some time before the boat sailed he kissed her hand； and then
patted it and went away in the car without looking back。
The boat was preparing to get under way。 Henri was standing by her
very quietly。 He had not slept the night before； but then there were many
nights when Henri did not sleep。 He had wandered about； smoking
incessantly； trying to picture the black future。
He could see no hope anywhere。 America was far away； and peaceful。
Very soon the tranquillity of it all would make the last months seem
dreamlike and unreal。 She would forget Belgium； forget him。 Or she
would remember him as a soldier who had once loved her。 Once loved her；
because she had never seemed to realize the lasting quality of his love。 She
had always felt that he would forget her。 If he could only make her believe
that he would not； it would not be so hopeless。
He had written a bit of a love letter on the little table at Dunkirk that
morning； written it with the hope that the sight of the written words might
carry conviction where all his protests had failed。
〃I shall love you all the years of my life；〃 he wrote。 〃At any time； in
any place； you may come to me and know that I am waiting。 Great love
like this comes only once to any man； and once come to him it never goes
away。 At any time in the years to come you may know with certainty that
you are still to me what you are now； the love of my life。
〃Sometimes I think； dearest … I may call you that once； now that you
have left me … that far away you will hear this call of mine and come back
to me。 Perhaps you will never come。 Perhaps I shall not live。 I feel to…day
that I do not care greatly to live。
〃If that is to be； then think of me somewhere； perhaps with Rene by
my side； since he； too； loved you。 And I shall still be calling you； and
waiting。 Perhaps even beyond the stars they have need of a little house of
mercy； and； God knows； wherever I am I s
