interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第47节
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which was forbidden； and came to a stop at the door。 The man inside was
grunting then； and Henri； whose head had never been so clear； got out and
went round to the rear of the car。
〃Now； out with you； comrade！〃 he said。 〃I have made an error； but it is
immaterial。 Can you walk？〃
He lighted a cigarette； and the man inside saw his burning eyes and
shaking hands。 Even through the apathy of the morphia he felt a thrill of
terror。 He could walk。 He got out while Henri pounded at the door。
Attention！〃 he called。 〃Attention！〃
Then he hummed an air of the camps：
Trou la la； ca ne va guere； Trou la la； ca ne va pas。
When he heard steps inside Henri went back to the ambulance。 He got
in and drove it； lights and all； down the street。
Trou la la； ca ne va guere； Trou la la； ca ne va pas。
Somewhere down the road beyond the poplar trees he abandoned the
ambulance。 They found it there the next morning； or rather what was left
of it。 Evidently its two unwinking eyes had got on the Germans' nerves。
Early the next morning a Saxon regiment； standing on the firing step
ready for what the dawn might bring forth； watched the mist rise from the
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
water in front of them。 It shone on a body in a Belgian uniform； lying
across their wire； and very close indeed。
Now the Saxons are not Prussians； so no one for sport fired at the body。
Which was rather a good thing； because it moved slightly and stirred。 And
then in a loud voice； which is an unusual thing for bodies to possess； it
began to sing：
Trou la la； ca ne va guere； Thou la la； ca ne va pas。
XXVIII
Late in August Sara Lee broke her engagement with Harvey。 She had
been away； at Cousin Jennie's； for a month； and for the first time since her
return she had had time to think。 In the little suburban town there were
long hours of quiet when Cousin Jennie mended on the porch and Aunt
Harriet； enjoying a sort of reflected glory from Sara Lee； presided at Red
Cross meetings。
Sara Lee decided to send for Harvey； and he came for a week…end；
arriving pathetically eager； but with a sort of defiance too。 He was
determined to hold her； but to hold her on his own terms。
Aunt Harriet had been vaguely uneasy； but Harvey's arrival seemed to
put everything right。 She even kissed him when he came； and took great
pains to carry off Cousin Jennie when she showed an inclination toward
conversation and a seat on the porch。
Sara Lee had made a desperate resolve。 She intended to lay all her
cards on the table。 He should know all that there was to know。 If； after that；
he still wanted to hold her … but she did not go so far。 She was so sure he
would release her。
It was a despairing thing to do； but she was rather despairing those
days。 There had been no letter from Henri or from Jean。 She had written
them both several times； to Dunkirk； to the Savoy in London； to the little
house near the Front。 But no replies had come。 Yet mail was going through。
Mabel Andrews' letters from Boulogne came regularly。
When August went by； with no letters save Harvey's； begging her to
come back； she gave up at last。 In the little church on Sundays； with Jennie
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
on one side ard Aunt Harriet on the other； she voiced small silent prayers …
that the thing she feared had not happened。 But she could not think of
Henri as not living。 He was too strong； too vital。
She did not understand herself those days。 She was desperately
unhappy。 Sometimes she wondered if it would not be easier to know the
truth； even if that truth comprehended the worst。
Once she received； from some unknown hand； a French journal； and
pored over it for days with her French dictionary； to find if it contained
any news。 It was not until a week later that she received a letter from
Mabel； explaining that she had sent the journal； which contained a
description of her hospital。
All of Harvey's Sunday she spent in trying to bring her courage to the
point of breaking the silence he had imposed on her； but it was not until
evening that she succeeded。 The house was empty。 The family had gone to
church。 On the veranda； with the heavy scent of phlox at night permeating
the still air； Sara Lee made her confession。 She began at the beginning。
Harvey did not stir … until she told of the way she had stowed away to
cross the channel。 Then he moved。
〃This fellow who planned that for you … did you ever see him again？〃
He met me in Calais。〃
And then what？〃
〃He took me to Dunkirk in his car。 Such a hideons car； Harvey … all
wrecked。 It had been under fire again and again。 I …〃
〃He took you to Dunkirk！ Who was with you？〃
〃Just Jean； the chauffeur。〃 〃I like his nerve！ Wasn't there in all that
Godforsaken country a woman to take with you？ You and this … What was
his name。 anyhow？〃
〃 I can't tell you that； Harvey。〃
〃Look here！〃 he burst out。 〃How much of this aren't you going to tell？
Because I want it all or not at all。〃
〃I can't tell you his name。 I'm only trying to make you urderstand the
way I feel about things。 His name doesn't matter。〃 She clenched her hands
in the dark ness。 I don't think he is alive now。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
He tried to see her face； but she turned it away。
〃Dead； eh？ What makes you think that？〃
〃I haven't heard from him。〃
〃Why should you hear from him？〃 His voice cut like a knife。 〃Look at
me。 Why should he write to you？〃
〃He cared for me； Harvey。〃
He sat in a heavy silence which alarmed her。
〃Don't he angry； please；〃 she begged 〃I couldn't bear it。 It wasn't my
fault； or his either。〃
〃The damned scoundrel！〃 said Harvey thickly。
But she reached over and put a trembling hand over his lips。
〃Don't say that；〃 she said。 〃Don't！ I won't allow you to。 When I think
what may have happened to him； I …〃 Her voice broke。
〃Go on；〃 Harvey said in cold tones she had never heard before。 〃Tell it
all； now you've begun it。 God knows I didn't want to hear it。 He took you
to the hotel at Dunkirk； the way those foreigners take their women。 And he
established you in the house at the Front； I suppose； like a …〃
Sara Lee suddenly stood up and drew off her ring。
〃You needn't go on；〃 she said quietly。 〃I had a decision to make to…
night； and I have made it。 Ever since I came home I have been trying to go
back to where we were before I left。 It isn't possible。 You are what you
always were； Harvey。 But I've changed。 I can't go back。〃 She put the ring
into his hand。
〃It isn't that you don't love me。 I think you do。 But I've been thinking
things over。 It isn't only to…night； or what you just said。 It's because we
don't care for the same things； or believe in them。〃
But … if we love each other …〃
〃It's not that； either。 I used to feel that way。 A home； and some one to
care about； and a little pleasure and work。〃
That ought to be enough； honey。〃
He was terrified。 His anger was gone。 He placed an appealing hand on
her arm； and as she stood there in the faint starlight the wonder of her once
again got him by the throat。 She had that sort of repressed eagerness； that
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
look of being poised for flight； that had always made him feel cheap and
unworthy。
〃Isn't that enough； honey？〃 he repeated。
〃Not now；〃 she said； her eyes turned toward the east。 〃These are great
days； Harvey。 They are greater and more terrible than any one can know
who has not been there。 I've been there and I know。 I haven't the right to
all this peace and comfort when I know how things are going over there。〃
Down the quiet street of the little town service was over。 The last
hymn had been sung。 Through the open windows came the mellow sound
of the minister's voice in benediction； too far away to be more than a tone；
like a single deep note of the organ。 Sara Lee listened。 She knew the words
he was saying； and she listened with her eyes turned to the east：
〃The peace of God that passeth all understanding
