interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第49节
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〃How long ago was that？〃 Sara Lee asked in a low tone。 〃Because； if
he was coming back at all …〃
〃Four months。〃
uddenly Sara Lee stood up。
I think I ought to tell you；〃 she said with a dead…white face； 〃that I am
responsible。 He cared for me； and I was in love with him too。 Only I didn't
know it then。 I let him bring me to England； because … I suppose it was
because I loved him。 I didn't think then that it was that。 I was engaged to a
man at home。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said Mr。 Travers。 〃My dear child； nothing can be your
fault。〃
〃He came with me； and the Germans got through。 He had had word；
but …〃
〃Have you your salts？〃 Mr。 Travers asked quietly of his wife。
〃I'm not fainting。 I'm only utterly wretched。〃
The Traverses looked at each other。 They were English。 They had
taken their own great loss quietly； because it was an individual grief and
must not be intruded on the sorrow of a nation。 But they found this white…
faced girl infinitely appealing； a small and fragile figure； to whose grief
must be added； without any fault of hers； a bitter and lasting remorse。
Sara Lee stood up and tried to smile。
〃Please don't worry about me；〃 she said。 〃I need something to do；
that's all。 You see； I've been worrying for so long。 If I can get to work and
try to make up I'll not be so hopeless。 But I am not quite hopeless； either；〃
she added hastily。 It was as though by the very word she had consigned
Henri to death。 〃You see； I am like the men； I won't give him up。 And
perhaps some night he will come across from the other side； out of the
dark。〃
Mr。 Travers took her back to the hotel。 When he returned from paying
off the taxi he found her looking across at the square。
〃Do you remember；〃 she asked him； 〃the time when the little donkey
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
was hurt over there？〃
〃I shall never forget it。〃
〃And the young officer who ran out when I did； and shot the poor
thing？〃
Mr。 Travers remembered。
〃That was he … the man we have been speaking of。〃
For the first time that day her eyes filled with tears。
Sara Lee； at twenty； was already living in her memories。
So again the lights went down in front； and the back drop became but a
veil； and invisible。 And to Sara Lee there came back again some of the
characters of the early mise en scene … marching men； forage wagons；
squadrons of French cavalry escorting various staffs； commandeered farm
horses with shaggy fetlocks fastened in rope corrals； artillery rumbling
along rutted roads which shook the gunners almost off the limbers。
Nothing was changed … and everything。 There was no Rene to smile
his adoring smile； but Marie came out； sobbing and laughing； and threw
herself into the girl's arms。 The little house was the same； save for a hole
in the kitchen wall。 There were the great piles of white bowls and the
shining kettles。 There was the corner of her room； patched by Rene's hands；
now so long quiet。 A few more shell holes in the street； many more little
crosses in the field near the poplar trees； more Allied aeroplanes in the air
… that was ail that was changed。
But to Sara Lee everything was changed； for all that。 The little house
was grave and still； like a house of the dead。 Once it had echoed to young
laughter； had resounded to the noise and excitement of Henri's every
entrance。 Even when he was not there it was as though it but waited for
him to stir it into life； and small echoes of his gayety had seemed to cling
to its old walls。
Sara Lee stood on the doorstep and looked within。 She had come back。
Here she would work and wait； and if in the goodness of providence he
should come back； here he would find her； all the empty months gone and
forgotten。 If he did not … 〃I shall still be calling you； and waiting；〃 be had
written。 She； too； would call and wait； and if not here； then surely in the
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
fullness of time which is eternity the call would be answered。
In October Sara Lee took charge again of the little house。 Mrs。
Cameron went back to England； but not until the Traverses' plan had been
revealed。 They would support the little house； as a memorial to the son
who had died。 It was； Mrs。 Travers wrote； the finest tribute they could
offer to his memory； that night after night tired and ill and wounded men
might find sanctuary； even for a little time； under her care。
Luxuries began to come across the channel； food and dressings and
tobacco。 Knitted things； too； for another winter was coming； and already
the frost lay white on the fields in the mornings。 The little house took on a
new air of prosperity。 There were days when it seemed almost swaggering
with opulence。
It had need of everything； however。 With the prospect of a second
winter； when an advance was impossible； the Germans took to hammering
again。 Bombardment was incessant。 The little village was again under
suspicion； and there came days of terror when it seemed as though even
the fallen masonry must be reduced to powder。 The church went entirely。
By December Sara Lee had ceased to take refuge during the
bombardments。 The fatalism of the Front had got her。 She would die or
live according to the great plan； and nothing could change that。 She did
not greatly care which； except for her work； and even that she felt could be
carried on by another as well。
There was no news of Henri； but once the King's equerry； going by；
had stopped to see her and had told her the story。
〃He was ill； undoubtedly；〃 he said。 〃Even when he went to London he
was ill； and not responsible。 The King understands that。 He was a brave
boy； mademoiselle。〃
But the last element of hope seemed to go with that verification of his
illness。 He was delirious； and he had gone in that condition into the filthy
chill waters of the inundation。 Well and sane there had been a chance； but
plunging wild…eyed and reckless； into that hell across； there was none。
She did her best in the evenings to be cheerful； to take the place； in her
small and serious fashion； of Henri's old gayety。 But the soldiers
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
whispered among themselves that mademoiselle was in grief； as they were；
for the blithe young soldier who was gone。
What hope Sara Lee had had died almost entirely early in December。
On the evening of a day when a steady rain had turned the roads into slimy
pitfalls； and the ditches to canals； there came； brought by a Belgian
corporal； the man who swore that Henri had passed him in his trench while
the others slept； had shoved him aside； which was unlike his usual
courtesy； and had climbed out over the top。
To Sara Lee this Hutin told his story。 A short man with a red beard and
a kindly smile that revealed teeth almost destroyed from neglect； he was at
first diffident in the extreme。
〃It was the captain； mademoiselle；〃 he asserted。 〃I knnw hm well。 He
has often gone on his errands from near my post。 I am 〃… he smiled …〃 I am
usually in the front line；〃
〃What did he do？〃
〃He had no cap； mademoiselle。 I thought that was odd； And as you
know … he does not near his own uniform on such occasions。 But he wore
his own uniform； so that at first I did not know what he intended。〃
〃Later on；〃 she asked； 〃you … did you hear anything？〃
〃The usual sniping； mademoiselle。 Nothing more；〃
〃He went through the inundation？〃
〃How else could he go？ Through the wire first； at the barrier； where
there is an opening； if one knows the way； I aw him beyond it； by the light
of a fusee。 There is a road there； or what was once a road。 He stood there。
Then the lights went out。〃
XXX
On a wild night in January Sara Lee inaugurated a new branch of
service。 There had been a delay in sending up to the Front the men who
bad been on rest； and an incessant bombardment held the troops prisoners
in their trenches。
A field kitchen had been destroyed。 The men were hungry；
disheartened； wet through。 They
