interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第9节
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Cross passes。 Result is that all the lines are drawn as tight as possible。〃
Sara Lee stared at him with wide eyes。
〃But I can't go back；〃 she said。 〃I … well； I just can't。 They're raising the
money for me； and all sorts of people are giving things。 A … a friend of
mine is baking cakes and sending on the money。 She has three children；
and …〃
She gulped。
〃I thought everybody wanted to get help to the Belgians；〃 she said。
A slightly grim smile showed itself on Mrs。 Travers' face。
〃I'm afraid you don't understand。 It is you we want to help。 Neither Mr。
Travers nor I feel that a girl so young as you； and alone； has any place near
the firing line。 And that； I fancy； is where you wish to go。 As to helping the
Belgians； we have four in the house now。 They do not belong to the same
social circles； so they prefer tea in their own rooms。 You are quite right
about their needing help too。 They cannot even make up their own beds。〃
〃They are not all like that；〃 broke in Mr。 Travers hastily。
〃Of course not。 But I merely think that Miss … er … Kennedy should
know both sides of the picture。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Somewhat later Sara Lee was ushered downstairs by the neat maid；
who stood on the steps and blew a whistle for a taxi … Sara Lee had come
in a bus。 She carried in her hand the address of a Belgian commission of
relief at the Savoy Hotel； and in her heart； for the first time； a doubt of her
errand。 She gave the Savoy address mechanically and； huddled in a corner；
gave way to wild and fearful misgivings。
Coming up she had sat on top of the bus and watched with wide
curious； eyes the strange traffic of London。 The park had fascinated her …
the little groups of drilling men in khaki； the mellow tones of a bugle； and
here and there on the bridle paths well…groomed men and women on
horseback； as clean…cut as the horses they rode； and on the surface as
careless of what was happening across the Channel。 But she saw nothing
now。 She sat back and twisted Harvey's ring on her finger； and saw herself
going back； her work undone； her faith in herself shattered。 And Harvey's
arms and the Leete house ready to receive her。
However； a ray of hope opened for her at the Savoy … not much； a
prospect。
The Savoy was crowded。 Men in uniform； a sprinkling of anxious…
faced wives and daughters； and more than a sprinkling of gaily dressed
and painted women； filled the lobby or made their way slowly up and
down the staircase。 It was all so utterly different from what she had
expected … so bright； so full of life。 These well…fed people they seemed
happy enough。 Were they all wrong back home？ Was the war the ghastly
thing they thought it？
Long months afterward Sara Lee was to learn that the Savoy was not
London。 She was to learn other things … that America knew more； through
a free press； of war conditions than did England。 And she was to learn
what never ceased to surprise her … the sporting instinct of the British
which made their early slogan 〃Business as usual。〃 Business and pleasure
… but only on the surface。 Underneath was a dogged and obstinate
determination to make up as soon as possible for the humiliation of the
early days of the war。
Those were the transition days in England。 The people were slowly
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
awaking to the magnitude of the thing that was happening to them。 Certain
elements the press； long under political dominion； were preparing to come
out for a coalition ministry。 The question of high…explosive shells as
against shrapnel was bitterly fought； some of the men at home standing
fast for shrapnel； as valuable against； German artillery as a garden hose。
Men coming back from the Front were pleading for real help； not men
only； not Red Cross； not food and supplies； but for something more
competent than mere man power to hold back the deluge。
But over it all was that surface cheerfulness； that best…foot…forward
attitude of London。 And Sara Lee saw only that； and lost faith。 She had
come far to help。 But here was food in plenty and bands playing and
smiling men in uniform drinking tea and playing for a little。 That； too；
Sara Lee was to understand later； but just then she did not。 At home there
was more surface depression。 The atrocities； the plight of the Belgians； the
honor list in the Illustrated London News … that was the war to Sara Lee。
And here！
But later on； down in a crowded dark little room； things were different。
She was one of a long line； mostly women。 They were unhappy and
desolate enough； God knows。 They sat or stood with a sort of weary
resignation。 Now and then a short heavy man with an upcurled mustache
caine out and took in one or two。 The door closed。 And overhead the band
played monotonously。
It was after seven when Sara Lee's turn came。 The heavy…set man
spoke to her in French； but he failed to use a single one of the words she
had memorized。
〃Don't you speak any English？〃 she asked helplessly。
〃I do； but not much；〃 he replied。 Though his French had been rapid he
spoke English slowly。 〃How can we serve you； mademoiselle？〃
〃I don't want any assistance。 I … I want to help； if I can。〃
〃Here？〃
〃In France。 Or Belgium。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃We have many offers of help。 What we need； mademoiselle； is not
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
workers。 We have； at our base hospital； already many English nurses。〃
〃I am not a nurse。〃
〃I am sorry。 The whole world is sorry for Belgium； and many would
work。 What we need 〃 … he shrugged his shoulders again …〃is food；
clothing； supplies for our brave little soldiers。〃
Sara Lee looked extremely small and young。 The Belgian sat down on
a chair and surveyed her carefully。
〃You English are doing a … a fine work for us；〃 he observed。 〃We are
grateful。 But of course the〃 … he hesitated …〃 the pulling up of an entire
people … it is colossal。〃
〃But I am not English；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃And I have a little money。 I
want to make soup for your wounded men at a railway station or … any
place。 I can make good soup。 And I shall have money each month to buy
what I need。〃
Only then was Sara Lee admitted to the crowded little room。
Long afterward； when the lights behind the back drop had gone down
and Sara Lee was back again in her familiar setting； one of the clearest
pictures she retained of that amazing interlude was of that crowded little
room in the Savoy； its single littered desk； its two typewriters creating an
incredible din； a large gentleman in a dark…blue military cape seeming to
fill the room。 And in corners and off stage； so to speak； perhaps a half
dozen men； watching her curiously。
The conversation was in French； and Sara Lee's acquaintance of the
passage acted as interpreter。 It was only when Sara Lee found that a
considerable discussion was going on in which she had no part that she
looked round and saw her friend of two nights before and of the little
donkey。 He was watching her intently； and when he caught her eye he
bowed。
Now men； in Sara Lee's mind； had until now been divided into the
ones at home； one's own kind； the sort who married one's friends or
oneself； the kind who called their wives 〃mother〃 after the first baby came；
and were easily understood； plain men； decent and God…fearing and self…
respecting； and the men of that world outside America； who were
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
foreigners。 One might like foreigners； but they were outsiders。
So there was no self…consciousness in Sara Lee's bow and smile。 Later
on Henri was to find that lack of
