interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第14部分
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late。
〃Donnez…moi；〃 began Sara Lee； and turned the pages rapidly； 〃this； do
you see？〃 She had found roast beef。
The boy observed stolidly； in French； that it was not ready until noon。
She was able to make out； from his failing to depart； that there was no
roast beef。
〃 Good gracious！〃 she said； ravenous and exasperated。 〃Go and get me
some bread and coffee； anyhow。〃 She repeated it； slightly louder。
That was the tableau that Henri found when； after a custom that may
be war or may be Continental； he had inquired the number of her room
and made his way there。
There was a twinkle in his blue eyes as he bowed before her … and a
vast relief too。
〃So you are here！〃 he said in a tone of satisfaction。 He had put in an
extremely bad night； even for him； by whom nights were seldom wasted in
a bed。 While he was with her something of her poise had communicated
itself to him。 He had felt the confidence； in men and affairs； that American
girls are given as a birthright。 And her desire for service he had understood
as a year or two ago he could not have understood。 But he had stood by
the rail staring north； and cursing himself for having placed her in danger
during the entire crossing。
There was nothing about him that morning； however to show his bad
hours。 He was debonnaire and smiling。
〃I am famishing；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃And there are no eggs in this book …
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
none whatever。〃
〃Eggs！ You wish eggs？〃
〃I just want food。 Almost anything will do。 I asked for eggs because
they can come quickly。〃
Henri turned to the boy and sent him off with a rapid order。 Then：
〃May I come in？〃 he said。
Sara Lee cast an uneasy glance over the room。 It was extremely tidy；
and unmistakably it was a bedroom。 But though her color rose she asked
him in。 After all； what did it matter？ To have refused would have looked
priggish； she said to herself。 And as a matter of fact one of the early
lessons she learned in France was learned that morning … that though
convention had had to go； like many other things in the war； men who
were gentlemen ignored its passing。
Henri came in and stood by the center table。
〃Now； please tell me；〃 he said。 〃I have been most uneasy。 On the quay
last night you looked … frightened。〃
〃I was awfully frightened。 Nothing happened。 I even slept。〃
〃You were very brave。〃
〃I was very seasick。〃
〃I am sorry。〃
Henri took a turn up and down the room。
〃But；〃 said Sara Lee slowly； 〃I…I… can't be on your hands； you know。
You must have many things to do。 If you are going to have to order my
meals and all that； I'm going to he a dreadful burden。〃
〃But you will learn very quickly。〃
〃I'm stupid about languages。〃
Henri dismissed that with a gesture。 She could not； he felt； be stupid
about anything。 He went to the window and looked out。 The destroyers
were still coaling； and a small cargo was being taken off the boat at the
quay。 The rain was over； and in the early sunlight an officer in blue tunic；
red breeches and black cavalry boots was taking the air； his head bent over
his chest。 Not a detail of the scene escaped him。
〃I have agreed to find the right place for you；〃 he said thoughtfully。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
〃There is one； but I think … 〃 He hesitated。 〃I do not wish to place you
again in danger。〃
〃You mean that it is near the Front？〃
〃Very near； mademoiselle。〃
〃But I should be rather near； to be useful。〃
〃Perhaps； for your work。 But what of you？ These brutes … they shell far
and wide。 One can never be sure。〃
He paused and surveyed her whimsically。
〃Who allowed you to come； alone； like this？〃 he demanded。 〃Is there
no one who objected？〃
Sara Lee glanced down at her ring。
〃The man I am going to marry。 He is very angry。
Henri looked at her； and followed her eyes to Harvey's ring。 He said
nothing； however； but he went over and gave the bell cord a violent jerk。
〃You must have food quickly；〃 he said in a rather flat voice。 〃You are
looking tired and pale。〃
A sense of unreality was growing on Sara Lee。 That she should be
alone in France with a man she had never seen three days before； that she
knew nothing whatever about that man； that； for the present at least； she
was utterly and absolutely dependent on him； even for the food she ate … it
was all of a piece with the night's voyage and the little room at the Savoy。
And it was none of it real。
When the breakfast tray came Henri was again at the window and
silent。 And Sara Lee saw that it was laid for two。 She was a little startled；
but the businesslike way in which the young officer drew up two chairs
and held one out for her made protest seem absurd。 And the flat…faced boy；
who waited； looked unshocked and uninterested。
It was not until she had had some coffee that Henri followed up his
line of thought。
〃So … the fiance did not approve？ It is not difficult to understand。 There
is always danger； for there are German aeroplanes even in remote places。
And you are very young。 You still wish to establish yourself；
mademoiselle？〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
〃Of course！〃
〃Would it be a comfort to cable your safe arrival in France to the
flance？〃 When he saw her face he smiled。 And if it was a rather heroic
smile it was none the less friendly。 〃I see。 What shall I say？ Or will you
write it？〃
So Sara Lee； vastly cheered by two cups of coffee； an egg； and a very
considerable portion of bread and butter； wrote her cable。 It was to be brief；
for cables cost money。 It said； 〃Safe。 Well。 Love。〃 And Henri； who seemed
to have strange and ominous powers； sent it almost immediately。 Total cost；
as reported to Sara Lee； two francs。 He took the money she offered him
gravely。
〃We shall cable quite often；〃 he said。 〃He will be anxious。 And I think
he has a right to know。〃
The 〃we〃 was entirely unconscious。
〃And now；〃 he said； when he had gravely allowed Sara Lee to pay her
half of the breakfast； 〃we must arrange to get you out of Calais。 And that；
mademoiselle； may take time。〃
It took time。 Sara Lee； growing accustomed now to little rooms
entirely filled with men and typewriters； went from one office to another；
walking along the narrow pavements with Henri； through streets filled
with soldiers。 Once they drew aside to let pass a procession of Belgian
refugees； those who had held to their village homes until bombardment
had destroyed them … stout peasant women in short skirts and with huge
bundles； old men； a few young ones； many children。 The terror of the early
flight was not theirs； but there was in all of them a sort of sodden
hopelessness that cut Sara Lee to the heart。 In an irregular column they
walked along； staring ahead but seeing nothing。 Even the children looked
old and tired。
Sara Lee's eyes filled with tears。
〃My people；〃 said Henri。 〃Simple country folk； and going to England；
where they will grieve for the things that are gone … their fields and their
sons。 The old ones will die； quickly； of homesickness。 It is difficult to
transplant an old tree。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
The final formalities seemed to offer certain difficulties。 Henri； who
liked to do things quickly and like a prince； flushed with irritation。 He
drew himself up rather haughtily in reply to one question； and glanced
uneasily at the girl。 But it was all as intelligible as Sanskrit to her。
It was only after a whispered sentence to the man at the head of the
table that the paper was finally signed。
As they went down to the street together Sara Lee made a little protest。
〃But I simply must not take all your time；〃 she said； looking up
anxiously。 〃I begin to realize how foolhardy the whole thing is。 I meant
well； but … it is you who are doing everything； not I。〃
〃I shall not make the soup； mademoiselle；〃 he replied gravely。
… Page 59…
