interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第32部分
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the little house escaped by a miracle。 Marie considered it the same miracle
that left holy pictures unhurt on the walls of destroyed houses； and
allowed the frailest of old ebony and rosewood crucifixes to remain
nharmed。
Great generals； often as tall as they were great； stopped at the little
house to implore Sara Lee to leave。 But she only shook her head。
〃Not unless you send me away；〃 she always said； 〃and that would
break my heart。〃
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〃But to move； mademoiselle； only to the next village！〃 they would
remonstrate； and as a final argument： 〃 You are too valuable to risk an
injury。〃
〃I must remain here；〃 she said。 And some of them thought they
understood。 When an unusually obdurate officer came along； Sara Lee
would insist on taking him to the cellar。
〃You see！〃 she would say； holding her candle high。 〃It is a nice cellar；
warm and dry。 It is 〃… proudly one of the best cellars in the village。 It is a
really homelike cellar。〃
The officer would go away then； and send her cigarettes for her men or；
as in more than one case； a squad with bags of earth and other things to
protect the little house as much as possible。 After a time the little house
began to represent the ideas in protection and camouflage； then in its early
stages； of many different minds。
Rene shot a man there one night； a skulking figure working its way in
the shadows up the street。 It was just before dawn； and Rene； who was
sleepless those days； like the others； called to him。 The man started to run；
dodging behind walls。 But Rene ran faster and killed him。
He was a German in Belgian peasant's clothing。 But he wore the great
shoes of the German soldier； and he had been making a rough map of the
Belgian trenches。
Sara Lee did not see him。 But when she heard the shot she went out；
and Rene told her breathlessly。
》From that time on her terrors took the definite form of Henri lying
dead in a ruined street； and being buried； as this man was buried； without
ceremony and without a prayer； in some sodden spring field。
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CHAPTER XVIII
As the spring advanced Harvey grew increasA ingly bitter； grew
morbid and increasingly selfconscious also。 He began to think that people
were smiling behind his back； and when they asked about Sara Lee he met
with almost insulting brevity what he felt was half…contemptuous kindness。
He went nowhere； and worked all day and until late in the night He did
well in his business； however； and late in March he received a substantial
raise in salary。 He took it without enthusiasm； and told Belle that night at
dinner with apathy。
After the evening meal it was now his custom to go to his room and
there； shut in； to read。 He read no books on the war； and even the quarter
column entitled Salient Points of the Day's War News hardly received a
glance from him now。
In the office when the talk turned to the war； as it did almost hourly； he
would go out or scowl over his letters。
〃Harvey's hit hard；〃 they said there。
〃He's acting like a rotten cub；〃 was likely to be the next sentence。 But
sometimes it was： 〃Well； what'd you expect？ Everything ready to get
married； and the girl beating it for France without notice！ I'd be sore
myself。〃
On the day of the raise in salary his sister got the children to bed and
straightened up the litter of small garments that seemed always to bestrew
the house； even to the lower floor。 Then she went into Harvey's room。 Coat
and collar off； he was lying on the bed； but not reading。 His book lay
beside him； and with his arms under his head he was staring at the ceiling。
She did not sit down beside him on the bed。 They were an
undemonstrative family； and such endearments as Belle used were
lavished on her children。 But her eyes were kind； and a little nervous。
〃Do you mind talking a little； Harvey？〃
〃I don't feel like talking much。 I'm tired； I guess。 But go on。 What is it？
Bills？〃
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She came to him in her constant financial anxieties； and always he was
ready to help her out。 But his tone now was gruff。 A slight flush of
resentment colored her cheeks。
〃Not this time； Harve。 I was just thinking about things。〃
〃Sit down。〃
She sat on the straight chair beside the bed； the chair on which； in neat
order； Harvey placed his clothing at night； his shoes beneath； his coat over
the back。
〃I wish you'd go out more； Harvey。〃
〃Why？ Go out and talk to a lot of driveling fools who don't care for me
any more than I do for them？〃
〃That's not like you； Harve。〃
〃Sorry。〃 His tone softened。 〃I don't care much about going round；
Belle。 That's all。 I guess you know why。〃
〃So does everybody else。〃
He sat up and looked at her。
〃Well； suppose they do？ I can't help that； can I？ When a fellow has
been jilted …〃
〃You haven't been jilted。〃
He lay down again； his arms under his head； and Belie knew that his
eyes were on Sara Lee's picture on his dresser。
〃It amounts to the same thing。〃
〃Harvey；〃 Belle said hesitatingly； 〃I've brought Sara Lee's report from
the Ladies' Aid。 May I read it to you？〃
〃I don't want to hear it。〃 Then： 〃Give it here。 I'll look at it。〃
He read it carefully； his hands rather unsteady。 So many men given
soup； so many given chocolate。 So many dressings done。 And at the
bottom Sara Lee's request for more money … an apologetic； rather
breathless request； and closing； rather primly with this：
〃I am sure that the society will feel； from the above report； that the
work is worth while； and worth continuing。 I am only sorry that I cannot
send photographs of the men who come for aid； but as they come at night
it is impossible。 I enclose； however； a small picture of the house； which is
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now known as the little house of mercy。〃
〃At night！〃 said Harvey。 〃So she's there alone with a lot of ignorant
foreigners at night。 Why the devil don't they come in the daytime？〃
〃Here's the picture； Harvey。〃
He got up then； and carried the tiny photograph over close to the gas
jet。 There he stood for a long time； gazing at it。 There was Rene with his
rifle and his smile。 There was Marie in her white apron。 And in the center；
the wind blowing her soft hair； was Sara Lee。
Harvey groaned and Belle came over and putting her hand on his
shoulder looked at the photograph with him。
〃Do you know what I think； Harvey？〃 she said。 〃I think Sara Lee is
right and you are wrong。〃
He turned on her almost savagely。
〃That's not the point！〃 he snapped out。 〃I don't begrudge the poor
devils their soup。 What I feel is this： If she'd cared a tinker's dam for me
she'd never have gone。 That's all。〃
He returned to a moody survey of the picture。
〃Look at it！〃 he said。 〃She insists that she's safe。 But that fellow's got a
gun。 What for； if she's so safe？ And look at that house！ There's a corner
shot away； and it's got no upper floor。 Safe！〃
Belle held out her hand。
〃I must return the picture to the society； Harve。〃
〃Not just yet；〃 he said ominously。 〃I want to look at it。 I haven't got it
all yet。 And I'll return it myself … with a short speech。〃
〃Harvey！〃
〃Well；〃 he retorted； 〃why shouldn't I tell that lot of old scandalmongers
what I think of them？ They'll sit here safe at home and beg money … God；
one of them was in the office to…day！ … and send a young girl over to …
You'd better get out； Belle。 I'm not company for any one to…night。〃
She turned away； but he came after her； and suddenly putting his arms
round her he kissed her。
〃Don't worry about me；〃 he said。 〃I'm done with wearing my heart on
my sleeve。〃 She looks happy； so I guess I can be。〃 He released her。 〃Good
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night。 I'll return the pi
