interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第34部分
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Jean's support。 He protested violently against being put to bed； and when
he found himself led into Sara Lee's small room he openly rebelled。
〃Never！〃 he said stubbornly； halting in the doorway。 〃This is
mademoiselle's boudoir。 Her drawing…room as well。 I am going to the mill
house and …〃
He staggered。
So Sara Lee's room had a different occupant for a time； a thin and fine…
worn young Belgian； who yielded to Sara Lee when Jean gave up in
despair； and who proceeded； most unmanfully； to faint as soon as he was
between the blankets。
If Sara Lee hoped to nurse Henri she was doomed to disappointment。
Jean it was who took over the care of the boy； a Jean who now ate
prodigiously； and whistled occasionally； and slept at night robed in his
blanket on the floor beside Henri's bed； lest that rebellious invalid get up
and try to move about。
On the first night； with the door closed； against Henri's entreaties；
while the little house received its evening complement of men； and with
Henri lying back on his pillows； fresh dressed as to the wounds in his arm
and chest； fed with Sara Lee's daintiest； and resting； Jean found the boy's
eyes resting on the mantel。
〃Dear and obstinate friend；〃 said Henri； 〃do you wish me to be
happy？〃
〃You shall not leave the room or your bed。 That is arranged for。〃
〃How？〃 demanded Henri with interest。
Because I have hidden away your trousers。〃
Henri laughed； but he sobered quickly。
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〃If you wish me to be happy；〃 he said； 〃take away that American
photograph。 But first； please to bring it here。〃
Jean brought it； holding it gingerly between his thumb and forefinger。
And Henri lay back and studied it。
〃It is mademoiselle's fiance；〃 he said。
Jean grunted。
〃Look at it； Jean；〃 Henri said in his half…bantering tone； with despair
beneath it； 〃and then look at me。 Or no … remembering me as I was when I
was a man。 He is better； eh？ It is a good face。 But there is a jaw； a … Do
you think he will be kind to her as she requires？ She requires much
kindness。 Some women …〃
He broke off and watched Jean anxiously。
〃A half face！〃 Jean said scornfully。 〃The pretty view！ As for kindness …
〃 He put the photograph face down on the table。 〃I knew once a man in
Belgium who married an American。 At Antwerp。 They were most
unhappy。〃
Henri smiled。
〃You are lying；〃 he said with boyish pleasure in his own astuteness。
〃You knew no such couple。 You are trying to make me resigned。〃
But quite a little later； when Jean thought he was asleep； he said： 〃I
shall never be resigned。〃
So at last spring had come； and Henri and the great spring drive。 The
Germans had not drained the inundation； nor had they broken through to
Calais。 And it is not to be known here how much this utter failure had been
due to the information Henri had secured before he was wounded。
One day in his bed Henri received a visit from the King； and was left
lying with a decoration on his breast and a beatific； if somewhat sheepish；
expression on his face。 And one night the village was bombarded； and on
Henri's refusing to be moved to the cellar Sara Lee took up a determined
stand in his doorway； until at last he made a most humiliating move for
safety。
Bit by bit Sara Lee got the story； its bare detail from Henri； its courage
and sheer recklessness from Jean。 It would； for instance； run like this； with
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Henri in a chair perhaps； and cutting dressings … since that might be done
with one hand … and Sara Lee； sleeves rolled up and a great bowl of
vegetables before her：
〃And when you got through the water； Henri？〃 she would ask： 〃What
then？〃
It was quite simple。 They had put up some additional wire； however …〃
〃Where？〃
〃There was a break；〃 he would explain。 〃I have told you … between
their trenches。 I had used it before to get through。〃
〃But how could you go through？〃
〃Like a snake；〃 he would say； smiling。 〃Very flat and wriggling。 I have
eaten of the dirt； mademoiselle。〃
Then he would stop and cut； very awkwardly； with his left hand。
〃Go on；〃 she would prompt him。 〃But they had put barbed wire there。
Is that it？ So you could not get through？〃
〃With tin cans on it； and stones in the cans。 I thought I had removed
them all； but there was one left。 So they heard me。〃
More cutting and a muttered French expletive。 Henri was not a
particularly patient cripple。 And apparently there was an end to the story。
〃For goodness' sake；〃 Sara Lee would exclaim despairingly； 〃so they
heard you！ That isn't all； is it？〃
〃It was almost all；〃 he would say with his boyish smile。
〃And they shot at you？〃 〃Even better。 They shot me。 That was this
one。〃 And he would point to his arm。
More silence； more cutting； a gathering exasperation on Sara Lee's
part。
〃Are you going on or not？〃
〃Then I pretended to be one of them； mademoiselle。 I speak German as
French。 I pretended not to be hurt； but to be on a reconnoissance。 And I got
into the trench and we had a talk in the darkness。 It was most interesting。
Only if they had shown a light they would have seen that I was wounded。〃
By bits； not that day； but after many days； she got the story。 In the next
trench he slipped a sling over the wounded arm and； as a Bavarian on his
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way to the dressing station； got back。
〃I had some trouble；〃 he confessed one day。 〃Now and then one would
offer to go back with me。 And I did not care for assistance！〃
But sometime later there was trouble。 She was four days getting to that
part of it。 He had got behind the lines by that time； and he knew that in
some way suspicion had been roused。 He was weak by that time； and
could not go far。 He had lain hidden； for a day and part of a night； without
water； in a destroyed barn； and then had escaped。
He got into the Belgian costume as before； but he could not wear a
sling for his wounded arm。 He got the peasant to thrust his helpless right
hand into his pocket； and for two days he made a close inspection of what
was going on。 But fever had developed； and on the third night； half
delirious； when he was spoken to by an officer he had replied； of all
tongues； in English。
The officer shot him instantly in the chest。 He fell and lay still and the
officer bent over him。 In that moment Henri stabbed him with a knife in
his left hand。 Men were coming from every direction； but he got away … he
did not clearly remember how。 And at dawn he fell into the Belgian
farmhouse； apparently dying。
Jean's story； on the other hand； was given early and with no hesitation。
He had crossed the border at Holland in civilian clothes； by the simple
expedient of bribing a sentry。 He had got； with little difficulty； to the
farmhouse； and found Henri； now recovering but very weak； he was lying
hidden in a garret； and he was suffering from hunger and lack of medical
attention。 In a wagon full of market stuff； Henri hidden in the bed of it；
they had got to the border again。 And there Jean had； it seemed； stabbed
the sentry he had bribed before and driven on to neutral soil。
Not an unusual story； that of Henri and Jean。 The journey across
Belgium in the springless farm wagon was the worst。 They had had to take
roundabout lanes； avoiding the main highways。 Fortunately； always at
night there were friendly houses； kind hands to lift Henri into warm fire…
lighted interiors。 Many messages they had brought back； some of cheer；
but too often of tragedy； from the small farmsteads of Belgium。
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Then finally had been Holland； and the chartering of a boat … and at
last … 〃Here we are； and here we are； and here we are again；〃 sang Henri；
chopping at his cotton and making a great show of cheerfulness before
Sara Lee。
But with Jean sometimes he showed the black de
