interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第13章
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Henri named an extremely low figure … an exact fourth； to be accurate；
of its real cost。 A surprising person Henri； with his worn uniform and his
capacity for kindly mendacity。 And seeing something in the
Frenchwoman's face that perhaps he had expected； he turned to her almost
fiercely：
〃You are to understand； madame； that this lady has been placed in my
care by authority that will not be questioned。 She is to have every
deference。〃
That was all； but was enough。 And from that time on Sara Lee
Kennedy； of Ohio； was called； in the tiny box downstairs which
constituted the office； 〃Mademoiselle La Princesse。〃
Henri did a characteristic and kindly thing for Sara Lee before he left
that evening on one of the many mysterious journeys that he was to make
during the time Sara Lee knew him。 He came to her doors menus in hand；
and painstakingly ordered for her a dinner for that night； and the three
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meals for the day following。
He made no suggestion of dining with her that evening。 Indeed
watching him from her small table Sara Lee decided that he had put her
entirely out of his mind。 He did not so much as glance at her。 Save the
cashier at her boxed…in desk and money drawer； she was the only woman
in that room full of officers。 Quite certainly Henri was the only man who
did not find some excuse for glancing in her direction。
But finishing early； he paused by the cashier's desk to pay for his meal；
and then he gave Sara Lee the stiffest and most ceremonious of bows。
She felt hurt。 Alone in her great room； the curtains drawn by order of
the police； lest a ray of light betray the town to eyes in the air； she went
carefully over the hours she had spent with Henri that day； looking for a
cause of offense。 She must have hurt him or he would surely have stopped
to speak to her。
Perhaps already he was finding her a burden。 She flushed with shame
when she remembered about the meals he had had to order for her； and she
sat up in her great bed until late； studying by candlelight such phrases as：
〃Il y a une erreur dans La note；〃 and 〃 Garcon； quels fruits avez…
vous？〃 She tried to write to Harvey that night； but she gave it up at last。
There was too much he would not understand。 She could not write frankly
without telling of Henri； and to this point everything had centered about
Henri。 It all rather worried her； because there was nothing she was
ashamed of； nothing she should have had to conceal。 She had yet to learn；
had Sara Lee； that many of the concealments of life are based not on
wrongdoing but on fear of misunderstanding。
So she got as far as： 〃Dearest Harvey： I am here in a hotel at Dunkirk〃
… and then stopped； fairly engulfed in a wave of homesickness。 Not so
much for Harvey as for familiar things … Uncle James in his chair by the
fire； with the phonograph playing 〃My Little Gray Home in the West〃； her
own white bedroom； the sun on the red geraniums in the dining…room
window； the voices of happy children wandering home from school。
She got up and went to the window； first blowing out the candle。
Outside； the town lay asleep； and from a gate in the old wall a sentry with
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
a bugle blew a quiet 〃All's well。〃 From somewhere near； on top of the
mairie perhaps； where eyes all night searched the sky for danger； came the
same trumpet call of safety for the time； of a little longer for quiet sleep。
For two days the girl was alone。 There was no sign of Henri。 She had
nothing to read； and her eyes； watching hour after hour the panorama that
passed through the square under her window； searched vainly for his
battered gray car。 In daytime the panorama was chiefly of motor lorries …
she called them trucks … piled high with supplies； often fodder for the
horses in that vague district beyond ammunition and food。 Now and then a
battery rumbled through； its gunners on the limbers； detached； with folded
arms； and always there were soldiers。
Sometimes； from her window； she saw the market people below； in
their striped red…and…white booths； staring up at the sky。 She would look
up； too； and there would be an aeroplane sliding along； sometimes so low
that one could hear the faint report of the exhaust。
But it was the ambulances that Sara Lee looked for。 Mostly they came
at night； a steady stream of them。 Sometimes they moved rapidly。 Again
one would be going very slowly； and other machines would circle
impatiently round it and go on。 A silent； grim procession in the moonlight
it was； and it helped the girl to bear the solitude of those two interminable
days。
Inside those long gray cars with the red crosses painted on the tops … a
symbol of mercy that had ceased to protect … inside those cars were
wounded men； men who had perhaps lain for hours without food or care。
Surely； surely it was right that she had come。 The little she could do must
count in the great total。 She twisted Harvey's ring on her finger and sent a
little message to him。
〃You will forgive me when you know； dear；〃 was the message。 〃It is so
terrible！ So pitiful！〃
Yet during the day the square was gay enough。 Officers in spurs
clanked across； wide capes blowing in the wind。 Common soldiers bought
fruit and paper bags of fried potatoes from the booths。 Countless dogs
fought under the feet of passers…by； and over all leered the sardonic face of
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ean Bart； pirate and privateer。
Sara Lee went out daily； but never far。 And she practiced French with
the maid； after this fashion：
〃Draps de toile；〃 said the smiling maid； putting the linen sheets on the
bed。
Sara Lee would repeat it some six times。
〃Taies d'oreiller；〃 when the pillows came。 So Sara Lee called pillows
by the name of their slips from that time forward！ Came a bright hour
when she rang the bell for the boy and asked for matches； which she
certainly did not need； with entire success。
On the second night Sara Lee slept badly。 At two o'clock she heard a
sound in the hall； and putting on her kimono； opened the door。 On a stiff
chair outside； snoring profoundly； sat Jean； fully dressed。
The light from her candle roused him and he was wide awake in an
instant。
〃Why； Jean！〃 she said。 〃Isn't there any place for you to sleep？〃
〃I am to remain here； mademoiselle；〃 he replied in English。
〃But surely … not because of me？〃
〃It is the captain's order；〃 he said briefly。
〃I don't understand。 Why？〃
〃All sorts of people come to this place； mademoiselle。 But few ladies。
It is best that I remain here。〃
She could not move him。 He had remained standing while she spoke to
him； and now he yawned； striving to conceal it。 Sara Lee felt very
uncomfortable； but Jean's attitude and voice alike were firm。 She thanked
him and said good night； but she slept little after that。
Lying there in the darkness； a warm glow of gratitude to Henri； and a
feeling of her safety in his care； wrapped her like a mantle。 She wondered
drowsily if Harvey would ever have thought of all the small things that
seemed second nature to this young Belgian officer。
She rather thought not。
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CHAPTER IX
While she was breakfasting the next morning there was a tap at the
door； and thinking it the maid she called to her to come in。
But it was Jean； an anxious Jean； twisting his cap in his hands。
〃You have had a message from the captain； mademoiselle？〃
〃No； Jean。〃
〃He was to have returned during the night。 He has not come；
mademoiselle。〃
Sara Lee forgot her morning negligee in Jean's harassed face。
〃But … where did he go？〃
Jean shrugged his shoulders and did not reply。
〃Are you worried about him？〃
〃I am anxious； mademoiselle。 But I am often anxious； and … he always
returns。〃
He smiled almost sheepishly。 Sara Lee； who had no subtlety but a
great deal of intuition； felt that there was a certain relief in the smile； as
though Jean； having had no message from his master； was pleased that she
had none。 Which was true enough； at that。 Also she felt that Jean's one eye
was inspecting her closely； which was also true。 A new factor had come
into Henri's life … by Jean's reasoning； a new and dangerous one。 And there
were dangers enough already。
Highly dangerous； Jean reflected in the back of his head as he backed
out with a bow。 A young girl unafraid of the morning sun and sitting at a
little breakfast table as fresh as herself … that was a picture for a war…weary
man。
Jean forgot for a moment his anxiety for Henri's safety in his fear for
his peace of mind。 For a doubt had been removed。 The girl was straight。
Jean's one sophisticated eye had grasped that at once。 A good girl； alone；
and far from home！ And Henri； like all soldiers； woman…hungry for good
women； for unpainted skins and clear eyes and the freshness and bloom of
youth。
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All there； behind that little breakfast table which might so pleasantly
have been laid for two。
Jean took a walk that morning； and stood staring for twenty minutes
into a clock maker's window； full of clocks。 After which he drew out his
watch and looked at the time！
At two in the afternoon Sara Lee saw Henri's car come into the square。
It was； if possible； more dilapidated than before； and he came like a gray
whirlwind； scattering people and dogs out of his way。 Almost before he
had had time to enter the hotel Sara Lee heard him in the hall； and the next
moment he was bowing before her。
〃I have been longer than I expected；〃 he explained。 〃Have you been
quite comfortable？〃
Sara Lee； however； was gazing at him with startled eyes。 He was dirty；
