interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第4章
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〃He's only been lying on the doormat； Aunt Harriet；〃 she observed。 〃I
don't believe he knows how to bark。〃
〃Oh； he's mild enough。 He may change after marriage。 Some do。 But；〃
she added hastily； 〃he'll be a good husband。 He's that sort。〃
Suddenly something that had been taking shape in Sara Lee's small
head； quite unknown to her； developed identity and speech。
〃But I'm not going to marry him just yet；〃 she said。
Aunt Harriet's eyes fell on the photograph with its face to the wall； and
she started。
〃You haven't quarreled with him； have you？〃
〃No； of course not！ I have something else I want to do first。 That's all。
Aunt Harriet； I want to go to France。〃
Aunt Harriet began to tremble； and Sara Lee went over and put her
young arms about her。
〃Don't look like that；〃 she said。 〃It's only for a little while。 I've got to
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go。 I just have to； that's all！〃
〃Go how？〃 demanded Aunt Harriet。
〃I don't know。 I'll find some way。 I've had a letter from Mabel。 Things
are awful over there。〃
〃And how will you help them？〃 Her face worked nervously。 〃Is it
going to help for you to be shot？ Or carried off by the Germans？〃 The
atrocity stories were all that Aunt Harriet knew of the war； and all she
could think of now。 〃You'll come back with your hands cut off。〃
Sara Lee straightened and looked out where between the white
curtains the spire of the Methodist Church marked the east。
〃I'm going；〃 she said。 And she stood there； already poised for flight。
There was no sleep in the little house that night。 Sara Lee could hear
the older woman moving about in her lonely bed； where the spring still
sagged from Uncle James' heavy form； and at last she went in and crept in
beside her。 Toward morning Aunt Harriet slept； with the girl's arm cross
her； and then Sara Lee went back to her room and tried to plan。
She had a little money； and she had heard that living was cheap abroad。
She could get across then； and perhaps keep herself。 But she must do more
than that； to justify her going。 She must get money； and then decide how
the money was to be spent。 If she could only talk it over with Uncle James！
Or； with Harvey。 Harvey knew about business and money。
But she dared not go to Harvey。 She was terribly frightened when she
even thought of him。 There was no hope of making him understand； and
no chance of reasoning with him； because； to be frank； she had no reasons。
She had only instinct … instinct and a great tenderness toward suffering。 No；
obviously Harvey must not know until everything was arranged。
That morning the Methodist Church packed a barrel for the Belgians。
There was a real rite of placing in it Mrs。 Augustus Gregory's old sealskin
coat； now a light brown and badly worn； but for years the only one in the
neighborhood。 Various familiar articles appeared； to be thrust into
darkness； only to emerge in surroundings never dreamed of in their better
days … the little Howard boy's first trouser suit ； the clothing of a baby that
had never lived； big Joe Hemmingway's dress suit； the one he was married
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in and now too small for him。 And here and there things that could ill be
spared； brought in and offered with resolute cheerfulness。
Sara Lee brought some of Uncle James' things； and was at once set to
work。 The women there called Sara Lee capable； but it was to take other
surroundings to bring out her real efficiency。
And it was when bending over a barrel； while round her went on that
pitying talk of women about a great calamity； that Sara Lee got her great
idea； and later on she made the only speech of her life。
That evening Harvey went home in a quiet glow of happiness。 He had
had a good day。 And he had heard of a little house that would exactly suit
Sara Lee and him。 He did not notice his sister's silence when he spoke
about it。 He was absorbed； manlike； in his plans。
〃The Leete house；〃 he said in answer to her perfunctory question。
〃Will Leete has lost his mind and volunteered for the ambulance service in
France。 Mrs。 Leete is going to her mother's。〃
〃Maybe he feels it's his duty。 He can drive a car； and they have no
children。〃
〃Duty nothing！〃 He seemed almost unduly irritated。 〃 He's tired of the
commission business； that's all。 Y'ought to have heard the fellows in the
office。 Anyhow； they want to sub…let the house； and I'm going to take Sara
Lee there to…night。〃
His sister looked at him； and there was in her face something of the
expression of the women that day as they packed the barrel。 But she said
nothing until he was leaving the house that night。 Then she put a hand on
his arm。 She was a weary little woman； older than Harvey； and tired with
many children。 She had been gathering up small overshoes in the hall and
he had stopped to help her。
〃You know； Harvey； Sara Lee's not … I always think she's different；
somehow。〃
〃Well； I guess yes！ There's nobody like her。〃
〃You can't bully her； you know。〃
arvey stared at her with honestly perplexed eyes。
〃Bully！〃 he said。 〃What on earth makes you say that？〃
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Then he laughed。
〃Don't you worry； Belle；〃 he said。 〃I know I'm a fierce and
domineering person； but if there's any bullying I know who'll do it。〃
〃She's not like the other girls you know；〃 she reiterated rather
helplessly。
〃Sure she's not！ But she's enough like them to need a house to live in。
And if she isn't crazy about the Leete place I'll eat it。〃
He banged out cheerfully； whistling as he went down the street。 He
stopped whistling； however； at Sara Lee's door。 The neighborhood
preserved certain traditions as to a house of mourning。 It lowered its voice
in passing and made its calls of condolence in dark clothes and a general
air of gloom。 Pianos near by were played only with the windows closed；
and even the milkman leaving his bottles walked on tiptoe and presented
his monthly bill solemnly。
So Harvey stopped whistling； rang the bell apologetically； and … faced
a new and vivid Sara Lee； flushed and with shining eyes； but woefully
frightened。
She told him almost at once。 He had only reached the dining room of
the Leete house； which he was explaining had a white wainscoting when
she interrupted him。 The ladies of the Methodist Church were going to
collect a certain amount each month to support a soup kitchen as near the
Front as possible。
〃Good work！〃 said Harvey heartily。 〃I suppose they do get hungry；
poor devils。 Now about the dining room … 〃
〃Harvey dear；〃 Sara Lee broke in； 〃I've not finished。 I … I'm going over
to run it。〃
〃You are not！〃
〃But I am！ It's all arranged。 It's my plan。 They've all wanted to do
something besides giving clothes。 They send barrels； and they never hear
from them again； and it's hard to keep interested。 But with me there；
writing home and telling them； 'To…day we served soup to this man； and
that man； perhaps wounded。' And … and that sort of thing … don't you see
how interested every one will be？ Mrs。 Gregory has promised twenty…five
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dollars a month； and … 〃
〃You're not going；〃 said Harvey in a flat tone。 〃That's all。 Don't talk to
me about it。〃
Sara Lee flushed deeper and started again； but rather hopelessly。 There
was no converting a man who would not argue or reason； who based
everything on flat refusal。
〃But somebody must go；〃 she said with a tightening of her voice。
〃Here's Mabel Andrews' letter。 Read it and you will understand。〃
〃 I don't want to read it。〃
Nevertheless he took it and read it。 He read slowly。 He did nothing
quickly except assert his masculine domination。 He had all the faults of his
virtues； he was as slow as he was sure； as unimaginative as he was
faithful。
He read it and gave it back to her。
〃I don't think you mean it；〃 he said。 〃I give you credit for too much
sense。 Maybe some one is needed over there。 I guess things are pretty bad。
But why should you make it your affair？ There are about a million women
in this Country that haven't got anything else to do。 Let them go。〃
Some of them will。 But they're afraid； mostly。〃
〃Afraid！ My God； I should think they would be afraid！ And you're
asking me to let you go into danger； to put off our wedding while you
wander about over there with a million men and no women and … 〃
〃You're wrong； Harvey dear；〃 said Sara Lee in a low voice。 〃I am not
asking you at all。 I am telling you that I am going。〃
Sara Lee's leaving made an enormous stir in her small community。
Opinion was divided。 She was right according to some； she was mad
according to others。 The women of the Methodist Church； finding a real
field of activity； stood behind her solidly。 Guaranties of funds came in in a
steady flow； though the amounts were small； and； on the word going about
that she was to start a soup kitchen for the wounded； housewives sent in
directions for making their most cherished soups。
Sara Lee； going to a land where the meat was mostly horse and where
vegetables were scarce and limited to potatoes； Brussels sprouts and
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cabbage； found herself the possessor of recipes for making such sick…room
dainties as mushroom soup； cream of asparagus； clam broth with whipped
cream； and from Mrs。 Gregory； the wealthy woman of the church … green
turtle and consomme。
She was very busy and rather sad。 She was helping Aunt Harriet to
close the house and getting her small wardrobe in order。 And once a day
she went to a school of languages and painfully learned from a fierce and
kindly old Frenchman a list of French nouns and prefixes li
