interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第6章
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and in forty…eight he was her slave。 The elderly chambermaid mothered
her； and failed to report that Sara Lee was doing a small washing in her
room and had pasted handkerchiefs over the ancient walnut of her
wardrobe。
〃Going over； are you？〃 she said。 〃Dear me； what courage you've got；
miss！ They tell me things is horrible over there。〃
〃That's why I'm going；〃 replied Sara Lee； and insisted on helping to
make up the bed。
〃It's easier when two do it；〃 she said casually。
Mr。 Travers put in a fretful twenty…four hours before he came to see
her。 He lunched at Brooks'； and astounded an elderly member of the House
by putting her problem to him。
〃A young girl！〃 exclaimed the M。 P。 〃Why； deuce take it； it's no place
for a young girl。〃
〃An American；〃 explained Mr。 Travers uncomfortably。 〃 She's
perfectly able to look after herself。〃
〃Probably a correspondent in disguise。 They'll go to any lengths。〃
〃She's not a correspondent。〃
〃Let her stay in Boulogne。 There's work there in the hospitals。〃
〃She's not a nurse。 She's a … well； she's a cook。 Or so she says。〃
The M。 P。 stared at Mr。 Travers； and Mr。 Travers stared back defiantly。
〃What in the name of God is she going to cook？〃
〃Soup；〃 said Mr。 Travers in a voice of suppressed irritation。 〃She's got
a little money； and she wants to establish a soup kitchen behind the
Belgian trenches on a line of communication。 I suppose；〃 he continued
angrily； 〃even you will admit that the Belgian Army needs all the soup it
can get。〃
〃I don't approve of women near the lines。〃
〃Neither do I。 But I'm exceedingly glad that a few of them have the
courage to go there。〃
〃What's she going to make soup out of？〃
〃I'm not a cooking expert。 But I know her and I fancy she'll manage。〃
It ended by the M。 P。 agreeing to use his influence with the War Office
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
to get Sara Lee to France。 He was very unwilling。 The spy question was
looming large those days。 Even the Red Cross had unwittingly spread its
protection over more than one German agent。 The lines were being drawn
in。
〃I may possibly get her to France。 I don't know； of course；〃 he said in
that ungracious tone in which an Englishman often grants a favor which he
will go to any amount of trouble to do。 〃After that it's up to her。〃
Mr。 Travers reflected rather grimly that after that it was apparently up
to him。
Sara Lee sat in her room at Morley's Hotel and looked out at the life of
London … policemen with chin straps； schoolboys in high silk hats and
Eton suits； the hats generally in disreputable condition； clerks dressed as
men at home dressed for Easter Sunday church； and men in uniforms。
Only a fair sprinkling of these last； in those early days。 On the first
afternoon there was a military funeral。 A regiment of Scots； in kilts； came
swinging down from the church of St。 Martin in the Fields； tall and
wonderful men； grave and very sad。 Behind them； on a gun carriage； was
the body of their officer； with the British flag over the casket and his
sword and cap on the top。
Sara Lee cried bitterly。 It was not until they had gone that she
remembered that Harvey had always called the Scots men in women's
petticoats。 She felt a thrill of shame for him； and no amount of looking at
his picture seemed to help。
Mr。 Travers called the second afternoon and was received by August at
the door as an old friend。
〃She's waiting in there；〃 he said。 〃Very nice young lady； sir。 Very kind
to everybody。〃
Mr。 Travers found her by a window looking out。 There was a recruiting
meeting going on in Trafalgar Square； the speakers standing on the
monument。 Now and then there was a cheer； and some young fellow
sheepishly offered himself。 Sara Lee was having a mad desire to go over
and offer herself too。 Because； she reflected； she had been in London
almost two days； and she was as far from France as ever。 Not knowing； of
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
course； that three months was a fair time for the slow methods then in
vogue。
There was a young man in the room； but Sara Lee had not noticed him。
He was a tall； very blond young man； in a dark…blue Belgian uniform with
a quaint cap which allowed a gilt tassel to drop over his forehead。 He sat
on a sofa； curling up the ends of a very small mustache； his legs； in cavalry
boots； crossed and extending a surprising distance beyond the sofa。
The lights were up now； beyond the back drop； the stage darkened。 A
new scene with a vengeance； a scene laid in strange surroundings； with
men； whole men and wounded men and spying men … and Sara Lee and
this young Belgian； whose name was Henri and whose other name；
because of what he suffered and what be did； we may not know。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER IV
Henri sat on his sofa and watched Sara Lee。 Also he shamelessly
listened to the conversation； not because he meant to be an eavesdropper
but because he liked Sara Lee's voice。 He had expected a highly inflected
British voice； and instead here was something entirely different … that is；
Sara Lee's endeavor to reconcile the English 〃a〃 with her normal western
Pennsylvania pronunciation。 She did it quite unintentionally； but she had a
good ear and it was difficult； for instance； to say 〃rather〃 when Mr。
Travers said 〃rawther。〃
Henri had a good ear too。 And the man he was waiting for did not
come。 Also he had been to school in England and spoke English rather
better than most British。 So he heard a conversation like this； the gaps
being what he lost：
MR。 TRAVERS： … to France； anyhow。 After that …
SARA LEE： Awfully sorry to be … But what shall I do if I do get over？
The chambermaid up… stairs … very difficult。
MR。 TRAVERS： The proper and sensible thing is … home。
SARA LEE： To America？ But I haven't done anything yet。
Henri knew that she was an American。 He also realized that she was
on the verge of tears。 He glared at poor Mr。 Travers； who was doing his
best； and lighted a French cigarette。
〃There must be some way；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃If they need help … and I
have read you Mabel Andrews' letter … then I should think they'd be glad to
send me。〃
〃They would be； of course；〃 he said。 〃But the fact is … there's been
some trouble about spies； and …〃
Henri's eyes narrowed。
〃Spies！ And they think I'm a spy？〃
〃My dear child；〃 remonstrated Mr。 Travers； slightly exasperated；
〃they're not thinking about you at all。 The War Office has never heard of
you。 It's a general rule。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Sara Lee was not placated。
〃Let them cable home and find out about me。 I can give them
references。 Why； all sorts of prominent people are sending me money。
They must trust me； or they wouldn't。〃
There were no gaps for Henri now。 Sara Lee did not care who heard
her； and even Mr。 Travers had slightly raised his voice。 Henri was divided
between a conviction that he ought to go away and a mad desire to join in
the conversation； greatly augmented when Sara Lee went to the window
and wiped her eyes。
〃If you only spoke French … 〃 began Mr。 Travers。
Sara Lee looked over her shoulder。 〃But of course I do！〃 she said。
〃And German and … and Yiddish； and all sorts of languages。 Every spy
does。〃
Henri smiled appreciatively。
It might all have ended there very easily。 Sara Lee might have fought
the War Office single…handed and won out； but it is extremely unlikely。
The chances at that moment were that she would spend endless days and
hours in anterooms； and tell her story and make her plea a hundred times。
And then … go back home to Harvey and the Leete house； and after a time；
like Mrs。 Gregory； speak rather too often of 〃the time I went abroad。〃
But Sara Lee was to go to France； and even further； to the fragment of
unconquered Belgium that remained。 And never so long as she lived；
would she be able to forget those days or to speak of them easily。 So she
stood by the window trying not to cry； and a little donkey drawing a
coster's cart moved out in front of the traffic and was caught by a motor
bus。 There was only time for the picture … the tiny beast lying there and her
owner wringing his hands。 Such of the traffic as could get by swerved and
went on。 London must move； though a thousand willing little beasts lay
dying。
And Sara moved too。 One moment she was there by the window。 And
the next she had given a stifled cry and ran out。
〃Bless my soul！〃 said Mr。 Travers； and got up slowly。
Henri was already up and at the window。 What he saw was Sara Lee
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
making her way through the stream of vehicles； taking a dozen chances for
her life。 Henri waited until he saw her crouched by the donkey； its head on
her knee。 Then he； too； ran out。
That is how Henri； of no other name that may be given； met Sara Lee
Kennedy； of Pennsylvania … under a London motor bus。 And that； I think；
will be the picture he carries of her until he dies； her soft eyes full of pity；
utterly regardless of the dirt and the crowd and an expostulating bobby；
with that grotesque and agonized head on her knees。
Henri crawled under the bus； though the policeman was extremely
anxious to keep him out。 And he ran a practiced eye over the injured
donkey。
〃It's dying；〃 said Sara Lee with white lips。
〃It will die；〃 replied Henri； 〃but how soon？ They are very strong； these
little beasts。〃
The conductor of the bus made a suggestion then； one that froze the
blood round Sara Lee's heart： 〃If you'll move away and let us run over it
