interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第8章
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Sara Lee was to understand later； but just then she did not。 At home there
was more surface depression。 The atrocities； the plight of the Belgians； the
honor list in the Illustrated London News … that was the war to Sara Lee。
And here！
But later on； down in a crowded dark little room； things were different。
She was one of a long line； mostly women。 They were unhappy and
desolate enough； God knows。 They sat or stood with a sort of weary
resignation。 Now and then a short heavy man with an upcurled mustache
caine out and took in one or two。 The door closed。 And overhead the band
played monotonously。
It was after seven when Sara Lee's turn came。 The heavy…set man
spoke to her in French； but he failed to use a single one of the words she
had memorized。
〃Don't you speak any English？〃 she asked helplessly。
〃I do； but not much；〃 he replied。 Though his French had been rapid he
spoke English slowly。 〃How can we serve you； mademoiselle？〃
〃I don't want any assistance。 I … I want to help； if I can。〃
〃Here？〃
〃In France。 Or Belgium。〃
He shrugged his shoulders。
〃We have many offers of help。 What we need； mademoiselle； is not
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
workers。 We have； at our base hospital； already many English nurses。〃
〃I am not a nurse。〃
〃I am sorry。 The whole world is sorry for Belgium； and many would
work。 What we need 〃 … he shrugged his shoulders again …〃is food；
clothing； supplies for our brave little soldiers。〃
Sara Lee looked extremely small and young。 The Belgian sat down on
a chair and surveyed her carefully。
〃You English are doing a … a fine work for us；〃 he observed。 〃We are
grateful。 But of course the〃 … he hesitated …〃 the pulling up of an entire
people … it is colossal。〃
〃But I am not English；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃And I have a little money。 I
want to make soup for your wounded men at a railway station or … any
place。 I can make good soup。 And I shall have money each month to buy
what I need。〃
Only then was Sara Lee admitted to the crowded little room。
Long afterward； when the lights behind the back drop had gone down
and Sara Lee was back again in her familiar setting； one of the clearest
pictures she retained of that amazing interlude was of that crowded little
room in the Savoy； its single littered desk； its two typewriters creating an
incredible din； a large gentleman in a dark…blue military cape seeming to
fill the room。 And in corners and off stage； so to speak； perhaps a half
dozen men； watching her curiously。
The conversation was in French； and Sara Lee's acquaintance of the
passage acted as interpreter。 It was only when Sara Lee found that a
considerable discussion was going on in which she had no part that she
looked round and saw her friend of two nights before and of the little
donkey。 He was watching her intently； and when he caught her eye he
bowed。
Now men； in Sara Lee's mind； had until now been divided into the
ones at home； one's own kind； the sort who married one's friends or
oneself； the kind who called their wives 〃mother〃 after the first baby came；
and were easily understood； plain men； decent and God…fearing and self…
respecting； and the men of that world outside America； who were
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
foreigners。 One might like foreigners； but they were outsiders。
So there was no self…consciousness in Sara Lee's bow and smile。 Later
on Henri was to find that lack of self and sex consciousness one of the
maddening mysteries about Sara Lee。 Perhaps he never quite understood it。
But always he respected it。
More conversation； in an increasing staccato。 Short contributions from
the men crowded into corners。 Frenzied beating of the typewriting
machines； and overhead and far away the band。 There was no air in the
room。 Sara Lee was to find out a great deal later on about the contempt of
the Belgians for air。 She loosened Aunt Harriet's neckpiece。 So far Henri
had not joined in the discussion。 But now he came forward and spoke。
Also； having finished； he interpreted to Sara Lee。
〃They are most grateful；〃 he explained。 〃It is a … a practical idea；
mademoiselle。 If you were in Belgium 〃 … he smiled rather mirthlessly …〃 if
you were already in the very small part of Belgium remaining to us； we
could place you very usefully。 But … the British War Office is most careful；
just now。 You understand … there are reasons。〃
Sara Lee flushed indignantly。
〃They can watch me if they want to；〃 she said。 〃What trouble can I
make？ I've only just landed。 You … you'd have to go a good ways to find
any one who knows less than I do about the war。〃
〃There is no doubt of that；〃 he said； unconscious of offense。 〃But the
War Office … 〃 He held out his hands。
Sara Lee； who had already caught the British 〃a〃 and was rather
overdoing it； had a wild impulse to make the same gesture。 It meant so
much。
More conversation。 Evidently more difficulties … but with Henri now
holding the center of the stage and speaking rapidly。 The heavy…set man
retired and read letters under an electric lamp。 The band upstairs was
having dinner。 And Henri argued and wrangled。 He was quite passionate。
The man in the military cape listened and smiled。 And at last he nodded。
Henri turned to Sara Lee。
〃You Americans are all brave；〃 he said。 〃You like … what is it you say？
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… taking a chance； I think。 Would you care to take such a chance？〃
〃What sort of a chance？〃
〃May I visit you this evening at your hotel？〃
Just for an instant Sara Lee hesitated。 There was Harvey at home。 He
would not like her receiving a call from any man。 And Harvey did not like
foreigners。 He always said they had no respect for women。 It struck her
suddenly what Harvey would call Henri's bowing and his kissing her hand；
and his passionate gesticulations when he was excited。 He would call it all
tomfool nonsense。
And she recalled his final words； his arms so close about her that she
could hardly breathe； his voice husky with emotion。
〃Just let me hear of any of those foreigners bothering you；〃 he said；
〃and I'll go over and wipe out the whole damned nation。〃
It had not sounded funny then。 It was not funny now。
〃Please come；〃 said Sara Lee in a small voice。
The other gentlemen bowed profoundly。 Sara Lee； rather at a loss；
gave them a friendly smile that included them all。 And then she and Henri
were walking up the stairs and to the entrance； Henri's tall figure the target
for many women's eyes。 He； however； saw no one but Sara Lee。
Henri； too； called a taxicab。 Every one in London seemed to ride in
taxis。 And he bent over her hand； once she was in the car； but he did not
kiss it。
〃It is very kind of you； what you are doing；〃 he said。 〃But； then； you
Americans are all kind。 And wonderful。〃
Back at Morley's Hotel Sara Lee had a short conversation with
Harvey's picture。
〃You are entirely wrong； dear；〃 she said。 She was brushing her hair at
the time； and it is rather a pity that it was a profile picture and that
Harvey's pictured eyes were looking off into space … that is； a piece of
white canvas on a frame； used by photographers to reflect the light into the
eyes。 For Sara Lee with her hair down was even lovelier than with it up。
〃You were wrong。 They are different； but they are kind and polite。 And
very； very respectful。 And he is coming on business。〃
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She intended at first to make no change in her frock。 After all； it was
not a social call； and if she did not dress it would put things on the right
footing。
But slipping along the corridor after her bath； clad in a kimono and
slippers and extremely nervous； she encountered a young woman on her
way to dinner； and she was dressed in that combination of street skirt and
evening blouse that some Englishwomen from the outlying districts still
affect。 And Sara Lee thereupon decided to dress。 She called in the elderly
maid； who was already her slave； and together they went over her clothes。
It was the maid； perhaps； then who brought into Sara Lee's life the
strange and mad infatuation for her that was gradually to become a
dominant issue in the next few months。 For the maid chose a white dress； a
soft and young affair in which Sara Lee looked like the heart of a rose。
〃I always like to see a young lady in white； miss；〃 said the maid。
〃Especially when there's a healthy skin。〃
So Sara Lee ate her dinner alone； such a dinner as a healthy skin and
body demanded。 And she watched tall young Englishwomen with fine
shoulders go out with English officers in khaki； and listened to a babel of
high English voices； and … felt extremely alone and very subdued。
Henri came rather late。 It was one of the things she was to learn about
him later … that he was frequently late It was only long afterward that she
realized that such time as he spent with her was gained only at the cost of
almost superhuman effort。 But that was when she knew Henri's story； and
his work。 She waited for him in the reception room； where a man and a
woman were having coffee and talking in a strange tongue。 Henri found
her there； at something before nine； rather downcast and worried； and
debating about going up to bed。 She looked up； to find him bowing before
her。
〃I thought you were not coming；〃 she said。
〃I？ Not come？ But I had said that I would come； mademoiselle。 I may
sit down？〃
Sara Lee moved over on the velvet sofa； and Henri lowered his long
body onto it。 Lowered his voice； too； for the man and woman were staring
