interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第48章
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real tenderness in the face she lifted for his good…by kiss。
To Belle in the front hail Harvey gave a firm order。
〃Don't let any reporters in；〃 he said warningly。 〃This is strictly our
affair。 It's a private matter。 It's nobody's business what she did over there。
She's home。 That's all that matters。〃
Belle assented； but she was uneasy。 She knew that Harvey was
unreasonably； madly jealous of Sara Lee's work at the little house of
mercy； and she knew him well enough to know that sooner or later he
would show that jealousy。 She felt； too； that the girl should have been
allowed her small triumph without interference。 There had been
interference enough already。 But it was easier to yield to Harvey than to
argue with him。
It was rather a worried Belle who served tea that afternoon in her
dining room； with Mrs。 Gregory pouring； the more uneasy； because
already she divined a change in Sara Lee。 She was as lovely as ever； even
lovelier。 But she had a poise； a steadiness； that were new； and silences in
which； to Belle's shrewd eyes； she seemed to be weighing things。
Reporters clamored to see Sara Lee that day； and； failing to see her；
telephoned Harvey at his office to ask if it was true that she had been
decorated by the King。 He was short to the point of affront。
〃I haven't heard anything about it；〃 he snapped。 〃And I wouldn't say if
I had。 But it's not likely。 What d'you fellows think she was doing anyhow？
Leading a charge？ She was running a soup kitchen。 That's all。〃
He hung up the receiver with a jerk； but shortly after that he fell to
pacing his small office。 She had not said anything about being decorated；
but the reporters had said it had been in a London newspaper。 If she had
not told him that； there were probably many things she had not told him。
But of course there had been very little time。 He would see if she
mentioned it that night。
Sara Lee had had a hard day。 The children loved her。 In the intervals of
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
calls they crawled over her； and the littlest one called her Saralie。 She held
the child in her arms close。
〃Saralie！〃 said the child； over and over； 〃Saralie！ That's your name。 I
love your name。〃
And there came； echoing in her ears； Henri and his tender Saralie。
There was an oppression on her too。 Her very bedroom thrust on her
her approaching marriage。 This was her own furniture； for her new home。
It was beautiful； simple and good。 But she was not ready for marriage。 She
had been too close to the great struggle to be prepared to think in terms of
peace so soon。 Perhaps； had she dared to look deeper than that； she would
have found something else； a something she had not counted on。
She and Belle had a little time after the visitors had gone； before
Harvey came home。 They sat in Belle's bedroom； and her sentences were
punctuated by little backs briskly presented to have small garments
fastened； or bows put on stiffly bobbed yellow hair。
〃Did you understand my letter？〃 she asked。 〃I was sorry I had sent it；
but it was too late then。〃
〃I put your letter and … theirs； together。 I supposed that Harvey …〃
〃He was about out of his mind；〃 Belle said in her worried voice。
〃Stand still； Mary Ellen！ He went to Mrs。 Gregory； and I suppose he said a
good bit。 You know the way he does。 Anyhow； she was very angry。 She
called a special meeting； and … I tried to prevent their recalling you。 He
doesn't know that； of course。〃
〃You tried？〃
〃Well； I felt as though it was your work；〃 Belle said rather
uncomfortably。 〃Bring me the comb； Alice。 I guess we get pretty narrow
here and … I've been following things more closely since you went over。 I
know more than I did。 And； of course； after one marries there isn't much
chance。 There are children and …〃 Her face twisted。 〃I wish I could do
something。〃
She got up and brought from the dresser a newspaper clipping。
〃It's the London newspaper；〃 she explained。 〃I've been taking it； but
Harvey doesn't know。 He doesn't care much for the English。 This is about
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
your being decorated。〃
Sara Lee held it listlessly in her hands。
〃Shall I tell him； Belle？〃 she asked。
Belle hesitated。
〃I don't believe I would；〃 she said forlornly。 〃He won't like it。 That's
why I've never showed him that clipping。 He hates it all so。〃
Sara Lee dressed that evening in the white frock。 She dressed slowly；
thinking hard。 All round her was the shiny newness of her furniture； a
trifle crowded in Belle's small room。 Sara Lee had a terrible feeling of
being fastened in by it。 Wherever she turned it gleamed。 She felt
surrounded； smothered。
She had meant to make a clean breast of things … of the little house；
and of Henri； and of the King； pinning the medal on her shabby black
jacket and shaking hands with her。 Henri she must tell about … not his
name of course； nor his madness； nor even his love。 But she felt that she
owed it to Harvey to have as few secrets from him as possible。 She would
tell about what the boy had done for her； and how he； and he alone； had
made it all possible。
Surely Harvey would understand。 It was a page that was closed。 It had
held nothing to hurt him。 She had come back。
She stood by her window； thinking。 And a breath of wind set the leaves
outside to rustling。 Instantly she was back again in the little house； and the
sound was not leaves； but the shuffling of many stealthy feet on the
cobbles of the street at night； that shuffling that was so like the rustling of
leaves in a wood or the murmur of water running over a stony creek bed。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXV
It was clear to Sara Lee from the beginning of the evening that
Harvey did not intend to hear her story。 He did not say so； indeed； for a
time he did not talk at all。 He sat with his arms round her； content just to
have her there。
〃I have a lot of arrears to make up；〃 he said。 〃I've got to get used to
having you where I can touch you。 To…night when I go Upstairs I'm going
to take that damned colorless photograph of you and throw it out the
window。〃
〃I must tell you about your photograph；〃 she ventured。 〃It always
stood on the mantel over the stove； and when there was a threatened
bombardment I used to put it under …〃
Let's not talk； honey。〃
When he came out of that particular silence he said abruptly：
〃Will Leete is dead。〃
〃Oh； no！ Poor Will Leete。〃
〃Died of pneumonia in some God…forsaken hole over there。 He's left a
wife and nothing much to keep her。 That's what comes of mixing in the
other fellow's fight。 I guess we can get the house as soon as we want it。
She has to sell； and it ought to be a bargain〃
〃Harvey；〃 she said rather timidly； 〃you speak of the other fellow's fight。
They say over there that we are sure to be drawn into it sooner or later。〃
〃Not on our life！〃 he replied b
