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第57章

interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第57章


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her work and lifted her head。 The rhythm of marching feet came through 

the   wooden   shutters。   The   very   building   seemed   to   vibrate   with   it。   And 

there   was   a   growling   sound   with   it   that   soon   she   knew   to   be   the   deep 

voices of singing men。 


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                                 THE AMAZING INTERLUDE 



     She went to the door and stood there; looking down the street。 Behind 

her   was   the   warm   glow   of   the   lamp;   all   the   snug   invitation   of   the   little 

house。 

     A group of soldiers had paused in front of the doorway; and from them 

one   emerged   …   tall;   white;   infinitely   weary   …   and   looked   up   at   her   with 

unbelieving eyes。 

     After all; there are no words for such meetings。 Henri took her hand; 

still with that sense of unreality; and bent over it。 And Sara Lee touched 

his head as he stooped; because she had called for so long; and only now 

he had come。 

     〃So you have come back!〃 she said in what she hoped was a composed 

tone … because a great many people were listening。 He raised his head and 

looked at her。 

     〃It is you who have come back; mademoiselle。〃 

     There   was   gayety   in   the   little   house   that   night。   Every   candle   was 

lighted。   They   were   stuck   in   rows   on   mantel…shelves。   They   blazed   …   and 

melted into strange arcs … above the kitchen stove。 There were cigarettes 

for everybody; and food; and a dry uniform; rather small; for Henri。 Marie 

wept over her soup; and ran every few moments to the door to see if he 

was still there。 She had kissed him on both cheeks when he came in; and 

showed signs; every now and then; of doing it again。 

     Sara Lee did her bandaging as usual; but with shining eyes。 And soon 

after Henri's arrival a dispatch rider set off post haste with certain papers 

and   maps;  hurriedly  written   and   drawn。  Henri   had   not   only  returned;  he 

had brought back information of great value to all the Allied armies。 

     So Sara Lee bandaged; and in the little room across the way; where no 

longer Harvey's photograph sat on the mantel; Henri told his story to the 

officers   …   of   his   imprisonment   in   the   German   prison   at   Crefeld;   of   his 

finding Jean there; weeks later when he was convalescing from typhoid; of 

their escape and long wandering; of Jean's getting into Holland; whence he 

would   return   by   way   of   England。   Of   his   own   business;   of   what   he   had 

done     behind    the  lines   after  Jean   had   gone;   he   said  nothing。    But   his 

listeners knew and understood。 


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                                 THE AMAZING INTERLUDE 



     But    his  dispatches    off;  his  story   briefly   told;  Henri   wandered      out 

among the men again。 He was very happy。 He had never thought to be so 

happy。 He felt the touch on his sleeves of hard brown; not overclean hands; 

infinitely  tender   and   caressing;   and   over   there;   as   though   she   had   never 

gone; was Sara Lee; slightly flushed and very radiant。 

     And   as   though   he   also   had   never   gone   away;   Henri   pushed   into   the 

salle a manger and stood before her smiling。 

     〃You bandage well; mademoiselle;〃 he said gayly。 〃But I? I bandage 

better! See now; a turn here; and it is done! Does it hurt; Paul?〃 

     The man in the dressing chair squirmed and grinned sheepishly。 

     〃The iodine;〃 he explained。 〃It is painful。〃 

     〃Then I shall ask you a question; and you will forget the iodine。 Why 

is a dead German like the tail of a pig?〃 

     Paul failed。 The room failed。 Even Colonel Lilias confessed himself at 

fault。 

     〃Because it is the end of the swine;〃 explained Henri; and looked about 

him triumphantly。 A gust of laughter spread through the room and even to 

the kitchen。 A door   banged。  Henri   upset   a   chair。 There   was   noise   again; 

and gayety in the little house of mercy。 And much happiness。 

     And   there   I   think   we   may   leave   them  all   …   Henri   and   Sara   Lee;   and 

Jean of the one eye and the faithful heart; and Marie; with her kettles; and 

even Rene; who still in some strange way belonged to the little house; as 

though it were something too precious to abandon。 

     The   amazing   interlude   had   become   the   play   itself。   Never   again   for 

Sara Lee would the lights go up in front; and Henri with his adoring eyes 

and open arms fade into the shadows。 

     The drama of the war plays on。 The Great Playwright sees fit; now and 

then;   to   take   away   some   well…beloved   players。   New   faces   appear   and 

disappear。 The music is the thunder of many guns。 Henri still plays his big 

part; Sara Lee her little one。 Yet who shall say; in the end; which one has 

done the better? There are new and ever new standards; but love remains 

the chief。 And love is Sara Lee's one quality … love of her kind; of tired 

men and weary; the love that shall one day knit this broken world together。 


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                                THE AMAZING INTERLUDE 



And love of one man。 

     On weary nights; when Henri is again lost in the shadows; Sara Lee; 

her work done; the men gone; sits in her little house of mercy and waits。 

The stars on clear evenings shine down on the roofless buildings; on the 

rubbish that was once the mill; on the ruined poplar trees; and on the small 

acre of peace where tiny crosses mark the long sleep of weary soldiers。 

     And   sometimes;   though   she   knows   it   now   by   heart;  she   reads   aloud 

that letter of Henri's to her。 It comforts her。 It is a promise。 

     〃If that is to be; then think of me; somewhere; perhaps with Rene by 

my   side;   since   he;   too;   loved   you。 And   I   shall   still   be   calling   you;   and 

waiting。 Perhaps; even beyond the stars; they have need of a little house of 

mercy。 And God knows; wherever I am; I shall have need of you。〃 


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