interlude(玛丽罗茨莱因哈特惊人的幕间表演)-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
desperation； she worked her way round to the other side。 She saw no one。
Save for the beating heart of the engine below it might have been a dead
… Page 52…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
ship。
On the other side she found an open door and stumbled into the tiny
dark deck cabin； as chilled and frightened a philanthropist as had ever
crossed that old and tricky and soured bit of seaway。 And there； to be frank；
she forgot her fright in as bitter a tribute of seasickness as even the
channel has ever exacted。
She had locked herself in； and she fell at last into an exhausted sleep。
When she wakened and peered out through the tiny window it was gray
winter dawn。 The boat was quiet； and before her lay the quay of Calais and
the Gare Maritime。 A gangway was out and a hurried survey showed no
one in sight。
Sara Lee picked up her suitcase and opened the door。 The fresh
morning air revived her； but nevertheless it was an extremely pale young
woman who； obeying Henri's instructions； went ashore that morning in the
gray dawn unseen； undisturbed and unqestioned。 But from the moment she
appeared on the gangway until the double glass doors of the Gare
Maritime closed behind her this apparently calm young woman did not
breathe at all。 She arrived； indeed； with lungs fairly collapsed and her
heart entirely unreliable。
A woman clerk was asleep at a desk。 Sara Lee roused her to half
wakefulness； no interest and extremely poor English。 A drowsy porter led
her up a staircase and down an endless corridor。 Then at last he was gone；
and Sara Lee turned the key in her door and burst into tears。
… Page 53…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER VII
Now up to this point Sara Lee's mind had come to rest at Calais。 She
must get there； after that the other things would need to be worried over。
Henri had already in their short acquaintance installed himself as the
central figure of this strange and amazing interlude … not as a good…looking
young soldier surprisingly fertile in expedients； but as a sort of agent of
providence； by whom and through whom things were done。
And Henri had said she was to go to the Gare Maritime at Calais and
make herself comfortable … if she got there。 After that things would be
arranged。
Sara Lee therefore took a hot bath； though hardly a satisfactory one；
for there was no soap and she had brought none。 She learned later on to
carry soap with her everywhere。 So she soaked the chill out of her slim
body and then dressed。 The room was cold； but a great exultation kept her
warm。 She had run the blockade； she had escaped the War Office … which；
by the way； was looking her up almost violently by that time； via the
censor。 It had found the trunk she left at Morley's； and cross…questioned
the maid into hys…teria … and here she was； safe in France； the harbor of
Calais before her； and here and there strange…looking war craft taking on
coal。 Destroyers； she learned later。 Her ignorance was rather appalling at
first。
It was all unreal … the room with its cold steam pipes； the heavy
window hangings； the very words on the hot and cold taps in the bathroom。
A great vessel moved into the harbor。 As it turned she saw its name printed
on its side in huge letters； and the flag； also painted； of a neutral country …
a hoped…for protection against German submarines。 It brought home to her；
rather； the thing she had escaped。
After a time she thought of food； but rather hopelessly。 Her attempts to
get savon from a stupid boy had produced nothing more useful than a flow
of unintelligible French and no soap whatever。 She tried a pantomime of
washing her hands； but to the boy she had appeared to be merely wringing
… Page 54…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
them。 And； as a great many females were wringing their hands in France
those days； he had gone away； rather sorry for her。
When hunger drove her to the bell again he came back and found her
with her little phrase book in her hands； feverishly turning the pages。 She
could find plenty of sentences such as 〃Garcon； vous avez renverse du vin
sur ma robe；〃 but not an egg lifted its shining pate above the pages。 Not
cereal。 Not fruit。 Not even the word breakfast。
Long； long after ward Sara Lee found a quite delightful breakfast
hidden between two pages that were stuck together。 But it was then far too
late。
〃Donnez…moi；〃 began Sara Lee； and turned the pages rapidly； 〃this； do
you see？〃 She had found roast beef。
The boy observed stolidly； in French； that it was not ready until noon。
She was able to make out； from his failing to depart； that there was no
roast beef。
〃 Good gracious！〃 she said； ravenous and exasperated。 〃Go and get me
some bread and coffee； anyhow。〃 She repeated it； slightly louder。
That was the tableau that Henri found when； after a custom that may
be war or may be Continental； he had inquired the number of her room
and made his way there。
There was a twinkle in his blue eyes as he bowed before her … and a
vast relief too。
〃So you are here！〃 he said in a tone of satisfaction。 He had put in an
extremely bad night； even for him； by whom nights were seldom wasted in
a bed。 While he was with her something of her poise had communicated
itself to him。 He had felt the confidence； in men and affairs； that American
girls are given as a birthright。 And her desire for service he had understood
as a year or two ago he could not have understood。 But he had stood by
the rail staring north； and cursing himself for having placed her in danger
during the entire crossing。
There was nothing about him that morning； however to show his bad
hours。 He was debonnaire and smiling。
〃I am famishing；〃 said Sara Lee。 〃And there are no eggs in this book …
… Page 55…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
none whatever。〃
〃Eggs！ You wish eggs？〃
〃I just want food。 Almost anything will do。 I asked for eggs because
they can come quickly。〃
Henri turned to the boy and sent him off with a rapid order。 Then：
〃May I come in？〃 he said。
Sara Lee cast an uneasy glance over the room。 It was extremely tidy；
and unmistakably it was a bedroom。 But though her color rose she asked
him in。 After all； what did it matter？ To have refused would have looked
priggish； she said to herself。 And as a matter of fact one of the early
lessons she learned in France was learned that morning … that though
convention had had to go； like many other things in the war； men who
were gentlemen ignored its passing。
Henri came in and stood by the center table。
〃Now； please tell me；〃 he said。 〃I have been most uneasy。 On the quay
last night you looked … frightened。〃
〃I was awfully frightened。 Nothing happened。 I even slept。〃
〃You were very brave。〃
〃I was very seasick。〃
〃I am sorry。〃
Henri took a turn up and down the room。
〃But；〃 said Sara Lee slowly； 〃I…I… can't be on your hands； you know。
You must have many things to do。 If you are going to have to order my
meals and all that； I'm going to he a dreadful burden。〃
〃But you will learn very quickly。〃
〃I'm stupid about languages。〃
Henri dismissed that with a gesture。 She could not； he felt； be stupid
