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〃And it is you who are moving heaven and earth to get to the Front！
You … child！〃
Sara Lee's heart fell； but she smiled also。 〃But I am older than I look；〃
she said。 〃And I am very strong。〃
Mrs。 Travers looked helplessly at her husband； while she rang the bell
for tea。 That was another thing Sara Lee had read about but never seen …
that ringing for tea。 At home no one served afternoon tea； but at a party；
when refreshments were coming； the hostess slipped out to the kitchen and
gave a whispered order or two。
〃I shall be frank with you；〃 said Mrs。 Travers。 〃I think it quite
impossible。 It is not getting you over。 That might be done。 And of course
there are women over there … young ones too。 But the army objects very
seriously to their being in danger。 And of course one never knows …〃 Her
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
voice trailed off vaguely。 She implied； however； that what one never
knows was best unknown。
〃I have a niece over there；〃 she said as the tea tray came in。 〃Her
mother was fool enough to let her go。 Now they can't get her back。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said Sara Lee。 〃Can't they find her？〃
〃She won't come。 Little idiot！ She's in Paris； however。 I daresay she is
safe enough。〃
Mrs。 Travers made the tea thoughtfully。 So far Mr。 Travers had hardly
spoken； but he cheered in true British fashion at the sight of the tea。 Sara
Lee； exceedingly curious as to the purpose of a very small stand somewhat
resembling a piano stool； which the maid had placed at her knee； learned
that it was to hold her muffin plate。
〃And now；〃 said Mr。 Travers； 〃suppose we come to the point。 There
doesn't seem to be a chance to get you over； my child。 Same answer
everywhere。 Place is full of untrained women。 Spies have been using Red
Cross passes。 Result is that all the lines are drawn as tight as possible。〃
Sara Lee stared at him with wide eyes。
〃But I can't go back；〃 she said。 〃I … well； I just can't。 They're raising the
money for me； and all sorts of people are giving things。 A … a friend of
mine is baking cakes and sending on the money。 She has three children；
and …〃
She gulped。
〃I thought everybody wanted to get help to the Belgians；〃 she said。
A slightly grim smile showed itself on Mrs。 Travers' face。
〃I'm afraid you don't understand。 It is you we want to help。 Neither Mr。
Travers nor I feel that a girl so young as you； and alone； has any place near
the firing line。 And that； I fancy； is where you wish to go。 As to helping the
Belgians； we have four in the house now。 They do not belong to the same
social circles； so they prefer tea in their own rooms。 You are quite right
about their needing help too。 They cannot even make up their own beds。〃
〃They are not all like that；〃 broke in Mr。 Travers hastily。
〃Of course not。 But I merely think that Miss … er … Kennedy should
know both sides of the picture。〃
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Somewhat later Sara Lee was ushered downstairs by the neat maid；
who stood on the steps and blew a whistle for a taxi … Sara Lee had come
in a bus。 She carried in her hand the address of a Belgian commission of
relief at the Savoy Hotel； and in her heart； for the first time； a doubt of her
errand。 She gave the Savoy address mechanically and； huddled in a corner；
gave way to wild and fearful misgivings。
Coming up she had sat on top of the bus and watched with wide
curious； eyes the strange traffic of London。 The park had fascinated her …
the little groups of drilling men in khaki； the mellow tones of a bugle； and
here and there on the bridle paths well…groomed men and women on
horseback； as clean…cut as the horses they rode； and on the surface as
careless of what was happening across the Channel。 But she saw nothing
now。 She sat back and twisted Harvey's ring on her finger； and saw herself
going back； her work undone； her faith in herself shattered。 And Harvey's
arms and the Leete house ready to receive her。
However； a ray of hope opened for her at the Savoy … not much； a
prospect。
The Savoy was crowded。 Men in uniform； a sprinkling of anxious…
faced wives and daughters； and more than a sprinkling of gaily dressed
and painted women； filled the lobby or made their way slowly up and
down the staircase。 It was all so utterly different from what she had
expected … so bright； so full of life。 These well…fed people they seemed
happy enough。 Were they all wrong back home？ Was the war the ghastly
thing they thought it？
Long months afterward Sara Lee was to learn that the Savoy was not
London。 She was to learn other things … that America knew more； through
a free press； of war conditions than did England。 And she was to learn
what never ceased to surprise her … the sporting instinct of the British
which made their early slogan 〃Business as usual。〃 Business and pleasure
… but only on the surface。 Underneath was a dogged and obstinate
determination to make up as soon as possible for the humiliation of the
early days of the war。
Those were the transition days in England。 The people were slowly
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
awaking to the magnitude of the thing that was happening to them。 Certain
elements the press； long under political dominion； were preparing to come
out for a coalition ministry。 The question of high…explosive shells as
against shrapnel was bitterly fought； some of the men at home standing
fast for shrapnel； as valuable against； German artillery as a garden hose。
Men coming back from the Front were pleading for real help； not men
only； not Red Cross； not food and supplies； but for something more
competent than mere man power to hold back the deluge。
But over it all was that surface cheerfulness； that best…foot…forward
attitude of London。 And Sara Lee saw only that； and lost faith。 She had
come far to help。 But here was food in plenty and bands playing and
smiling men in uniform drinking tea and playing for a little。 That； too；
Sara Lee was to understand later； but just then she did not。 At home there
was more surface depression