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had drawn for her such a picture of Albert of Belgium as she was never to
forget。
Perhaps Sara Lee's real growth began that night； over that simple
diuner at the Hotel des Arcades。
〃I wish；〃 she said at last； 〃that Uncle James could have heard all this。
He was always so puzzled about it all。 And … you make it so clear。〃
When dinner was over a bit of tension had relaxed in her somewhat。
She had been too close； for too long。 And when a group of Belgian omcers；
learning who she was； asked to be presented and gravely thanked her； she
flushed with happiness。
〃We must see if mademoiselle shall not have a medal；〃 said the only
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
one who spoke English。
〃A medal？ For what？〃
〃For courage；〃 he said； bowing。 〃Belgium has little to give； but it can
at least do honor to a brave lady。〃
Jean was smiling when they passed on。 What a story would this slip of
a girl take home with her！
But： 〃I don't think I want a medal； Jean；〃 she said。 〃I didn't come for
that。 And after all it is you and Henri who have done the thing … not I。〃
Accustomed to women of a more sophisticated class； Jean had at first
taken her naivete for the height of subtlety。 He was always expecting her
to betray herself。 But after that evening with her he changed。 Just such
simplicity had been his wife's。 Sometimes Sara Lee reminded him of her …
the upraising of her eyes or an unstudied gesture。
He sighed。
〃You are very wonderful； you Americans；〃 he said。 It was the nearest
to a compliment that he had ever come。 And after that evening he was
always very gentle with her。 Once he had protected her because Henri had
asked him to do so； now he himself became in his silent way her protector。
The ride home through the dark was very quiet。 Sara Lee sat beside
him watching the stars and growing increasingly anxious as they went； not
too rapidly； toward the little house。 There were no lights。 Air raids had
grown common in Dunkirk； and there were no street lights in the little city。
Once on the highway Jean lighted the lamps； but left them very low； and
two miles from the little house he put them out altogether。 They traveled
by starlight then； following as best they could the tall trees that marked the
road。 Now and then they went astray at that； and once they tilted into the
ditch and had hard pulling to get out。
At the top of the street Jean stopped and went on foot a little way
down。 He came back； with the report that new shells had made the way
impassable； and again Sara Lee shivered。 If the little house was gone！
But it was there； and lighted too。 Through its broken shutters came the
yellow glow of the oil lamp that now hung over the table in the salle a
manger。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Whatever Jean's anxieties had been fell from him as he pushed open
the door。 Henri's voice was the first thing they heard。 He was too much
occupied to notice their approach。
So it was that Sara Lee saw； for the last time； the miller and his son；
Maurice； saw them； but did not know them； for over their heads were bags
of their own sacking； with eyeholes roughly cut in them。 Their hands were
bound； and three soldiers were waiting to take them away。
〃I have covered your heads；〃 Henri was saying in French； 〃because it
is not well that our brave Belgians should know that they have been
betrayed by those of their own number。〃
It was a cold and terrible Henri who spoke。
〃Take them away；〃 he said to the waiting men。
A few moments later he turned from the door and heard Sara Lee
sobbing in her room。 He tapped； and on receiving no reply he went in。 The
room was unharmed； and by the light of a candle he saw the girl； face
down on the bed。 He spoke to her； but she only lay crouched deeper； her
shoulders shaking。
〃It is war； mademoiselle；〃 he said； and went closer。 Then suddenly all
the hurt of the past days； all the bitterness of the last hour； were lost in an
overwhelming burst of tenderness。
He bent over her and put his arms round her。
〃That I should have hurt you so！〃 he said softly。 〃I； who wouki die for
you； mademoiselle。 I who worship you。〃 He buried his face in the warm
hollow of her neck and held her close。 He was trembling。 〃I love you；〃 he
whispered。 〃I love you。〃
She quieted under his touch。 He was very strong； and there was refuge
in his arms。 For a moment she lay still； happier than she had been for
weeks。 It was Henri who was shaken now and the girl who was still。
But very soon came the thing that； after all； he expected。 She drew
herself away from him； and Henri； sensitive to every gesture； stood back。
〃Who are they？〃 was the first thing she said。 It rather stabbed him。 He
had just told her that he loved her； and never before in his careless young
life had he said that to any woman。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
〃Spies；〃 he said briefly。
A flushed and tearful Sara Lee stood up then and looked up at him
gravely。
〃Then … that is what you do？〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle。〃
Quite suddenly she went to him and held up her face。
〃PLease kiss me； Henri；〃 she said very simply。 〃I have been cruel and
stupid； and …〃
But he had her in his arms then； and he drew her close as though he
would never let her go。 He was one great burst of joy； poor Henri。 But
when she gently freed herself at last it was to deliver what seemed for a
time his death wound。
〃You have paid me a great tribute；〃 she said； still simply and gravely。
〃I wanted you to kiss me； because of what you said。 But that will have to
be all； Henri dear。〃
〃All？〃 he said blankly。
〃You haven't forgotten； have you？ I … I am engaged to somebody else。〃
Henri stood still； swaying a little。
〃And you love him？ More than you care for me？〃
〃He is … he is my kind；〃 said Sara Lee rather pitifully。 〃I am not what
you think me。 You see me here； doing what you think is good work； and
you are grateful。 And you don't see any other women。 So I…〃
〃And you think I love you because I see no one else？〃 he demanded；
still rather stunned。
〃Isn't that part of it？〃
He flung out his hands as though he despaired of making her
understand。
〃This man at home …〃 he said bitterly； 〃this man who loves you so well
that he let you c