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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
He tried to see her face； but she turned it away。
〃Dead； eh？ What makes you think that？〃
〃I haven't heard from him。〃
〃Why should you hear from him？〃 His voice cut like a knife。 〃Look at
me。 Why should he write to you？〃
〃He cared for me； Harvey。〃
He sat in a heavy silence which alarmed her。
〃Don't he angry； please；〃 she begged 〃I couldn't bear it。 It wasn't my
fault； or his either。〃
〃The damned scoundrel！〃 said Harvey thickly。
But she reached over and put a trembling hand over his lips。
〃Don't say that；〃 she said。 〃Don't！ I won't allow you to。 When I think
what may have happened to him； I …〃 Her voice broke。
〃Go on；〃 Harvey said in cold tones she had never heard before。 〃Tell it
all； now you've begun it。 God knows I didn't want to hear it。 He took you
to the hotel at Dunkirk； the way those foreigners take their women。 And he
established you in the house at the Front； I suppose； like a …〃
Sara Lee suddenly stood up and drew off her ring。
〃You needn't go on；〃 she said quietly。 〃I had a decision to make to…
night； and I have made it。 Ever since I came home I have been trying to go
back to where we were before I left。 It isn't possible。 You are what you
always were； Harvey。 But I've changed。 I can't go back。〃 She put the ring
into his hand。
〃It isn't that you don't love me。 I think you do。 But I've been thinking
things over。 It isn't only to…night； or what you just said。 It's because we
don't care for the same things； or believe in them。〃
But … if we love each other …〃
〃It's not that； either。 I used to feel that way。 A home； and some one to
care about； and a little pleasure and work。〃
That ought to be enough； honey。〃
He was terrified。 His anger was gone。 He placed an appealing hand on
her arm； and as she stood there in the faint starlight the wonder of her once
again got him by the throat。 She had that sort of repressed eagerness； that
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
look of being poised for flight； that had always made him feel cheap and
unworthy。
〃Isn't that enough； honey？〃 he repeated。
〃Not now；〃 she said； her eyes turned toward the east。 〃These are great
days； Harvey。 They are greater and more terrible than any one can know
who has not been there。 I've been there and I know。 I haven't the right to
all this peace and comfort when I know how things are going over there。〃
Down the quiet street of the little town service was over。 The last
hymn had been sung。 Through the open windows came the mellow sound
of the minister's voice in benediction； too far away to be more than a tone；
like a single deep note of the organ。 Sara Lee listened。 She knew the words
he was saying； and she listened with her eyes turned to the east：
〃The peace of God that passeth all understanding be and abide with
you all； forevermore。 Amen。〃
Sara Lee listened； and from the step below her Harvey watched her
with furtive； haggard eyes。 He had not heard the benediction。
〃The peace of God！〃 she said slowly。 〃There is only one peace of God；
Harvey； and that is service。 I am going back。〃
〃Service！〃 he scoffed。 〃You are going back to him！〃
〃I'm afraid he is not there any more。 I am going back to work。 But if he
is there …〃
Harvey slid the ring into his pocket。 〃What if he's not there；〃 he
demanded bitterly。 〃If you think； after all this； that I'm going to wait； on
the chance of your coming back to me； you're mistaken。 I've been a
laughing stock long enough。〃
In the light of her new decision Sara Lee viewed him for the first time
with the pitiless eyes of women who have lost a faith。 She saw him for
what he was； not deliberately cruel； not even unkindly； but selfish； small；
without vision。 Harvey was for his own fireside； his office； his little family
group。 His labor would always be for himself and his own。 Whereas Sara
Lee was； now and forever； for all the world； her hands consecrated to bind
up its little wounds and to soothe its great ones。 Harvey craved a cheap
and easy peace。 She wanted no peace except that bought by service； the
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
peace of a tired body； the peace of the little house in Belgium where； after
days of torture； weary men found quiet and ease and the cheer of the open
door。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXIX
Late in October Sara Lee went back to the little house of mercy； went
unaccredited； and with her own money。 She had sold her bit of property。
In London she went to the Traverses； as before。 But with a difference
too。 For Sara Lee had learned the strangeness of the English； who are slow
to friendships but who never forget。 Indeed a telegram met her at
Liverpool asking her to stop with them in London。 She replied； refusing；
but thanking them； and saying she would call the next afternoon。
Everything was the same at Morley's： Rather a larger percentage of
men in uniform； perhaps； greater crow（ls in the square； a little less of the
optimism which in the spring had predicted victory before autumn。 But the
same high courage； for all that。
August greeted her like an old friend。 Even the waiters bowed to her；
and upstairs the elderly chambermaid fussed over her like a mother。
〃And you're going back！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Fancy that； now！ You are
brave； miss。〃
But her keen eyes saw a change in Sara Lee。 Her smile was the same；
but there were times when she forgot to finish a sentence； and she stood；
that first morning； for an hour by the window； looking out as if she saw
nothing。
She went； before the visit to the Traverses； to the Church of Saint
Martin in the Fields。 It was empty； save for a woman in a corner； who did
not kneel； but sat staring quietly before her。 Sara Lee prayed an
inarticulate bit of a prayer； that what the Traverses would have to tell her
should not be the thing that she feared； but that； if it were； she be given
courage to meet it and to go on with her work。
The Traverses would know； Mrs。 Cameron was a friend。 They would
know about Henri； and about Jean。 Soon； within the hour； she would learn
everything。 So she asked for strength； and then sat there for a time； letting
the peace of the old church quiet her； as had the broken walls and shattered
altar of that other church； across the channel。
…