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into your head now？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Sara Lee replied vaguely。 〃I Just … What's the use？〃
Aunt Harriet was conscious of a hazy impression of indelicacy。
Coming from Sara Lee it was startling and revolutionary。 In Aunt Harriet's
world young women did not question their duty； which was to marry；
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
preferably some one in the neighborhood； and bear children； who would
be wheeled ahout that same neighborhood in perambulators and who
would ultimately grow up and look after themselves。
〃The use？〃 she asked tartly。
〃Of having babies； and getting to care about them； and then … There
will always be wars； won't there？〃
〃You turn over and go to sleep；〃 counseled Aunt Harriet。 〃And stop
looking twenty years or more ahead。〃 She hesitated。 〃You haven't
quarreled with Harvey； have you？〃
Sara Lee turned over obediently。
〃No。 It's not that；〃 she said。 And the door closed。
Perhaps； had she ever had time during the crowded months that
followed； Sara Lee would have dated certain things from that cold frosty
night in December when she began to question things。 For after all that
was what it came to。 She did not revolt。 She questioned。
She lay in her white bed and looked at things for the first time。 The sky
had seemed low that night。 Things were nearer。 The horizon was close。
And beyond that peaceful horizon； to the east； something was going on
that could not be ignored。 Men were dying。 Killing and dying。 Men who
had been waited for as Anna watched for her child。
Downstairs she could hear Aunt Harriet moving about。 The street was
quiet； until a crowd of young people … she knew them by their voices …
went by； laughing。
〃It's horrible；〃 said Sara Lee to herself。 There was a change in her； but
she was still inarticulate。 Somewhere in her mind； but not formulated； was
the feeling that she was too comfortable。 Her peace was a cheap peace；
bought at no price。 Her last waking determination was to finish the afghan
quickly and to to knit for the men at the war。
Uncle James was ill the next morning。 Sara Lee went for the doctor；
but Anna's hour had come and he was with her。 Late in the afternoon he
came； however looking a bit gray round the mouth with fatigue； but
triumphant。 He had on these occasions always a sense of victory； even； in
a way； a eeling of being part of a great purpose。 He talked at such times of
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
the race； as one may who is doing his best by it。
〃Well；〃 he said when Sara Lee opened the door； 〃it's a boy。 Eight
pounds。 Going to be red…headed； too。〃 He chuckled。
〃A boy！〃 said Sara Lee。 〃I … don't you bring any girl babies any more？〃
The doctor put down his hat and glanced at her。
〃Wanted a girl； to be named for you？〃
〃No。 It's not that。 It's only …〃 She checked herself。 He wouldn't
understand。 The race required girl babies。 〃I've put a blue bow on my
afghan。 Pink is for boys；〃 she said； and led the way upstairs。
Very simple and orderly was the small house； as simple and orderly as
Sara Lee's days in it。 Time was to come when Sara Lee； having left it；
ached for it with every fiber of her body and her soul … for its bright
curtains and fresh paint； its regularity； its shining brasses and growing
plants； its very kitchen pans and green…and…white oilcloth。 She was to ache；
too； for her friends … their small engrossing cares； their kindly interest；
their familiar faces。
Time was to come； too； when she came back； not to the little house； it
is true； but to her friends； to Anna and the others。 But they had not grown
and Sara Lee had。 And that is the story。
Uncle James died the next day。 One moment he was there； an uneasy
figure； under the tulip quilt； and the next he had gone away entirely；
leaving a terrible quiet behind him。 He had been the center of the little
house； a big and cheery and not over…orderly center。 Followed his going
not only quiet； but a wretched tidiness。 There was nothing for Sara Lee to
do but to think。
And； in the way of mourning women； things that Uncle James had said
which had passed unheeded came back to her。 One of them was when he
had proposed to adopt a Belgian child； and Aunt Harriet had offered
horrified protest。
〃All right；〃 he had said。 〃Of course； if you feel that way about it … ！ But
I feel kind of mean； sometimes； sitting here doing nothing when there's
such a lot to be done。〃
Then he had gone for a walk and had come back cheerful enough but
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
rather quiet。
There was that other time； too； when the German Army was hurling
itself； wave after wave； across the Yser … only of course Sara Lee knew
nothing of the Yser then … and when it seemed as though the attenuated
Allied line must surely crack and give。 He had said then that if he were
only twenty years younger he would go across and help。
〃And what about me？〃 Aunt Harriet had asked。 〃 But I suppose I
wouldn't matter。〃
〃You could go to Jennie's； couldn't you？〃
There had followed one of those absurd wrangles as to whether or not
Aunt Harriet would go to Jennie's in the rather remote contingency of
Uncle James' becoming twenty years younger and going away。
And now Uncle James had taken on the wings of the morning and was
indeed gone away。 And again it became a question of Jennie's。 Aunt
Harriet； rather dazed at first； took to arguing it pro and con。
〃Of course she has room for me；〃 she would say in her thin voice。
〃There's that little room that was Edgar's。 There's nobody in it now。 But
there's only room for a single bed； Sara Lee。〃
Sara Lee was knitting socks now； all a trifle tight as to heel。 〃I know；〃
she would say。 〃I'll get along。 Don't you worry about me。〃
Always these talks ended on a note of exasperation for Aunt Harriet。
For Sara Lee's statement that she could manage would draw forth a
plaintive burst from the older woman。
〃If only you'd marry Harvey；〃 she would say。 〃I don't know