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understand。
〃This man at home …〃 he said bitterly； 〃this man who loves you so well
that he let you cross the sea and come here alone … do you love him very
dearly？〃
〃I am promised to him。〃
All at once Sara Lee saw the little parlor at home； and Harvey； gentle；
rather stolid and dependable。 Oh； very dependable。 She saw him as he had
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
looked the night he had said he loved her； rather wistful and very； very
tender。 She could not hurt him so。 She had said she was going back to him；
and she must go。
〃I love him very much； Henri。〃
Very quietly； considering the hell that was raging in him； Henri bent
over and kissed her hand。 Then he turned it over； and for an instant he held
his cheek against its warmth。 He went out at once； and Sara Lee heard the
door slam。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XVI
Time passed quickly； as always it does when there is work to do。
Round the ruined houses the gray grass turned green again； and in
travesties of gardens early spring flowers began to show a touch of color。
The first of them greeted Sara Lee one morning as she stood on her
doorstep in the early sun。 She gathered them and placed them； one on each
grave； in the cemetery near the poplar trees； where small wooden crosses；
sometimes surmounted by a cap； marked many graves。
Marie； a silent subdued Marie； worked steadily in the little house。 She
did not weep； but now and then Sara Lee found her stirring something on
the stove and looking toward the quiet mill in the fields。 And once Sara
Lee； surprising that look on her face； put her arms about the girl and held
her for a moment。 But she did not say anything。 There was nothing to say。
With the opening up of the spring came increased movement and
activity among the troops。 The beach and the sand dunes round La Panne
were filled with drilling men； Belgium's new army。 Veterans of the winter；
at rest behind the lines； sat in the sun and pared potatoes for the midday
meal。 Convalescents from the hospital appeared in motley garments from
the Ambulance Ocean and walked along the water front； where the sea； no
longer gray and sullen； rolled up in thin white lines of foam to their very
feet。 Winter straw came out of wooden sabots。 Winter…bitten hands turned
soft。 Canal boats blossomed out with great washings。 And the sentry at the
gun emplacement in the sand up the beach gave over gathering sticks for
his fire； and lay； when no one was about； in a hollow in the dune； face to
the sky。
So spring came to that small fragment of Belgium which had been
saved spring and hope。 Soon now the great and powerful Allies would
drive out the Huns； and all would be as it had been。 Splendid rumors were
about。 The Germans were already yielding at La Bassee。 There was to be a
great drive along the entire Front； and hopefully one would return home in
time for the spring planting。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
A sort of informal council took place occasionally in the little house。
Maps replaced the dressings on the table in the salle a manger； and junior
officers； armed with Sara Lee's box of pins； thrust back the enemy at
various points and proved conclusively that his position was untenable。
They celebrated these paper victories with Sara Lee's tea； and went away
the better for an hour or so of hope and tea and a girl's soft voice and quiet
eyes。
Now and then there was one； of course； who lagged behind his fellows；
with a yearning tenderness in his face that a glance from the girl would
have quickly turned to love。 But Sara Lee had no coquetry。 When； as
occasionally happened； there was a bit too much fervor when her hand
was kissed； she laid it where it belonged … to loneliness and the spring …
and became extremely maternal and very； very kind。 Which … both of them
… are death blows to young love。
The winter floods were receding。 Along the Yser Canal mud…caked
flats began to appear； with here and there rusty tangles of barbed wire。
And with the lessening of the flood came new activities to the little house。
The spring drive was coming。
There was spring indeed； everywhere but in Henri's heart。
Day after day messages were left with Sara Lee by men in uniform …
sometimes letters； sometimes a word。 And these she faithfully cared for
until such time as Jean came for them。 Now and then it was Henri who
came； but when he stayed in the village he made his headquarters at the
house of the mill。 There； with sacking over the windows； he wrote his
reports by lamplight； reports which Jean carried back to the villa in the
fishing village by the sea。
However； though he no longer came and went as before； Henri made
frequent calls at the house of mercy。 But now he came in the evenings；
when the place was full of men。 Sara Lee was doing more dressings than
before。 The semi…armistice of winter was over； and there were nights when
a row of wounded men lay on the floor in the little salle a manger and
waited； in a sort of dreadful quiet； to be taken away。
Rumors came of hard fighting farther along the line； and sometimes；
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on nights when the clouds hung low； the flashes of the guns at Ypres
looked like incessant lightning。 From the sand dunes at Nieuport and
Dixmude there was firing also； and the air seemed sometimes to be full of
scouting planes。
The Canadians were moving toward the Front at Neuve Chapelle at
that time。 And one day a lorry； piled high with boxes； rolled and thumped
down the Street； and halted by Rene。
〃Rather think we are lost；〃 explained the driver； grinning sheepishly at
Rene。
There were four boys in khaki on the truck； and not a word of French
among them。 Sara Lee； who rolled her own bandages now； heard the
speech and came out。
〃Good gracious！〃 she said； and gave an alarmed glance at the sky。 But
it was the noon hour； when every good German abandons war for food；
and the sky was empty。
The boys cheered perceptibly。 Here was at last some one who spoke a
Christian tongue。
〃Must have taken the wrong turning； miss；〃 said one of them； saluting。
〃Where do you want to