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inundated fields； and that could mean but one thing。
On the night he was to go Henri called Sara Lee from the crowded
salle a manger and drawing her into the room across closed the door。
〃Mademoiselle；〃 he said gravely； 〃once before； long ago； you
permitted me to kiss you。 Will you do that for me again？〃
She kissed him at once gravely。 Once she would have flushed。 She did
not now。 For there was a change in Sara Lee as well as in her outlook。 She
had been seeing for months the shortness of life； the brief tenure men held
on it； the value of such happiness as might be for the hours that remained。
She was a woman now； for all her slim young body and her charm of
youth。 Values had changed。 To love； and to show that love； to cheer； to
comfort and help … that was necessary； because soon the chance might be
gone； and there would be long aching years of regret。
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So she kissed him gravely and looked up into his eyes； her own full of
tears。
〃God bless and keep you； dear Henri；〃 she said。
Then she went back to her work。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXII
Much of Sara Lee's life at home had faded。 She seemed to be two
people。 One was the girl who had knitted the afghan for Anna； and had
hidden it away from Uncle James' kind but curious eyes。 And one was this
present Sara Lee； living on the edge of eternity； and seeing men die or
suffer horribly； not to gain anything … except perhaps some honorable
advancement for their souls … but that there might be preserved； at any cost；
the right of honest folk to labor in their fields； to love； to pray； and at last
to sleep in the peace of God。
She had lost the past and she dared not look into the future。 So she was
living each day as it came； with its labor； its love； its prayers and at last its
sleep。 Even Harvey seemed remote and stern and bitter。 She reread his
letters often； but they were forced。 And after a time she realized another
quality in them。 They were self…centered。 It was his anxiety； his loneliness；
his humiliation。 Sara Lee's eyes were looking out； those days； over a
suffering world。 Harvey's eyes were turned in on himself。
She realized this； but she never formulated it； even to herself。 What
she did acknowledge was a growing fear of the reunion which must come
sometime … that he was cherishing still further bitterness against that day；
that he would say things that he would regret later。 Sometimes the thought
of that day came to her when she was doing a dressing； and her hands
would tremble。
Henri had not returned when； the second day after Rene's death； the
letter came which recalled her。 She opened it eagerly。 Though from
Harvey there usually came at the best veiled reproach； the society had
always sent its enthusiastic approval。
She read it twice before she understood； and it was only when she read
Belle's letter again that she began to comprehend。 She was recalled； and
the recall was Harvey's work。
She was very close to hating him that day。 He had never understood。
She would go back to him； as she had promised； but always； all the rest of
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
their lives； there would be this barrier between them。 To the barrier of his
bitterness would be added her own resentment。 She could never even talk
to him of her work； of those great days when in her small way she had felt
herself a part of the machinery of mercy of the war。
Harvey had lost something out of Sara Lee's love for him。 He had done
it himself； madly； despairingly。 She still loved him； she felt。 Nothing could
change that or her promise to him。 But with that love there was something
now of fear。 And she felt； too； that after all the years she had known him
she had not known him at all。 The Harvey she had known was a tender and
considerate man； soft…spoken； slow to wrath； always gentle。 But the
Harvey of his letters and of the recall was a stranger。
It was the result of her upbringing； probably； that she had no thought
of revolt。 Her tie to Harvey was a real tie。 By her promise to him her life
was no longer hers to order。 It belonged to some one else； to be ordered for
her。 But； though she accepted； she was too clear a thinker not to resent。
When Henri returned； toward dawn of the following night； he did not
come alone。 Sara Lee； rising early； found two men in her kitchen … one of
them Henri； who was making coffee； and a soldier in a gray…green uniform；
with a bad bruise over one eye and a sulky face。 His hands were tied； but
otherwise he sat at ease； and Henri； having made the coffee； held a cup to
his lips。
〃It is good for the spirits； man；〃 he said in German。 〃Drink it。〃
The German took it； first gingerly； then eagerly。 Henri was in high
good humor。
〃See； I have brought you a gift！〃 he exclaimed on seeing Sara Lee。
〃What shall we do with him？ Send him to America？ To show the
appearance of the madmen of Europe？〃
The prisoner was only a boy； such a boy as Henri himself； but a
peasant； and muscular。 Beside his bulk Henri looked slim as a reed。 Henri
eyed him with a certain tolerant humor。
〃He is young； and a Bavarian；〃 he said。 〃Other wise I should have
killed him； for he fought hard。 He has but just been called。〃
There was another conference in the little house that morning； but
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Henri's prisoner could tell little。 He had heard nothing of an advance。
Further along the line it was said that there was much fighting。 He sat
there； pale and bewildered and very civil； and in the end his frightened
politeness brought about a change in the attitude of the men who
questioned him。 Hate all Germans as they must； who had suffered so
grossly； this boy was not of those who had outraged them。
They sent him on at last； and Sara Lee was free to tell Henri her news。
But she had grown very wise as to Henri's moods； and she hesitated。 A
certain dissatisfaction had been growing in the boy for some time； a sense
of hopel