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breathing。 She remembered Henri's light sleeping on the kitchen floor； his
cap on the table； his cape rolled round him … a sleeping； for all his
weariness； so light that he seemed always half conscious。 She remembered
the innumerable times he had come in at this hour； muddy； sometimes
rather gray of face with fatigue； but always cheerful。
It was just such an hour that she found him giving hot coffee to the
German prisoner。 It had been but a little earlier when he had taken her to
the roof and had there shown her Rene； lying with his face up toward the
sky which had sent him death。
A hundred memories crowded … Henri's love for the Belgian soldiers；
and theirs for him； his humor； his absurd riddles。 There was the one he had
asked Rene； the very day before the air attack。 He had stood stiffly and
frowningly before the boy； and he had asked in a highly official tone：
〃What must a man be to be buried with military honors？〃
〃A general？〃
〃No。〃
〃An officer？〃
〃No； no！ Use your head boy！ This is very important。 A mistake would
be most serious。
Rene had shaken his head dejectedly。
〃He must be dead； Rene；〃 Henri had said gravely。 〃Entirely dead。 As I
said； it is well to know these things。 A mistake would be unfortunate。〃
His blue eyes had gleamed with fun； but his face had remained
frowning。 It was quite five minutes before she had heard Rene chuckling
on the doorstep。
Was he still living； this Henri of the love of life and courting of death？
Could anything so living die？ And if he had died had it been because of
her？ She faced that squarely for the first time。
〃Perhaps even beyond the stars they have need of a little house of
mercy； and； God knows； wherever I am I shall have need of you。〃
Beyond the partition Harvey slept on； his arms under his head。
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
CHAPTER XXVI
Harvey was clamoring for an early wedding。 And indeed there were
few arguments against it； save one that Sara Lee buried in her heart。
Belle's house was small； and though she was welcome there； and more
than that； Sara Lee knew that she was crowding the family。
Perhaps Sara Lee would have agreed in the end。 There seemed to be
nothing else to do； though by the end of the first week she was no longer
in any doubt as to what her feeling for Harvey really was。 It was kindness；
affection； but it was not love。 She would marry him because she had
promised to； and because their small world expected her to do so； and
because she could not shame him again。
For to her surprise she found that that was what he had felt … a strange；
self…conscious shame； like that of a man who has been jilted。 She felt that
by coming back to him she had forfeited the right to break the
engagement。
So every hour of every day seemed to make the thing more inevitable。
Belle was embroidering towels for her in her scant leisure。 Even Anna；
with a second child coming； sent in her contribution to the bride's linen
chest。 By almost desperately insisting on a visit to Aunt Harriet she got a
reprieve of a month。 And Harvey was inclined to be jealous even of that。
Sometimes； but mostly at night when she was alone； a hot wave of
resentment overwhelmed her。 Why should she be forced into the thing？
Was there any prospect of happiness after marriage when there was so
little before？
For she realized now that even Harvey was not happy。 He had at last
definitely refused to hear the story of the little house。
〃I'd rather just forget it； honey！〃 he said。
But inconsistently he knew she did not forget it； and it angered him。
True to his insistence on ignoring those months of her absence； she made
no attempt to tell him。 Now and then； however； closed in the library
together； they would fail of things to talk about； and Sara Lee's knitting
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
needles would be the only sound in the room。 At those times he would sit
back in his chair and watch the far…away look in her eyes； and it maddened
him。
》From her busy life Belle studied them both； with an understanding
she did not reveal。 And one morning when the mail came she saw Sara
Lee's face as she turned away； finding there was no letter for her； and
made an excuse to follow her to her room。
The girl was standing by the window looking out。 The children were
playing below； and the maple trees were silent。 Belle joined her there and
slipped an arm round her。
〃Why are you doing it； Sara Lee？〃 she asked。
〃Doing what？〃
Marrying Harvey。〃
Sara Lee looked at her with startled eyes。
〃I'm engaged to him； Belle。 I've promised。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Belle dryly。 〃But that's hardly a good reason； is it？ It
takes more than a promise。〃 She stared down at the flock of children in the
yard below。 〃Harvey's a man；〃 she said。 〃He doesn't understand； but I do。
You've got to care a whole lot； Sara Lee； if you're going to go through with
it。 It takes a lot of love； when it comes to having children and all that。〃
〃He's so good； Belle。 How can I hurt him？〃
〃You'll hurt him a lot more by marrying him when you don't love
him。〃
〃If only I could have a little time；〃 she cried wildly。 〃I'm so … I'm tired；
Belle。 And I can't forget about the war and all that。 I've tried。 Sometimes I
think if we could talk it over together I'd get it out of my mind。〃
He won't talk about it？〃
〃He's my own brother； and I love him dearly。 But sometimes I think
he's hard。 Not that he's ever ugly；〃 she hastened to add； 〃but he's stubborn。
There's a sort of wall in him； and he puts some things behind it。 And it's
like beating against a rock to try to get at them。〃
After a little silence she said hesitatingly：
〃We've got him to think of too。 He has a right to be happy。 Sometimes
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THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
I've looked at you … you're so pretty； Sara Lee … and I've wondered if there
wasn't some one over there who … cared for you。〃
〃There was one man； an officer … Oh； Belle； I can't tell you。 Not you！〃
〃Why not！〃 asked Belle practically。 〃You ought to talk it out to some
one； and if Harvey insists on being a fool that's his own fault。〃