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beside her。 Toward morning Aunt Harriet slept； with the girl's arm cross
her； and then Sara Lee went back to her room and tried to plan。
She had a little money； and she had heard that living was cheap abroad。
She could get across then； and perhaps keep herself。 But she must do more
than that； to justify her going。 She must get money； and then decide how
the money was to be spent。 If she could only talk it over with Uncle James！
Or； with Harvey。 Harvey knew about business and money。
But she dared not go to Harvey。 She was terribly frightened when she
even thought of him。 There was no hope of making him understand； and
no chance of reasoning with him； because； to be frank； she had no reasons。
She had only instinct … instinct and a great tenderness toward suffering。 No；
obviously Harvey must not know until everything was arranged。
That morning the Methodist Church packed a barrel for the Belgians。
There was a real rite of placing in it Mrs。 Augustus Gregory's old sealskin
coat； now a light brown and badly worn； but for years the only one in the
neighborhood。 Various familiar articles appeared； to be thrust into
darkness； only to emerge in surroundings never dreamed of in their better
days … the little Howard boy's first trouser suit ； the clothing of a baby that
had never lived； big Joe Hemmingway's dress suit； the one he was married
… Page 18…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
in and now too small for him。 And here and there things that could ill be
spared； brought in and offered with resolute cheerfulness。
Sara Lee brought some of Uncle James' things； and was at once set to
work。 The women there called Sara Lee capable； but it was to take other
surroundings to bring out her real efficiency。
And it was when bending over a barrel； while round her went on that
pitying talk of women about a great calamity； that Sara Lee got her great
idea； and later on she made the only speech of her life。
That evening Harvey went home in a quiet glow of happiness。 He had
had a good day。 And he had heard of a little house that would exactly suit
Sara Lee and him。 He did not notice his sister's silence when he spoke
about it。 He was absorbed； manlike； in his plans。
〃The Leete house；〃 he said in answer to her perfunctory question。
〃Will Leete has lost his mind and volunteered for the ambulance service in
France。 Mrs。 Leete is going to her mother's。〃
〃Maybe he feels it's his duty。 He can drive a car； and they have no
children。〃
〃Duty nothing！〃 He seemed almost unduly irritated。 〃 He's tired of the
commission business； that's all。 Y'ought to have heard the fellows in the
office。 Anyhow； they want to sub…let the house； and I'm going to take Sara
Lee there to…night。〃
His sister looked at him； and there was in her face something of the
expression of the women that day as they packed the barrel。 But she said
nothing until he was leaving the house that night。 Then she put a hand on
his arm。 She was a weary little woman； older than Harvey； and tired with
many children。 She had been gathering up small overshoes in the hall and
he had stopped to help her。
〃You know； Harvey； Sara Lee's not … I always think she's different；
somehow。〃
〃Well； I guess yes！ There's nobody like her。〃
〃You can't bully her； you know。〃
arvey stared at her with honestly perplexed eyes。
〃Bully！〃 he said。 〃What on earth makes you say that？〃
… Page 19…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
Then he laughed。
〃Don't you worry； Belle；〃 he said。 〃I know I'm a fierce and
domineering person； but if there's any bullying I know who'll do it。〃
〃She's not like the other girls you know；〃 she reiterated rather
helplessly。
〃Sure she's not！ But she's enough like them to need a house to live in。
And if she isn't crazy about the Leete place I'll eat it。〃
He banged out cheerfully； whistling as he went down the street。 He
stopped whistling； however； at Sara Lee's door。 The neighborhood
preserved certain traditions as to a house of mourning。 It lowered its voice
in passing and made its calls of condolence in dark clothes and a general
air of gloom。 Pianos near by were played only with the windows closed；
and even the milkman leaving his bottles walked on tiptoe and presented
his monthly bill solemnly。
So Harvey stopped whistling； rang the bell apologetically； and … faced
a new and vivid Sara Lee； flushed and with shining eyes； but woefully
frightened。
She told him almost at once。 He had only reached the dining room of
the Leete house； which he was explaining had a white wainscoting when
she interrupted him。 The ladies of the Methodist Church were going to
collect a certain amount each month to support a soup kitchen as near the
Front as possible。
〃Good work！〃 said Harvey heartily。 〃I suppose they do get hungry；
poor devils。 Now about the dining room … 〃
〃Harvey dear；〃 Sara Lee broke in； 〃I've not finished。 I … I'm going over
to run it。〃
〃You are not！〃
〃But I am！ It's all arranged。 It's my plan。 They've all wanted to do
something besides giving clothes。 They send barrels； and they never hear
from them again； and it's hard to keep interested。 But with me there；
writing home and telling them； 'To…day we served soup to this man； and
that man； perhaps wounded。' And … and that sort of thing … don't you see
how interested every one will be？ Mrs。 Gregory has promised twenty…five
… Page 20…
THE AMAZING INTERLUDE
dollars a month； and … 〃
〃You're not going；〃 said Harvey in a flat tone。 〃That's all。 Don't talk to
me about it。〃
Sara Lee flushed deeper and started again； but rather hopelessly。 There
was no converting a man who would not argue or reason； who based
everything on flat refusal。
〃But somebody must go；〃 she said with a tightening of her voice。
〃Here's Mabel Andrews' letter。 Read it and you will understand。〃
〃 I don't want to read it。〃
Nevertheless he took it and read it。 He read slowly。 He did nothing
quickly except assert his masculine domination。 He had all the faults of his
virtues； he was as slow as he was sure； as unimaginative as he was
faithful。
He read it and gave it back to her。
〃I don't think you mean it；〃 he said。 〃I give you credit for too much
sense。 Maybe some one is needed over there。 I guess things are pretty bad。