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altar of that other church； across the channel。
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It was rather a surprise to Sara Lee to have Mrs。 Travers put her arms
about her and kiss her。 Mr。 Travers； too； patted her hand when he took it。
But they had； for all that； the reserve of their class。 Much that they felt
about Sara Lee they did not express even to each other。
〃We are so grateful to you；〃 Mrs。 Travers said。 〃I am only one mother；
and of course now …〃 She looked down at her black dress。 〃But how many
others there are who will want to thank you； when this terrible thing is
over and they learn about you！〃
Mr。 Travers had been eying Sara Lee。
〃Didn't use you up； did it？〃 he asked。 〃You're not looking quite fit。〃
Sara Lee was very pale just then。 In a moment she would know。
〃I'm quite well；〃 she said。 〃I … do you hear from Mrs。 Cameron？〃
〃Frequently。 She has worked hard； but she is not young。〃 It was Mrs。
Travers who spoke。 〃She's afraid of the winter there。 I rather think； since
you want to go back； that she will be glad to turn your domain over to you
for a time。〃
〃Then … the little house is still there？〃
〃Indeed； yes！ A very famous little house； indeed。 But it is always
known as your house。 She has felt like a temporary chatelaine。 She always
thought you would come back。〃
Tea had come； as before。 The momentary stir gave her a chance to
brace herself。 Mr。 Travers brought her cup to her and smiled gently down
at her。
〃We have a plan to talk over；〃 he said； 〃when you have had your tea。 I
hope you will agree to it。〃
He went back to the hearthrug。
〃When I was there before；〃 Sara Lee said； trying to hold her cup
steady； 〃there was a young Belgian officer who was very kind to me。
Indeed； all the credit for what I did belongs to him。 And since I went home
I haven't heard …〃
Her voice broke suddenly。 Mr。 Travers glanced at his wife。 Not for
nothing had Mrs。 Cameron written her long letters to these old friends； in
the quiet summer afternoons when the sun shone down on the lifeless
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street be fore the little house。
〃I'm afraid we have bad news for you。〃 Mrs。 Travers put down her
untasted tea。 〃Or rather； we have no news。 Of course；〃 she added； seeing
Sara Lee's eyes； 〃in this war no news may be the best … that is； he may be a
prisoner。〃
〃That；〃 Sara Lee heard herself say； 〃is impossible。 If they captured him
they would shoot him。〃
Mrs。 Travers nodded silently。 They knew Henri's business； too； by that
time； and that there was no hope for a captured spy。
〃And … Jean？〃
They did not know of Jean； so she told them； still in that far…away
voice。 And at last Mrs。 Travers brought an early letter of Mrs。 Cameron's
and read a part of it aloud。
〃He seems to have been delirious；〃 she read； holding her reading
glasses to her eyes。 〃A friend of his； very devoted to him； was missing；
and he learned this somehow。
〃He escaped from the hospital and got away in an ambulance。 He
came straight here and wakened us。 There had been a wounded man in the
machine； and he left him on our doorstep。 When I got to the door the car
was going wildly toward the Front； with both lamps lighted。 We did not
understand then； of course； and no one thought of following it。 The
ambulance was found smashed by a shell the next morning； and at first we
thought that he had been in it。 But there was no sign that he had been； and
that night one of the men from the trenches insisted that he had climbed
out of a firing trench where the soldier stood； and had gone forward；
bareheaded； toward the German lines。
〃I am afraid it was the end。 The men； however； who all loved him； do
not think so。 It seems that he has done miracles again and again。 I
understand that along the whole Belgian line they watch for him at night。
The other night a German on reconnoissance got very close to our wire；
and was greeted not by shots but by a wild hurrah。 He was almost
paralyzed with surprise。 They brought him here on the way back to the
prison camp； and he still looked dazed。〃
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Sara Lee sat with her hands clenched。 Mrs。 Travers folded the letter
and put it back into its envelope。
〃How long ago was that？〃 Sara Lee asked in a low tone。 〃Because； if
he was coming back at all …〃
〃Four months。〃
uddenly Sara Lee stood up。
I think I ought to tell you；〃 she said with a dead…white face； 〃that I am
responsible。 He cared for me； and I was in love with him too。 Only I didn't
know it then。 I let him bring me to England； because … I suppose it was
because I loved him。 I didn't think then that it was that。 I was engaged to a
man at home。〃
〃Sit down；〃 said Mr。 Travers。 〃My dear child； nothing can be your
fault。〃
〃He came with me； and the Germans got through。 He had had word；
but …〃
〃Have you your salts？〃 Mr。 Travers asked quietly of his wife。
〃I'm not fainting。 I'm only utterly wretched。〃
The Traverses looked at each other。 They were English。 They had
taken their own great loss quietly； because it was an individual grief and
must not be intruded on the sorrow of a nation。 But they found this white…
faced girl infinitely appealing； a small and fragile figure； to whose grief
must be added； without any fault of hers； a bitter and lasting remorse。
Sara Lee stood up and tried to smile。
〃Please don't worry about me；〃 she said。 〃I need something to do；
that's all。 You see； I've been worrying for so long。 If I can get to work and
try to make up I'll not be so hopeless。 But I am not quite hopeless； either；〃
she added hastily。 It was as though by the very word she had consigned
Henri to death。 〃You see； I am like the men； I won't give him up。 And
perhaps some night he will come across from the other side； out of the
dark。〃
Mr。 Travers took her back to the hotel。 When he returned from paying
off the taxi he found her looking across at the square。
〃Do you remember；〃 she asked him； 〃the time when the little donkey
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was hurt over there？〃
〃