【英文原著类】theamazinginterlude(玛

THEAMAZINGINTERLUDETHEAMAZINGINTERLUDEbyMaryRobertsRinehartTHEAMAZINGINTERLUDECHAPTERIThestageonwhichweplayourlittledramasoflifeandlovehasformostofusbutonesetting.Itisfurnishedoutwithapproximatelythesamethings.Characterscome,moveaboutandmaketheirfinalexitsthroughlong-familiardoors.Andthebackdropremainsapproximatelythesamefrombeginningtoend.Palaceorhovel,forestorsea,itisthebackgroundforthemovingfiguresoftheplay.SoSaraLeeKennedyhadabackdropthathadeveryappearanceofpermanency.ThegreatScenePainterapparentlyintendedthatthereshouldbenochangeofsetforher.SaraLeeherselfcertainlyexpectednone.Butnowandthenamazingthingsaredoneonthisgreatstageofours:lightsgodown;thebackdrop,whichhadgiventheillusionofsolidity,revealsitselftransparent.Asortoffairylandtransformationtakesplace.Beyondtheoncesolidwallstrangefiguresmoveon-anewmiseenscene,withtheoldblottedoutindarkness.Thelady,whomweleftknittingbythefire,becomesafairy-SaraLeebecameafairy,ofasort-andmeetstheprince.Adventure,too;andlove,ofcourse.Andthenthelightsgoout,anditisthesameoldbackdropagain,andtheladyisbackbythefire-butwithamemory.ThisisthestoryofSaraLeeKennedy'smemory-andofsomethingmore.TheearlydaysofthegreatwarsawSaraLeeplayingherpartinthesettingofacityinPennsylvania.Anuglycity,butawealthyone.ItisonlyfairtoSaraLeetosaythatshesharedinneitherquality.Shewasfarfromugly,andvery,veryfarfromrich.Shehadstartedherpartwithafullstage,tocarryonthefigure,butonebyonetheyhadgoneawayintothewingsandhadnotcomeback.Atnineteenshewasaloneknittingbythefire,withnoideawhateverthatthebackdropwasofpaintednet,andthatbeyondit,waitingforitsmoment,wastheforestofadventure.Astrangeforest,too-onethatSaraLeewouldnothaverecognisedasaforest.Andaprinceofcourse-butaprinceasstrangeandmysteriousastheforest.THEAMAZINGINTERLUDETheendofDecember,1914,foundSaraLeequitecontented.Ifitwasresignationratherthancontent,noonebutSaraLeeknewthedifference.Knitting,too;butnotforsoldiers.Shewas,tobecandid,knittinganafghanagainstaninterestingeventwhichinvolvedafriendofhers.SaraLeeratherdeploredtheevent-inherownmind,ofcourse,forinhersmallcircleyoungunmarriedwomenacceptedthemajoreventsoflifewithoutquestion,andcertainlywithoutconversation.Shenever,forinstance,allowedherUncleJames,withwhomshelived,toseeherworkingattheafghan;andevenherAuntHarriethadsupposedittobeasweateruntilitassumeduncompromisingproportions.SaraLee'sdays,uptothetwentiethofDecember,1914,hadbeenmuchalike.Inthemorningsshestraightenedupherroom,whichshehadcopiedfromoneinawoman'smagazine,withtheresultthatitgavesomehowtheimpressionofababy'sbassinet,beinglargelydottedSwissandribbon.YetinawayitwasaperfectsettingforSaraLeeherself.Itwasfreshandvirginal,andvery,veryneatandwhite.Aresignedlittleroom,likeSaraLee,resignedtobeingtuckedawayinacornerandtohavingnoparticularoutlook.Peaceful,too.SometimesinthemorningbetweenstraighteningherroomandgoingtothemarketforAuntHarriet,SaraLeelookedatanewspaper.Sosheknewtherewasawar.Shereadtheheadings,andwhenthemattercameupformentionatthelittleafternoonbridgeclub,asitdidnowandthenaftertheprizesweredistributed,shealwayssaidIsn'tithorrible!andchangedthesubject.OnthenightofthenineteenthofDecemberSaraLeehadreadherchapterintheBible-shereaditthroughonceeachyear-andhadbraideddownherhair,whichwasassmoothandshiningandlovelyasSaraLeeherself,andhadraisedherwindowforthenightwhenAuntHarrietcamein.SaraLeedidnotknow,atfirst,thatshehadavisitor.Shestoodlookingouttowardtheeast,untilAuntHarriettouchedheronthearm.Whatintheworld!saidAuntHarriet.AbodywouldsupposeitwasAugust.Iwasjustthinking,saidSaraLee.THEAMAZINGINTERLUDEYou'dbetterdoyourthinkinginbed.JumpinandI'llputoutyourlight.SoSaraLeegotintoherwhitebedwiththedottedSwissvalance,anddrewthecoverstoherchin,andlookedascantsixteen.AuntHarriet,whowasanunsentimentalwoman,childlessanddiffident,foundhersuddenlyveryappealingthereinhersmoothbed,anddidanunexpectedthing.Shekissedher.Thenfeelingextremelyuncomfortablesheputoutthelightandwenttothedoor.Thereshepaused.Thinking!shesaid.Whatabout,SaraLee?PerhapsitwasbecausethelightwasoutthatSaraLeebecamearticulate.Perhapsitwasbecausethingsthathadbeenforminginheryoungmindforweekshadatlastcrystallizedintowords.Perhapsitwasbecauseofapictureshehadhappenedonthatday,ofaboylyingwoundedsomewhereonabattlefieldandcallingMother!About-overthere,shesaidratherhesitatingly.AndaboutAnna.Overthere?Thewar,saidSaraLee.Iwasjustthinkingaboutallthosewomenoverthere-likeAnna,youknow.They-theyhadbabies,andgoteverythingreadyforthem.Andthenthebabiesgrewup,andthey'reallgettingkilled.It'shorrible,saidAuntHarriet.Doyouwantanotherblanket?It'scoldto-night.SaraLeedidnotwishanotherblanket.I'malittleworriedaboutyourUncleJames,saidAuntHarriet,atthedoor.He'sgotindigestion.IthinkI'llmakehimamustardplaster.Shepreparedtogooutthen,butSaraLeespokefromherwhitebed.AuntHarriet,shesaid,Idon'tthinkI'llevergetmarried.Isaidthattoo,once,saidAuntHarrietcomplacently.What'sgotintoyourheadnow?Idon'tknow,SaraLeerepliedvaguely.IJust-What'stheuse?AuntHarrietwasconsciousofahazyimpressionofindelicacy.ComingfromSaraLeeitwasstartlingandrevolut