the price she paid-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



‘‘Wonderful！''　exclaimed　Mrs。　Presbury。　　‘‘I　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。''

‘‘But　we're　not　here　to　talk　about　mines；''　said　the　general；　his　eyes　upon　Mildred。　　‘‘I've　been　looking　into　mattersto　get　down　to　businessand　I've　asked　you　here　to　let　you　know　that　I'm　willing　to　go　ahead。''

Profound　silence。　　Mildred　suddenly　drew　in　her　breath　with　a　sound　so　sharp　that　the　three　others　started　and　glanced　hastily　at　her。　　But　she　made　no　further　sign。　　She　sat　still　and　cold　and　pale。

The　general；　perfectly　at　ease；　broke　the　silence。　‘‘I　think　Miss　Gower　and　I　would　get　on　faster　alone。''

Presbury　at　once　stood　up；　his　wife　hesitated；　her　eyes　uneasily　upon　her　daughter。　　Presbury　said：　‘‘Come　on；　Alice。''　　She　rose　and　preceded　him　into　the　adjoining　conservatory。　　The　little　general　posed　himself　before　the　huge　open　fire；　one　hand　behind　him；　the　other　at　the　level　of　his　waistcoat；　the　big　cigar　be…　tween　his　first　and　second　fingers。　　‘‘Well；　my　dear？''　said　he。

Mildred　somewhat　hesitatingly　lifted　her　eyes；　but；　once　she　had　them　up；　their　gaze　held　steadily　enough　upon　histoo　steadily　for　his　comfort。　　He　addressed　himself　to　his　cigar：

‘‘I'm　not　quite　ready　to　say　I'm　willing　to　go　the　limit；''　said　he。　　‘‘We　don't　exactly　know　each　other　sufficiently　well　as　yet；　do　we？''

‘‘No；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘I've　been　making　inquiries；''　he　went　on；　‘‘that　is；　I　had　my　chief　secretary　make　themand　he's　a　very　thorough　man；　thanks　to　my　training。　　He　reports　everything　entirely　all　right。　　I　admire　dignity　and　reserve　in　a　woman；　and　you　have　been　very　particular。　Were　you　engaged　to　Stanley　Baird？''

Mildred　flushed；　veiled　her　eyes　to　hide　their　resentful　flash　at　this　impertinence。　　She　debated　with　herself；　decided　that　any　rebuke　short　of　one　that　would　anger　him　would　be　wasted　upon　him。　　‘‘No；''　said　she。

‘‘That　agrees　with　Harding's　report；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘It　was　a　mere　girlish　flirtationvery　dignified　and　proper；''　he　hastened　to　add。　　‘‘I　don't　mean　to　suggest　that　you　were　at　all　flighty。''

‘‘Thank　you；''　said　Mildred　sweetly。

‘‘Are　there　any　questions　you　would　like　to　ask　about　me？''　inquired　he。

‘‘No；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘As　I　understand　itfrom　my　talk　with　Presbury　you　are　willing　to　go　on？''

‘‘Yes；''　said　Mildred。

The　general　smiled　genially。　　‘‘I　think　I　may　say　without　conceit　that　you　will　like　me　as　you　know　me　better。　　I　have　no　bad　habitsI've　too　much　regard　for　my　health　to　over…indulge　or　run　loose。　　In　my　boyhood　days　I　may　have　put　in　rather　a　heavy　sowing　of　wild　oats''the　general　laughed；　Mildred　conjured　up　the　wintriest　and　faintest　of　echoing　smiles‘‘but　that's　all　past；''　he　went　on；　‘‘and　there's　nothing　that　could　rise　up　to　interfere　with　our　happiness。　　You　are　fond　of　children？''

A　pause；　then　Mildred　said　quite　evenly；　‘‘Yes。''

‘‘Excellent；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘I'll　expect　you　and　your　mother　and　father　to　dinner　Sunday　night。　　Is　that　satisfactory？''

‘‘Yes；''　said　Mildred。

A　longish　pause。　　Then　the　general：　　‘‘You　seem　to　be　a　littleafraid　of　me。　　I　don't　know　why　it　is　that　people　are　always　that　way　with　me。''　　A　halt；　to　give　her　the　opportunity　to　say　the　obvious　flattering　thing。　Mildred　said　nothing；　gave　no　sign。　　He　went　on：　　‘‘It　will　wear　away　as　we　know　each　other　better。　　I　am　a　simple；　plain　mankind　and　generous　in　my　instincts。　Of　course　I　am　dignified；　and　I　do　not　like　familiarity。　But　I　do　not　mean　to　inspire　fear　and　awe。''

A　still　longer　pause。　　‘‘Well；　everything　is　settled；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘We　understand　each　other　clearly？　not　an　engagement；　nothing　binding　on　either　side　simply　aaan　option　without　forfeit。''　　And　he　laughedhis　laugh　was　a　ghoulish　sound；　not　loud　but　explosive　and　an　instant　check　upon　demonstration　of　mirth　from　anyone　else。

‘‘I　understand；''　said　Mildred　with　a　glance　toward　the　door　through　which　Presbury　and　his　wife　had　disappeared。

‘‘Now；　we'll　join　the　others；　and　I'll　show　you　the　house''again　the　laugh‘‘what　may　be　your　future　homeone　of　them。''

The　four　were　soon　started　upon　what　was　for　three　of　them　a　weariful　journey　despite　the　elevator　that　spared　them　the　ascents　of　the　stairways。　　The　house　was　an　exaggerated　reproduction　of　all　the　establishments　of　the　rich　who　confuse　expenditure　with　luxury　and　comfort。　　Bill　Siddall　had　bought　‘‘the　best　of　everything''；　that　is；　the　things　into　which　the　purveyors　of　costly　furnishings　have　put　the　most　excuses　for　charging。　　Of　taste；　of　comfort；　of　discrimination；　there　were　few　traces　and　these　obviously　accidental。　‘‘I　picked　out　the　men　acknowledged　to　be　the　best　in　their　different　lines；''　said　the　general；　‘‘and　I　gave　them　carte　blanche。''

‘‘I　see　that　at　a　glance；''　said　Presbury。　　‘‘You've　done　the　grand　thing　on　the　grandest　possible　scale。''

‘‘I've　looked　into　the　finest　of　the　famous　places　on　the　other　side；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘All　I　can　say　is；　I've　had　no　regrets。''

‘‘I　should　say　not；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。

With　an　affectation　of　modest　hesitationto　show　that　he　was　a　gentleman　with　a　gentleman's　fine　appreciation　of　the　due　of　maiden　modestySiddall　paused　at　the　outer　door　of　his　own　apartments。　　But　at　one　sentence　of　urging　from　Mrs。　Presbury　he　opened　the　door　and　ushered　them　in。　　And　soon　he　was　showing　them　everythinghis　Carrara　marble　bathroom　and　bathing…pool；　his　bed　that　had　been　used　by　several　French　kings；　his　dressing…room　with　its　appliances　of　gold　and　platinum　and　precious　stones；　his　clothing。　They　had　to　inspect　a　room　full　of　suits；　huge　chiffoniers　crowded　with　shirts　and　ties　and　underclothes。　He　exhibited　silk　dressing…robes　and　pajamas；　pointed　out　the　marks　of　the　fashionable　London　and　Paris　makers；　the　monograms；　the　linings　of　ermine　and　sable。　‘‘I'm　very　particular　about　everything　that　touches　me；''　explained　he。　　‘‘It　seems　to　me　a　gentleman　can't　be　too　particular。''　　With　a　meaning　glance　at　Mildred；　‘‘And　I'd　feel　the　same　way　about　my　wife。''

‘‘You　hear　that；　Mildred？''　said　Presbury；　with　a　nasty　little　laugh。　　He　had　been　relieving　the　tedium　of　this　sight…seeing　tour　by　observingand　from　time　to　time　aggravatingMildred's　sufferings。

The　general　released　his　mirth…strangling　goat　laugh；　Mrs。　Presbury　echoed　it　with　a　gale　of　rather　wild　hysterics。　　So　well　pleased　was　the　general　with　the　excursion　and　so　far　did　he　feel　advanced　toward　intimacy　that　on　the　way　down　the　majestic　marble　stairway　he　ventured　to　give　Mildred's　arm　a　gentle；　playful　squeeze。　　And　at　the　parting　he　kissed　her　hand。　　Presbury　had　changed　his　mind　about　returning　to　the　country。　　On　the　way　to　the　hotel　he　girded　at　Mildred；　reviewing　all　that　the　little　general　had　said　and　done；　and　sneering；　jeering　at　it。　　Mildred　made　not　a　single　retort　until　they　were　upstairs　in　the　hotel。　　At　the　door　to　her　room　she　said　to　Presburysaid　it　in　a　quiet；　cold；　terrible　way：

‘‘If　you　really　want　me　to　go　through　with　this　thing；　you　will　stop　insulting　him　and　me。　　If　you　do　it　again；　I'll　give　upand　go　on　the　streets　before　I'll　marry　him。''

Presbury　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　went　on　to　the　other　room。　　But　he　did　not　begin　again　the　next　day；　and　from　that　time　forth　avoided　reference　to　the　general。　　In　fact；　there　was　an　astonishing　change　in　his　whole　demeanor。　　He　ceased　to　bait　his　wife；　became　polite；　even　affable。　　If　he　had　conducted　himself　thus　from　the　outset；　he　would　have　got　far　less　credit；　would　have　made　far　less　progress　toward　winning　the　liking　of　his　wife；　and　of　her　daughter；　than　he　did　in　a　brief　two　weeks　of　change　from　petty　and　malignant　tyrant　to　good…natured；　interestingly　talkative　old　gentleman。　After　the　manner　of　human　nature；　Mildred　and　her　mother；　in　their　relief；　in　their　pleasure　through　this　amazing　sudden　and　wholly　unexpected　geniality；　not　merely　forgave　but　forgot　all　they　had　suffered　at　his　hands。　　Mildred　was　not　without　a　suspicion　of　the　truth　that　this　change；　inaugurated　in　his　own　good　time；　was　fresh　evidence　of　his　contempt　for　both　of　themof　his　feeling　that　he　could　easily　make　reparation　with　a　little　kindness　and　decency　and　put　himself　in　the　way　of　getting　any　possible　benefits　from　the　rich　alliance。　　But　though　she　practically　knew　what　was　going　on　in　his　mind；　she　could　not　prevent　herself　from　softening　toward　him。

Now　followed　a　succession　of　dinners；　of　theater…　and　opera…goings；　of　week…ends　at　the　general's　new　country　palace　in　the　fashionable　region　of　Long　Island。　All　these　festivities　were　of　the　same　formal　and　tedious　character。　　At　all　the　general　was　the　central　sun　with　the　others　dim　and　draggled　satellites；　hardly　more　important　than　the　outer　rim　of　satellite　servants。　　He　did　most　of　the　talking；　he　was　the　sole　topic　of　conversation；　for　when　he　was　not　talking　about　himself　he　wished　to　be　hearing　about　himself。　　If　Mildred　had　not　been　seeing　more　and　more　plainly　that　other　and　real　personality　of　his；　her　contempt　for　him　and　for　herself　would　have　grown　beyond　control。　　But；　with　him　or　away　from　him；　at　every　instant　there　was　the　sense　of　that　other　real　William　Siddalla　shadowy　menace　full　of　terror。　　She　dreamed　of　itwas　startled　from　sleep　by　visions　of　a　monstrous　and　mighty　distortion　of　the　little　general's　grotesque　exterior。　　‘‘I　shall　marry　him　if　I　can；''　she　said　to　her　self。　　‘‘Butcan　I？''　　And　she　feared　and　hoped　that　she　could　not；　that　courage　would　fail　her；　or　would　come　to　her　rescue；　whichever　it　was；　and　that　she　would　refuse　him。　　Aside　from　the　sense　of　her　body　that　cannot　but　be　with　any　woman　who　is　beautiful；　she　had　never　theretofore　been　especially　physical　in　thought。　　That　side　of　life　had　remained　vague；　as　she　had　never　indulged　in　or　even　been　strongly　tempted　with　the　things　that　rouse　it　from　its　virginal　sleep。　But　now　she　thought　only　of　her　body；　because　that　it　was；　and　that　alone；　that　had　drawn　this　prospective　purchaser；　and　his　eyes　never　let　her　forget　it。　　She　fell　into　the　habit　of　looking　at　herself　in　the　glass　at　her　face；　at　her　shoulders；　at　her　whole　person；　not　in　vanity　but　in　a　kind　of　wonder　or　aversion。　　And　in　the　visions；　both　the　waking　and　the　sleeping；　she　reached　the　climax　of　horror　when　the　monster　touched　herwith　clammy；　creepy　fingers；　with　munching　lips；　with　the　sharp　ends　of　the　mustache　or　imperial。

Said　Mrs。　Presbury　to　her　husband；　‘‘I'm　afraid　the　general　will　be　irritated　by　Mildred's　unresponsiveness。''

‘‘Don't　worry；''　replied　Presbury。　　‘‘He's　so　crazy　about　himself　that　he　imagines　the　whole　world　is　in　the　same　state。''

‘‘Isn't　it　strange　that　he　doesn't　give　her　presents？　Never　anything　but　candy　and　flowers。''

‘‘And　he　never　will；''　said　Presbury。

‘‘Not　until　they're　married；　I　suppose。''

Presbury　was　silent。

‘‘I　can't　help　thinking　that　if　Milly　were　to　rouse　herself　and　show　somesome　likingor　at　least　interest；　it'd　be　wiser。''

‘‘She's　taking　the　best　possible　course；''　said　Presbury。　　‘‘Unconsciously　to　both　of　them；　she's　leading　him　on。　　He　thinks　that's　the　way　a　lady　should　act　restrained；　refined。''

Mildred's　attitude　was　simple　inertia。　　The　most　positive　effort　she　made　was　avoiding　saying　or　doing　anything　to　displease　himno　difficult　matter；　as　she　was　silent　and　almost　li