the price she paid-第21章

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be　less　than　you'd　do　with　me　under　your　roof。　　At　any　rate；　it'd　seem　less。''

The　general　reflected；　decided　to　change　to　another　point：　　‘‘You　made　a　bargain　with　me。　　You've　broken　it。　　I　never　let　anyone　break　a　bargain　with　me　without　making　them　regret　it。　　I'm　giving　you　a　chance　to　keep　your　bargain。''

She　was　tempted　to　discuss；　but　she　could　not　find　the　words；　or　the　strength。　　Besides；　how　futile　to　discuss　with　such　a　man。　　She　sank　back　in　her　chair　wearily。　　‘‘I　shall　never　go　back；''　she　said。

He　looked　at　her；　his　face　devoid　of　expression；　but　she　had　a　sense　of　malignance　unutterable　eying　her　from　behind　a　screen。　　He　said：　　‘‘I　see　you've　misunderstood　my　generosity。　　You　think　I'm　weak　where　you　are　concerned　because　I've　come　to　you　instead　of　doing　as　I　said　and　making　you　come　to　me。''　　He　rose。　‘‘Well；　my　offer　to　you　is　closed。　　And　once　more　I　say；　you　will　come　to　me　and　ask　to　be　taken　back。　　I　may　or　may　not　take　you　back。　　It　depends　on　how　I'll　feel　at　that　time。''

Slowly；　with　his　ludicrously　pompous　strut；　he　marched　to　the　drawing…room　door。　　She　had　not　felt　like　smiling；　but　if　there　had　been　any　such　inclination　it　would　have　fled　before　the　countenance　that　turned　upon　her　at　the　threshold。　　It　was　the　lean；　little　face　with　the　funny　toupee　and　needle…like　mustache　and　imperial；　but　behind　it　lay　a　personality　like　the　dull；　cold；　yellow　eyes　of　the　devil…fish　ambushed　in　the　hazy　mass　of　dun…colored　formlessness　of　collapsed　body　and　tentacles。　　He　said：

‘‘You'd　best　be　careful　how　you　conduct　yourself。　You'll　be　under　constant　observation。　　And　any　friends　you　makethey'd　do　well　to　avoid　you。''

He　was　gone。　　She　sat　without　the　power　of　motion；　without　the　power　of　thought。　　After　a　timeperhaps　long；　perhaps　short；　she　did　not　knowMrs。　Belloc　came　in　and　entered　upon　a　voluble　apology　for　the　maid's　having　shown　‘‘the　little　gentleman''　into　the　drawing…room　when　another　was　already　there。　‘‘That　maid's　as　green　as　spring　corn；''　said　she。　‘‘Such　a　thing　never　happened　in　my　house　before。　And　it'll　never　happen　again。　　I　do　hope　it　didn't　cause　trouble。''

‘‘It　was　my　husband；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　had　to　see　him　some　time。''

‘‘He's　certainly　a　very　elegant　little　gentleman；''　said　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘I　rather　like　small　men；　myself。''

Mildred　gazed　at　her　vaguely　and　said；　‘‘Tell　me　a　rich　man；　a　very　rich　manif　he　hates　anyone；　can　he　make　trouble？''

‘‘Money　can　do　anything　in　this　town；''　replied　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘But　usually　rich　men　are　timid　and　stingy。　If　they　weren't；　they'd　make　us　all　cringe。　　As　it　is；　I've　heard　some　awful　stories　of　how　men　and　women　who've　got　some　powerful　person　down　on　them　have　been　hounded。''

Mildred　turned　deathly　sick。　　‘‘I　think　I'll　go　to　my　room；''　she　said；　rising　uncertainly　and　forcing　herself　toward　the　door。

Mrs。　Belloc's　curiosity　could　not　restrain　itself。　‘‘You're　leaving？''　she　asked。　　‘‘You're　going　back　to　your　husband？''

She　was　startled　when　the　girl　abruptly　turned　on　her　and　cried　with　flashing　eyes　and　voice　strong　and　vibrant　with　passion：　　‘‘Never！　　Never！　　No　matter　what　comesNEVER！''


The　rest　of　the　day　and　that　night　she　hid　in　her　room　and　made　no　effort　to　resist　the　terror　that　preyed　upon　her。　　Just　as　our　strength　is　often　the　source　of　weakness；　so　our　weaknesses　often　give　birth　to　strength。　Her　terror　of　the　little　general；　given　full　swing；　shrieked　and　grimaced　itself　into　absurdity。　　She　was　ashamed　of　her　orgy；　was　laughing　at　it　as　the　sun　and　intoxicating　air　of　a　typical　New　York　morning　poured　in　upon　her。　　She　accepted　Mrs。　Belloc's　invitation　to　take　a　turn　through　the　park　and　up　Riverside　Drive　in　a　taxicab；　came　back　restored　to　her　normal　state　of　blind　confidence　in　the　future。　　About　noon　Stanley　Baird　telephoned。

‘‘We　must　not　see　each　other　again　for　some　time；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　rather　suspect　that　youknowwho　may　be　having　you　watched。''

‘‘I'm　sure　of　it；''　said　she。　　‘‘He　warned　me。''

‘‘Don't　let　that　disturb　you；''　pursued　Stanley。　　‘‘A　mana　singing　teacherhis　name's　Eugene　Jennings　will　call　on　you　this　afternoon　at　three。　　Do　exactly　as　he　suggests。　　Let　him　do　all　the　talking。''

She　had　intended　to　tell　Baird　frankly　that　she　thought；　indeed　knew；　that　it　was　highly　dangerous　for　him　to　enter　into　her　affairs　in　any　way；　and　to　urge　him　to　draw　off。　　She　felt　that　it　was　only　fair　to　act　so　toward　one　who　had　been　unselfishly　generous　to　her。　　But　now　that　the　time　for　speaking　had　come；　she　found　herself　unable　to　speak。　　Only　by　flatly　refusing　to　have　anything　to　do　with　his　project　could　she　prevail　upon　him。　　To　say　less　than　that　she　had　completely　and　finally　changed　her　mind　would　sound；　and　would　be；　insincere。　　And　that　she　could　not　say。　She　felt　how　noble　it　would　be　to　say　this；　how　selfish；　and　weak；　too；　it　was　to　cling　to　him；　possibly　to　involve　him　in　disagreeable　and　even　dangerous　complications；　but　she　had　no　strength　to　do　what　she　would　have　denounced　another　as　base　for　not　doing。　　Instead　of　the　lofty　words　that　flow　so　freely　from　the　lips　of　stage　and　fiction　heroines；　instead　of　the　words　that　any　and　every　reader　of　this　history　would　doubtless　have　pronounced　in　the　same　circumstances；　she　said：

‘‘You're　quite　sure　you　want　to　go　on？''

‘‘Why　not？''　came　instantly　back　over　the　wire。

‘‘He　is　a　very；　very　relentless　man；''　replied　she。

‘‘Did　he　try　to　frighten　you？''

‘‘I'm　afraid　he　succeeded。''

‘‘You're　not　going　back　on　the　career！''　exclaimed　he　excitedly。　　‘‘I'll　come　down　there　and''

‘‘No；　no；''　cried　she。　　‘‘I　was　simply　giving　you　a　chance　to　free　yourself。''　　She　felt　sure　of　him　now。　She　scrambled　toward　the　heights　of　moral　grandeur。　‘‘I　want　you　to　stop。　　I've　no　right　to　ask　you　to　involve　yourself　in　my　misfortunes。　　Stanley；　you　mustn't。　　I　can't　allow　it。''

‘‘Oh；　fudge！''　laughed　he。　　‘‘Don't　give　me　these　scares。　　Don't　forgetJennings　at　three。　　Good…by　and　good　luck。''

And　he　rang　off　that　she　might　have　no　chance　on　impulse　to　do　herself　mischief　with　her　generous　thoughtfulness　for　him。　　She　felt　rather　mean；　but　not　nearly　so　mean　as　she　would　have　felt　had　she　let　the　opportunity　go　by　with　no　generous　word　said。　　‘‘And　no　doubt　my　aversion　for　that　little　wretch；''　thought　she；　‘‘makes　me　think　him　more　terrible　than　he　is。　After　all；　what　can　he　do？　　Watch　meand　discover　nothing；　because　there'll　be　nothing　to　discover。''

Jennings　came　exactly　at　threecame　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　wastes　no　one's　time　and　lets　no　one　waste　his　time。　　He　was　a　youngish　man　of　forty　or　there…　abouts；　with　a　long　sharp　nose；　a　large　tight　mouth；　and　eyes　that　seemed　to　be　looking　restlessly　about　for　money。　　That　they　had　not　looked　in　vain　seemed　to　be　indicated　by　such　facts　as　that　he　came　in　a　private　brougham　and　that　he　was　most　carefully　dressed；　apparently　with　the　aid　of　a　valet。

‘‘Miss　Stevens；''　he　said　with　an　abrupt　bow；　before　Mildred　had　a　chance　to　speak；　‘‘you　have　come　to　New　York　to　take　singing　lessonsto　prepare　yourself　for　the　stage。　　And　you　wish　a　comfortable　place　to　live　and　to　work。''　　He　extended　his　gloved　hand；　shook　hers　frigidly；　dropped　it。　　‘‘We　shall　get　onIF　you　work；　but　only　if　you　work。　　I　do　not　waste　myself　upon　triflers。''　　He　drew　a　card　from　his　pocket。　　‘‘If　you　will　go　to　see　the　lady　whose　name　and　address　are　written　on　this　card；　I　think　you　will　find　the　quarters　you　are　looking　for。''

‘‘Thank　you；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Come　to　memy　address　is　on　the　card；　also　at　half…past　ten　on　Saturday。　　We　will　then　lay　out　your　work。''

‘‘If　you　find　I　have　a　voice　worth　while；''　Mildred　ventured。

‘‘That；　of　course；''　said　Mr。　Jennings　curtly。　‘‘Until　half…past　ten　on　Saturday；　good　day。''

Again　he　gave　the　abrupt　foreign　bow　and；　while　Mildred　was　still　struggling　with　her　surprise　and　confusion；　she　saw　him；　through　the　window；　driving　rapidly　away。　　Mrs。　Belloc　came　drifting　through　the　room；　she　had　the　habit　of　looking　about　whenever　there　were　new　visitors；　and　in　her　it　was　not　irritating　because　her　interest　was　innocent　and　sympathetic。　Said　Mildred：

‘‘Did　you　see　that　man；　Mrs。　Belloc？''

‘‘What　an　extraordinary　nose　he　had；''　replied　she。

‘‘Yes；　I　noticed　that；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘But　it　was　the　only　thing　I　did　notice。　　He　is　a　singing　teacher　Mr。　Jennings。''

‘‘Eugene　Jennings？''

‘‘Yes；　Eugene。''

‘‘He's　the　best　known　singing　teacher　in　New　York。　He　gets　fifteen　dollars　a　half…hour。''

‘‘Then　I　simply　can't　take　from　him！''　exclaimed　Mildred；　before　she　thought。　　‘‘That's　frightful！''

‘‘Isn't　it；　though？''　echoed　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘I've　heard　his　income　is　fifty　thousand　a　year；　what　with　lessons　and　coaching　and　odds　and　ends。　　There's　a　lot　of　them　that　do　well；　because　so　many　fool　women　with　nothing　to　do　cultivate　their　voiceswhen　they　can't　sing　a　little　bit。　　But　he　tops　them　all。　　I　don't　see　how　ANY　teacher　can　put　fifteen　dollars　of　value　into　half　an　hour。　　But　I　suppose　he　does；　or　he　wouldn't　get　it。　　Still；　his　may　be　just　another　case　of　New　York　nerve。　　This　is　the　biggest　bluff　town　in　the　world；　I　do　believe。　　Here；　you　can　get　away　with　anything；　I　don't　care　what　it　is；　if　only　you　bluff　hard　enough。''

As　there　was　no　reason　for　delay　and　many　reasons　against　it；　Mildred　went　at　once　to　the　address　on　the　card　Jennings　had　left。　　She　found　Mrs。　Howell　Brindley　installed　in　a　plain　comfortable　apartment　in　Fifty…ninth　Street；　overlooking　the　park　and　high　enough　to　make　the　noise　of　the　traffic　endurable。　　A　Swedish　maid；　prepossessingly　white　and　clean；　ushered　her　into　the　little　drawing…room；　which　was　furnished　with　more　simplicity　and　individual　taste　than　is　usual　anywhere　in　New　York；　cursed　of　the　mania　for　useless　and　tasteless　showiness。　　There　were　no　messy　draperies；　no　fussy　statuettes；　vases；　gilt　boxes；　and　the　like。　Mildred　awaited　the　entrance　of　Mrs。　Brindley　hopefully。

She　was　not　disappointed。　　Presently　in　came　a　quietly…dressed；　frank…looking　woman　of　a　young　forty　a　woman　who　had　by　no　means　lost　her　physical　freshness；　but　had　gained　charm　of　another　and　more　enduring　kind。　　As　she　came　forward　with　extended　but　not　overeager　hand；　she　said：

‘‘I　was　expecting　you；　Mrs。　Siddallthat　is；　Miss　Stevens。''

‘‘Mr。　Jennings　did　not　say　when　I　was　to　come。　　If　I　am　disturbing　you''

Mrs。　Brindley　hastened　to　assure　her　that　her　visit　was　quite　convenient。　　‘‘I　must　have　someone　to　share　the　expense　of　this　apartment　with　me；　and　I　want　the　matter　settled。　　Mr。　Jennings　has　explained　about　you　to　me；　and　now　that　I've　seen　you''　here　she　smiled　charmingly‘‘I　am　ready　to　say　that　it　is　for　you　to　say。''

Mildred　did　not　know　how　to　begin。　　She　looked　at　Mrs。　Brindley　with　appeal　in　her　troubled　young　eyes。

‘‘You　no　doubt　wish　to　know　something　about　me；''　said　Mrs。　Brindley。　　‘‘My　husband　was　a　composer　a　friend　of　Mr。　Jennings。　　He　died　two　years　ago。　I　am　here　in　New　York　to　teach　the　piano。　　What　the　lessons　will　bring；　with　my　small　income；　will　enable　me　to　liveif　I　can　find　someone　to　help　out　at　the　expenses　here。　　As　I　understand　it；　you　are　willing　to　pay　forty　dollars　a　week；　I　to　run　the　house；　pay　all　the　bills；　and　so　onall；　of　course；　if　you　wish　to　come　here。''