the price she paid-第4章

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resh　winter　air。　　The　result　was　that　she　awakened　with　a　frightful　cold　and　a　splitting　headache。　　And　as　the　weather　was　about　to　change　she　had　shooting　pains　like　toothache　through　her　toes　the　instant　she　thrust　them　into　her　shoes。　The　elderly　groom；　believing　he　had　a　rich　bride；　was　all　solicitude　and　infuriating　attention。　　She　waited　until　he　had　wrought　her　to　the　proper　pitch　of　fury。　　Then　she　saidin　reply　to　some　remark　of　his：

‘‘Yes；　I　shall　rely　upon　you　entirely。　　I　want　you　to　take　absolute　charge　of　my　affairs。''

The　tears　sprang　to　his　eyes。　　His　weak　old　mouth；　rapidly　falling　to　pieces；　twisted　and　twitched　with　emotion。　　‘‘I'll　try　to　deserve　your　confidence；　darling；''　said　he。　　‘‘I've　had　large　business　experience　in　the　way　of　investing　carefully；　I　mean。　　I　don't　think　your　affairs　will　suffer　in　my　hands。''

‘‘Oh；　I'm　sure　they'll　not　trouble　you；''　said　she　in　a　sweet；　sure　tone　as　the　pains　shot　through　her　feet　and　her　head。　　‘‘You'll　hardly　notice　my　little　mite　in　your　property。''　　She　pretended　to　reflect。　　‘‘Let　me　seethere's　seven　thousand　left；　but　of　course　half　of　that　is　Millie's。''

‘‘It　must　be　very　well　invested；''　said　he。　　‘‘Those　seven　thousand　shares　must　be　of　the　very　best。''

‘‘Shares？''　said　she；　with　a　gentle　little　laugh。　　‘‘I　mean　dollars。''

Presbury　was　about　to　lift　a　cup　of　cafe　au　lait　to　his　lips。　　Instead；　he　turned　it　over　into　the　platter　of　eggs　and　bacon。

‘‘WeMildred　and　I；''　pursued　his　bride；　‘‘were　left　with　only　forty…odd　thousand　between　us。　　Of　course；　we　had　to　live。　　So；　naturally；　there's　very　little　left。''

Presbury　was　shaking　so　violently　that　his　head　and　arms　waggled　like　a　jumping…jack's。　　He　wrapped　his　elegant　white　fingers　about　the　arms　of　his　chair　to　steady　himself。　　In　a　suffocated　voice　he　said：　　‘‘Do　you　mean　to　say　that　you　have　only　seven　thousand　dollars　in　the　world？''

‘‘Only　half　that；''　corrected　she。　　‘‘Oh；　dear；　how　my　head　aches！　　Less　than　half　that；　for　there　are　some　debts。''

She　was　impatient　for　the　explosion；　the　agony　of　her　feet　and　head　needed　outlet　and　relief。　　But　he　disappointed　her。　　That　was　one　of　the　situations　in　which　one　appeals　in　vain　to　the　resources　of　language。　　He　shrank　and　sank　back　in　his　chair；　his　jaw　dropped；　and　he　vented　a　strange；　imbecile　cackling　laugh。　　It　was　not　an　expression　of　philosophic　mirth；　of　sense　of　the　grotesqueness　of　an　anti…climax。　　It　was　not　an　expression　of　any　emotion　whatever。　　It　was　simply　a　signal　from　a　mind　temporarily　dethroned。

‘‘What　are　you　laughing　at？''　she　said　sharply。

His　answer　was　a　repetition　of　the　idiotic　sound。

‘‘What's　the　matter　with　you？''　demanded　she。　‘‘Please　close　your　mouth。''

It　was　a　timely　piece　of　advice；　for　his　upper　and　false　teeth　had　become　partially　dislodged　and　threatened　to　drop　upon　the　shirt…bosom　gayly　showing　　between　the　lapels　of　his　dark…blue　silk　house…coat。　　He　slowly　closed　his　mouth；　moving　his　teeth　back　into　place　with　his　tonguea　gesture　that　made　her　face　twitch　with　rage　and　disgust。

‘‘Seven　thousand　dollars；''　he　mumbled　dazedly。

‘‘I　said　less　than　half　that；''　retorted　she　sharply。

‘‘And　Ithought　you　wererich。''

A　peculiar　rolling　of　the　eyes　and　twisting　of　the　lips　gave　her　the　idea　that　he　was　about　to　vent　that　repulsive　sound　again。　　‘‘Don't　you　laugh！''　she　cried。　‘‘I　can't　bear　your　laugheven　at　its　best。''

Suddenly　he　galvanized　into　fury。　　‘‘This　is　an　outrage！''　he　cried；　waving　his　useless…looking　white　fists。　‘‘You　have　swindled　meSWINDLED　me！''

Her　head　stopped　aching。　　The　pains　in　her　feet　either　ceased　or　she　forgot　them。　　In　a　suspiciously　calm　voice　she　said：　　‘‘What　do　you　mean？''

‘‘I　mean　that　you　are　a　swindler！''　he　shouted；　banging　one　fist　on　the　table　and　waving　the　other。

She　acted　as　though　his　meaning　were　just　dawning　upon　her。　　‘‘Do　you　mean；''　said　she　tranquilly；　‘‘that　you　married　me　for　money？''

‘‘I　mean　that　I　thought　you　a　substantial　woman；　and　that　I　find　you　are　an　adventuress。''

‘‘Did　you　think；''　inquired　she；　‘‘that　any　woman　who　had　money　would　marry　YOU？''　She　laughed　very　quietly。　　‘‘You　ARE　a　fool！''

He　sat　back　to　look　at　her。　　This　mode　of　combat　in　such　circumstances　puzzled　him。

‘‘I　knew　that　you　were　rich；''　she　went　on；　‘‘or　you　would　not　have　dared　offer　yourself　to　me。　　All　my　friends　were　amazed　at　my　stooping　to　accept　you。　Your　father　was　an　Irish　Tammany　contractor；　wasn't　he？a　sort　of　criminal？　　But　I　simply　had　to　marry。　So　I　gave　you　my　family　and　position　and　name　in　exchange　for　your　wealtha　good　bargain　for　you；　but　a　poor　one　for　me。''

These　references　to　HIS　wealth　were　most　disconcerting；　especially　as　they　were　accompanied　by　remarks　about　his　origin；　of　which　he　was　so　ashamed　that　he　had　changed　the　spelling　of　his　name　in　the　effort　to　clear　himself　of　it。　　However；　some　retort　was　imperative。　He　looked　at　her　and　said：

‘‘Swindler　and　adventuress！''

‘‘Don't　repeat　that　lie；''　said　she。　　‘‘You　are　the　adventurerdespite　the　fact　that　you　are　very　rich。''

‘‘Don't　say　that　again；''　cried　he。　　‘‘I　never　said　or　pretended　I　was　rich。　　I　have　about　five　thousand　a　yearand　you'll　not　get　a　cent　of　it；　madam！''

She　knew　his　income；　but　no　one　would　have　suspected　it　from　her　expression　of　horror。　　‘‘What！''　she　gasped。　　‘‘You　dared　to　marry　ME　when　you　were　a　beggar！　　Methe　widow　of　Henry　Gower！　　You　impudent　old　wreck！　　Why；　you　haven't　enough　to　pay　my　servants。　　What　are　we　to　live　on；　pray？''

‘‘I　don't　know　what　YOU'LL　live　on；''　replied　he。　‘‘_I_　shall　live　as　I　always　have。''

‘‘A　beggar！''　she　exclaimed。　　‘‘Imarried　to　a　beggar。''　　She　burst　into　tears。　　‘‘How　men　take　advantage　of　a　woman　alone！　　If　my　son　had　been　near　me！　　But　there's　surely　some　law　to　protect　me。　　Yes；　I'm　sure　there　is。　　Oh；　I'll　punish　you　for　having　deceived　me。''　　Her　eyes　dried　as　she　looked　at　him。　‘‘How　dare　you　sit　there？　　How　dare　you　face　me；　you　miserable　fraud！''

Early　in　her　acquaintance　with　him　she　had　discovered　that　determining　factors　in　his　character　were　sensitiveness　about　his　origin　and　sensitiveness　about　his　social　position。　　On　this　knowledge　of　his　weaknesses　was　securely　based　her　confidence　that　she　could　act　as　she　pleased　toward　him。　　To　ease　her　pains　she　proceeded　to　pour　out　her　private　opinion　of　himall　the　disagreeable　things；　all　the　insults　she　had　been　storing　up。

She　watched　him　as　only　a　woman　can　watch　a　man。　She　saw　that　his　rage　was　not　dangerous；　that　she　was　forcing　him　into　a　position　where　fear　of　her　revenging　herself　by　disgracing　him　would　overcome　anger　at　the　collapse　of　his　fatuous　dreams　of　wealth。　　She　did　not　despise　him　the　more　deeply　for　sitting　there；　for　not　flying　from　the　room　or　trying　to　kill　her　or　somehow　compelling　her　to　check　that　flow　of　insult。　　She　already　despised　him　utterly；　also；　she　attached　small　importance　to　self…respect；　having　no　knowledge　of　what　that　quality　really　is。

When　she　grew　tired；　she　became　quiet。　　They　sat　there　a　long　time　in　silence。　　At　last　he　ran　up　the　white　flag　of　abject　surrender　by　saying：

‘‘What'll　we　live　onthat's　what　I'd　like　to　know？''

An　eavesdropper　upon　the　preceding　violence　of　upward　of　an　hour　would　have　assumed　that　at　its　end　this　pair　must　separate；　never　to　see　each　other　again　voluntarily。　　But　that　idea；　even　as　a　possibility；　had　not　entered　the　mind　of　either。　　They　had　lived　a　long　time；　they　were　practical　people。　　They　knew　from　the　outset　that　somehow　they　must　arrange　to　go　on　together。　The　alternative　meant　a　mere　pittance　of　alimony　for　her；　meant　for　him　social　ostracism　and　the　small　income　cut　in　half；　meant　for　both　scandal　and　confusion。

Said　she　fretfully：　　‘‘Oh；　I　suppose　we'll　get　along；　somehow。　　I　don't　know　anything　about　those　things。　I've　always　been　looked　afterkept　from　contact　with　the　sordid　side　of　life。''

‘‘That　house　you　live　in；''　he　went　on；　‘‘does　it　belong　to　you？''

She　gave　him　a　contemptuous　glance。　　‘‘Of　course；''　said　she。　　‘‘What　low　people　you　must　have　been　used　to！''

‘‘I　thought　perhaps　you　had　rented　it　for　your　bunco　game；''　retorted　he。　　‘‘The　furniture；　the　horses；　the　motorall　those　thingsdo　they　belong　to　you？''

‘‘I　shall　leave　the　room　if　you　insult　me；''　said　she。

‘‘Did　you　include　them　in　the　seven　thousand　dollars？''

‘‘The　money　is　in　the　bank。　　It　has　nothing　to　do　with　our　house　and　our　property。''

He　reflected；　presently　said：　　‘‘The　horses　and　carriages　must　be　sold　at　onceand　all　those　servants　dismissed　except　perhaps　two。　　We　can　live　in　the　house。''

She　grew　purple　with　rage。　　‘‘Sell　MY　carriages！　Discharge　MY　servants！　　I'd　like　to　see　you　try！''

‘‘Who's　to　pay　for　keeping　up　that　establishment？''　demanded　he。

She　was　silent。　　She　saw　what　he　had　in　mind。

‘‘If　you　want　to　keep　that　house　and　live　comfortably；''　he　went　on；　‘‘you've　got　to　cut　expenses　to　the　bone。　　You　see　that；　don't　you？''

‘‘I　can't　live　any　way　but　the　way　I've　been　used　to　all　my　life；''　wailed　she。

He　eyed　her　disgustedly。　　Was　there　anything　equal　to　a　woman　for　folly？

‘‘We've　got　to　make　the　most　of　what　little　we　have；''　said　he。

‘‘I　tell　you　I　don't　know　anything　about　those　things；''　repeated　she。　　‘‘You'll　have　to　look　after　them。　Mildred　and　I　aren't　like　the　women　you've　been　used　to。　We　are　ladies。''

Presbury's　rage　boiled　over　again　at　the　mention　of　Mildred。　　‘‘That　daughter　of　yours！''　he　cried。　‘‘What's　to　be　done　about　her？　　I've　got　no　money　to　waste　on　her。''

‘‘You　miserable　Tammany　THING！''　exclaimed　she。　‘‘Don't　you　dare　SPEAK　of　my　daughter　except　in　the　most　respectful　way。''

And　once　more　she　opened　out　upon　him；　wreaking　upon　him　all　her　wrath　against　fate；　all　the　pent…up　fury　of　two　yearsfury　which　had　been　denied　such　fury's　usual　and　natural　expression　in　denunciations　of　the　dead　bread…winner。　　The　generous　and　ever…kind　Henry　Gower　could　not　be　to　blame　for　her　wretched　plight；　and；　of　course；　she　herself　could　not　be　to　blame　for　it。　　So；　until　now　there　had　been　no　scapegoat。　Presbury　therefore　received　the　whole　burden。　　He；　alarmed　lest　a　creature　apparently　so　irrational；　should　in　wild　rage　drive　him　away；　ruin　him　socially；　perhaps　induce　a　sympathetic　court　to　award　her　a　large　part　of　his　income　as　alimony；　said　not　a　word　in　reply。　　He　bade　his　wrath　wait。　　Later　on；　when　the　peril　was　over；　when　he　had　a　firm　grip　upon　the　situationthen　he　would　take　his　revenge。

They　gave　up　the　expensive　suite　at　the　Waldorf　that　very　day　and　returned　to　Hanging　Rock。　　They　alternated　between　silence　and　the　coarsest；　crudest　quarrelings；　for　neither　had　the　intelligence　to　quarrel　wittily　or　the　refinement　to　quarrel　artistically。　　As　soon　as　they　arrived　at　the　Gower　house；　Mildred　was　dragged　into　the　wrangle。

‘‘I　married　this　terrible　man　for　your　sake；''　was　the　burden　of　her　mother's　wail。　　‘‘And　he　is　a　beggar　wants　to　sell　off　everything　and　dismiss　the　servants。''

‘‘You　are　a　pair　of　paupers；''　cried　the　old　man。　‘‘You　are　shameless　tricksters。　　Be　careful　how　you　goad　me！''

Mildred　had　anticipated　an　unhappy　ending　to　her　mother's　marriage；　but　she　had　not　knowledge　enough　of　life　or　of　human　nature　to　anticipate　any　such　horrors　as　now