the price she paid-第10节

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！


eated　not　merely　the　turkeys；　but　Paris；　also。　‘‘Potin　sends　them　over　to　me。　　Potin；　you　know；　is　the　finest　dealer　in　groceries；　fruit；　game；　and　so　on　in　the　world。　　I　have　a　standing　order　with　him　for　the　best　of　everything　that　comes　in。　　I'd　hate　to　tell　you　what　my　bill　with　Potin　is　every　monthhe　only　sends　it　to　me　once　a　year。　　Really；　I　think　I　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　myself；　but　I　reason　that；　if　a　man　can　afford　it；　he's　a　fool　to　put　anything　but　the　best　into　his　stomach。''

‘‘You're　right　there！''　mumbled　Presbury。　　His　mouth　was　full　of　turkey。　　‘‘You　HAVE　got　a　chef；　General！''

‘‘He　ought　to　cook　well。　　I　pay　him　more　than　most　bank…presidents　get。　　What　do　you　think　of　those　joint　wagons；　Mrs。　Presbury？''

‘‘They're　veryinteresting；''　replied　she；　a　little　nervous　because　she　suspected　they　were　some　sort　of　vulgar　joke。

‘‘I　knew　you'd　like　them；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘My　own　idea　entirely。　　I　saw　them　in　several　restaurants　abroadonly　of　course　those　they　had　were　just　ordinary　affairs；　not　fit　to　be　introduced　into　a　gentleman's　dining…room。　　But　I　took　the　idea　and　adapted　it　to　my　purposesand　there　you　are！''

‘‘Very　original；　old　man；''　said　Presbury；　who　had　been　drinking　too　much。　　‘‘I've　never　seen　it　before；　and　I　don't　think　I　ever　shall　again。　　Got　the　idea　patented？''

But　Siddall　in　his　soberest　moment　would　have　been　slow　to　admit　a　suspicion　that　any　of　the　human　race；　which　he　regarded　as　on　its　knees　before　him；　was　venturing　to　poke　fun　at　him。　　Drunk　as　he　now　was；　the　openest　sarcasm　would　have　been　accepted　as　a　compliment。　After　a　gorgeous　dessert　which　nobody　more　than　toucheda　molded　mousse　of　whipped　and　frozen　cream　and　strawberries‘‘specially　sent　on　to　me　from　Florida　and　costing　me　a　dollar　apiece；　I　guess''after　this　costly　wonder　had　disappeared　fruit　was　served。　General　Siddall　had　ready　a　long　oration　upon　this　course。　　He　delivered　it　in　a　disgustingly　thick　tone。　The　pineapple　was　an　English　hothouse　product；　the　grapes　were　grown　by　a　costly　process　under　glass　in　Belgium。　　As　for　the　peaches；　Potin　had　sent　those　deli…　cately　blushing　marvels；　and　the　charge　for　this　would　be　‘‘not　less　than　a　louis　apiece；　sira　louis　d'or　which；　as　you　no　doubt　know；　is　about　four　dollars　of　Uncle　Sam's　money。''

The　coffee‘‘the　Queen　of　Holland　may　have　it　on　her　PRIVATE　tableMAY；　I　saybut　I　doubt　if　anyone　else　in　the　world　gets　a　smell　of　it　except　me''　the　coffee　and　the　brandy　came　not　a　moment　too　soon。　Presbury　was　becoming　stupefied　with　indigestion；　his　wife　was　nodding　and　was　wearing　that　vague；　forced；　pleasant　smile　which　stands　propriety…guard　over　a　mind　asleep；　Mildred　Gower　felt　that　her　nerves　would　endure　no　more；　and　the　general　was　falling　into　a　besotted　state；　spilling　his　wine；　mumbling　his　words。　The　coffee　and　the　brandy　revived　them　all　somewhat。　Mildred；　lifting　her　eyes；　saw　by　way　of　a　mirrored　section　of　the　enormous　sideboard　the　English　butler　surveying　master　and　guests　with　slowly　moving；　sneering　glance　of　ineffable　contempt。

In　the　drawing…room　again　Mildred；　requested　by　Siddall　and　ordered　by　Presbury；　sang　a　little　French　song　and　thenat　the　urging　of　Siddall‘‘Annie　Laurie。''　　Siddall　was　wiping　his　eyes　when　she　turned　around。　　He　said　to　Presbury：

‘‘Take　your　wife　into　the　conservatory　to　look　at　my　orchids。　　I　want　to　say　a　word　to　your　stepdaughter。''

Mildred　started　up　nervously。　　She　saw　how　drunk　the　general　was；　saw　the　expression　of　his　face　that　a　woman　has　to　be　innocent　indeed　not　to　understand。　She　was　afraid　to　be　left　alone　with　him。　　Presbury　came　up　to　her；　said　rapidly；　in　a　low　tone：

‘‘It's　all　right。　　He's　got　a　high　sense　of　what's　due　a　respectable　woman　of　our　class。　　He　isn't　as　drunk　as　he　looks　and　acts。''

Having　said　which；　he　took　his　wife　by　the　arm　and　pushed　her　into　the　adjoining　conservatory。　　Mildred　reseated　herself　upon　the　inlaid　piano…bench。　　The　little　man；　his　face　now　shiny　with　the　sweat　of　drink　and　emotion；　drew　up　a　chair　in　front　of　her。　　He　sat　and　he　was　almost　as　tall　sitting　as　standing。　　He　said　graciously：


‘‘Don't　be　afraid；　my　dear　girl。　　I'm　not　that　dangerous。''

She　lifted　her　eyes　and　looked　at　him。　　She　tried　to　conceal　her　aversion；　she　feared　she　was　not　succeeding。　But　she　need　not　have　concerned　herself　about　that。　General　Siddall；　after　the　manner　of　very　rich　men；　could　not　conceive　of　anyone　being　less　impressed　with　his　superiority　in　any　way　than　he　himself　was。　　For　years　he　had　heard　only　flatteries　of　himselfhis　own　voice　singing　his　praises；　the　fawning　voices　of　those　he　hired　and　of　those　hoping　to　get　some　financial　advantage。　　He　could　not　have　imagined　a　mere　woman　not　being　overwhelmed　by　the　prospect　of　his　courting　her。　　Nor　would　it　have　entered　his　head　that　his　money　would　be　the　chief；　much　less　the　only；　consideration　with　her。　　He　had　long　since　lost　all　point　of　view；　and　believed　that　the　adulation　paid　his　wealth　was　evoked　by　his　charms　of　person；　mind；　and　manner。　　Those　who　imagine　this　was　evidence　of　folly　and　weak…mindedness　and　extraordinary　vanity　show　how　little　they　know　human　nature。　　The　strongest　head　could　not　re…　main　steady；　the　most　accurate　eyes　could　not　retain　their　measuring　skill；　in　such　an　environment　as　always　completely　envelops　wealth　and　power。　　And　the　much…　talked…of　difference　between　those　born　to　wealth　and　power　and　those　who　rise　to　it　from　obscurity　resolves　itself　to　little　more　than　the　difference　between　those　born　mad　and　those　who　go　insane。

Looking　at　the　little　man　with　the　disagreeable　eyes；　so　dull　yet　so　shrewd；　Mildred　saw　that　within　the　drunkard　who　could　scarcely　sit　straight　upon　the　richly　upholstered　and　carved　gilt　chair　there　was　another　person；　coldly　sober；　calmly　calculating。　　And　she　realized　that　it　was　this　person　with　whom　she　was　about　to　have　the　most　serious　conversation　of　her　life　thus　far。

The　drunkard　smiled　with　a　repulsive　wiping　and　smacking　of　the　thin；　sensual　lips。　　‘‘I　suppose　you　know　why　I　had　you　brought　here　this　evening？''　said　he。

Mildred　looked　and　waited。

‘‘I　didn't　intend　to　say　anything　to…night。　　In　fact；　I　didn't　expect　to　find　in　you　what　I've　been　looking　for。　　I　thought　that　old　fool　of　a　stepfather　of　yours　was　cracking　up　his　goods　beyond　their　merits。　　But　he　wasn't。　　My　dear；　you　suit　me　from　the　ground　up。　　I've　been　looking　you　over　carefully。　　You　were　made　for　the　place　I　want　to　fill。''

Mildred　had　lowered　her　eyes。　　Her　face　had　become　deathly　pale。　　‘‘I　feel　faint；''　she　murmured。　　‘‘It　is　very　warm　here。''

‘‘You're　not　sickly？''　inquired　the　general　sharply。　‘‘You　look　like　a　good　solid　womanthin　but　wiry。　Ever　been　sick？　　I　must　look　into　your　health。　　That's　a　point　on　which　I　must　be　satisfied。''

A　wave　of　anger　swept　through　her；　restoring　her　strength。　　She　was　about　to　speaka　rebuke　to　his　colossal　impudence　that　he　would　not　soon　forget。　Then　she　remembered；　and　bit　her　lips。

‘‘I　don't　ask　you　to　decide　to…night；''　pursued　he；　hastening　to　explain　this　concession　by　adding：　　‘‘I　don't　intend　to　decide；　myself。　　All　I　say　is　that　I　am　willingif　the　goods　are　up　to　the　sample。''

Mildred　saw　her　stepfather　and　her　mother　watching　from　just　within　the　conservatory　door。　　A　movement　of　the　portiere　at　the　door　into　the　hall　let　her　know　that　Darcy；　the　butler；　was　peeping　and　listening　there。　　She　stood　up；　clenched　her　hands；　struck　them　together；　struck　them　against　her　temples；　crossed　the　room　swiftly；　flung　herself　down　upon　a　sofa；　and　burst　into　tears。　　Presbury　and　his　wife　entered。　　Siddall　was　standing；　looking　after　Mildred　with　a　grin。　　He　winked　at　Presbury　and　said：

‘‘I　guess　we　gave　her　too　much　of　that　wine。　　It's　all　old　and　stronger　than　you'd　think。''

‘‘My　daughter　hardly　touched　her　glasses；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。

‘‘I　know　that；　ma'am；''　replied　Siddall。　　‘‘I　watched　her。　　If　she'd　done　much　drinking；　I'd　have　been　done；　then　and　there。''

‘‘I　suspect　she's　upset　by　what　you've　been　saying；　General；''　said　Presbury。　　‘‘Wasn't　it　enough　to　upset　a　girl？　　You　don't　realize　how　magnificent　you　are　how　magnificent　everything　is　here。''

‘‘I'm　sorry　if　I　upset　her；''　said　the　general；　swelling　and　loftily　contrite。　　‘‘I　don　t　know　why　it　is　that　people　never　seem　to　be　able　to　act　natural　with　me。''　　He　hated　those　who　did；　regarding　them　as　sodden；　unappreciative　fools。

Mrs。　Presbury　was　quieting　her　daughter。　　Presbury　and　Siddall　lighted　cigars　and　went　into　the　smoking　and　billiard…room　across　the　hall。　　Said　Presbury：

‘‘I　didn't　deceive　you；　did　I；　General？''

‘‘She's　entirely　satisfactory；''　replied　Siddall。　　‘‘I'm　going　to　make　careful　inquiries　about　her　character　and　her　health。　　If　those　things　prove　to　be　all　right　I'm　ready　to　go　ahead。''

‘‘Then　the　thing's　settled；''　said　Presbury。　　‘‘She's　all　that　a　lady　should　be。　　And　except　a　cold　now　and　then　she　never　has　anything　the　matter　with　her。　　She　comes　of　good　healthy　stock。''

‘‘I　can't　stand　a　sickly；　ailing　woman；''　said　Siddall。　‘‘I　wouldn't　marry　one；　and　if　one　I　married　turned　out　to　be　that　kind；　I'd　make　short　work　of　her。　　When　you　get　right　down　to　facts；　what　is　a　woman？　　Why；　a　body。　　If　she