the price she paid-第12节

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After　some　discussion；　they　fixed　upon　Joseph　Tilker　as　the　best　available　investigator　of　General　Siddall。　Tilker　had　been　head　clerk　for　Henry　Gower。　　He　was　now　in　for　himself　and　had　offered　to　look　after　any　legal　business　Mrs。　Presbury　might　have　without　charging　her。　　He　presently　reported　that　there　was　not　a　doubt　as　to　the　wealth　of　the　little　general。　‘‘There　are　all　sorts　of　ugly　stories　about　how　he　made　his　money；''　said　Tilker；　‘‘but　all　the　great　fortunes　have　a　scandalous　history；　and　I　doubt　if　Siddall's　is　any　worse　than　the　others。　　I　don't　see　how　it　well　could　be。　　Siddall　has　the　reputation　of　being　a　mean　and　cruel　little　tyrant。　　He　is　said　to　be　pompous；　vain；　ignorant''

‘‘Indeed　he's　not；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。　　‘‘He's　a　rough　diamond；　but　a　natural　gentleman。　　I've　met　him。''

‘‘Well；　he's　rich　enough；　and　that　was　all　you　asked　me　to　find　out；''　said　Tilker。　　‘‘But　I　must　warn　you；　Mrs。　Presbury；　not　to　have　any　business　or　intimate　personal　relations　with　him。''

Mrs。　Presbury　congratulated　herself　on　her　wisdom　in　having　come　alone　to　hear　Tilker's　report。　　She　did　not　repeat　any　part　of　it　to　Mildred　except　what　he　had　said　about　the　wealth。　　That　she　enlarged　upon　until　Mildred's　patience　gave　out。　　She　interrupted　with　a　shrewd：

‘‘Anything　else；　mamma？　　Anything　about　him　personally？''

‘‘We've　got　to　judge　him　in　that　way　for　ourselves；''　replied　Mrs。　Presbury。　　‘‘You　know　how　wickedly　they　lie　about　anyone　who　has　anything。''

‘‘I　should　like　to　read　a　full　account　of　General　Siddall；''　said　Mildred　reflectively；　‘‘just　to　satisfy　my　curiosity。''

Mrs。　Presbury　made　no　reply。

Presbury　had　decided　that　it　was　best　to　make　no　advance；　but　to　wait　until　they　heard　from　Siddall。　　He　let　a　week；　ten　days；　go　by；　then　his　impatience　got　the　better　of　his　shrewdness。　　He　sought　admittance　to　the　great　man　at　the　offices　of　the　International　Metals　and　Minerals　Company　in　Cedar　Street。　　After　being　subjected　to　varied　indignities　by　sundry　under…　strappers；　he　received　a　message　from　the　general　through　a　secretary：　　‘‘The　general　says　he'll　let　you　know　when　he's　ready　to　take　up　that　matter。　　He　says　he　hasn't　got　round　to　it　yet。''　　Presbury　apologized　courteously　for　his　intrusion　and　went　away；　cursing　under　his　breath。　　You　may　be　sure　that　he　made　his　wife　and　his　stepdaughter　suffer　for　what　he　had　been　through。　　Two　weeks　more　passedthreea　month。　One　morning　in　the　mail　there　arrived　this　notetype…　written　upon　business　paper：


JAMES　PRESBURY；　Esqr。：　DEAR　SIR：

General　Siddall　asks　me　to　present　his　compliments　and　to　say　that　he　will　be　pleased　if　you　and　your　wife　and　the　young　lady　will　dine　with　him　at　his　house　next　Thursday　the　seventeenth　at　half…past　seven　sharp。

ROBERT　CHANDLESS；　Secretary。


The　only　words　in　longhand　were　the　two　forming　the　name　of　the　secretary。　　Presbury　laughed　and　tossed　the　note　across　the　breakfast　table　to　his　wife。　‘‘You　see　what　an　ignorant　creature　he　is；''　said　he。　‘‘He　imagines　he　has　done　the　thing　up　in　grand　style。　He's　the　sort　of　man　that　can't　be　taught　manners　because　he　thinks　manners；　the　ordinary　civilities；　are　for　the　lower　orders　of　people。　　Oh；　he's　a　joke；　is　Bill　Siddalla　horrible　joke。''

Mrs。　Presbury　read　and　passed　the　letter　to　Mildred。　She　simply　glanced　at　it　and　returned　it　to　her　step…father。

‘‘I'm　just　about　over　that　last　dinner；''　pursued　Presbury。　　‘‘I'll　eat　little　Thursday　and　drink　less。　And　I'd　advise　you　to　do　the　same；　Mrs。　Presbury。''

He　always　addressed　her　as　‘‘Mrs。　Presbury''　because　he　had　discovered　that　when　so　addressed　she　always　winced；　and；　if　he　put　a　certain　tone　into　his　voice；　she　quivered。

‘‘That　dinner　aged　you　five　years；''　he　went　on。　‘‘Besides；　you　drank　so　much　that　it　went　to　your　head　and　made　you　slather　him　with　flatteries　that　irritated　him。　　He　thought　you　were　a　fool；　and　no　one　is　stupid　enough　to　like　to　be　flattered　by　a　fool。''

Mrs。　Presbury　bridled；　swallowed　hard；　said　mildly：　‘‘We'll　have　to　spend　the　night　in　town　again；　I　suppose。''

‘‘You　and　your　daughter　may　do　as　you　like；''　said　Presbury。　　‘‘I　shall　return　here　that　night。　　I　always　catch　cold　in　strange　beds。''

‘‘We　might　as　well　all　return　here；''　said　Mildred。　‘‘I　shall　not　wear　evening　dress；　that　is；　I'll　wear　a　high…neck　dress　and　a　hat。''

She　had　just　got　a　new　hat　that　was　peculiarly　becoming　to　her。　　She　had　shown　Siddall　herself　at　the　best　in　evening　attire；　another　sort　of　costume　would　give　him　a　different　view　of　her　looks；　one　which　she　flattered　herself　was　not　less　attractive。　　But　Presbury　interposed　an　emphatic　veto。

‘‘You'll　wear　full　evening　dress；''　said　he。　　‘‘Bare　neck　and　arms　for　men　like　Bill　Siddall。　　They　want　to　see　what　they're　getting。''

Mildred　flushed　scarlet　and　her　lips　trembled　as　though　she　were　about　to　cry。　　In　fact；　her　emotion　was　altogether　shamea　shame　so　poignant　that　even　Presbury　was　abashed；　and　mumbled　something　apologetic。　Nevertheless　she　wore　a　low…neck　dress　on　Thursday　evening；　one　as　daring　as　the　extremely　daring　fashions　of　that　year　permitted　an　unmarried　woman　to　wear。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　Siddall　was　still　more　costly　and　elegant…looking　than　before；　though　this　may　have　been　due　to　the　fact　that　he　always　created　an　impression　that　in　the　retrospect　of　memory　seemed　exaggerated。　　It　seemed　impossible　that　anyone　could　be　so　clean；　so　polished　and　scoured；　so　groomed　and　tailored；　so　bedecked；　so　high…heeled　and　loftily　coiffed。　His　mean　little　countenance　with　its　grotesquely　waxed　mustache　and　imperial　wore　an　expression　of　gracious　benignity　that　assured　his　guests　they　need　anticipate　no　disagreeable　news。

‘‘I　owe　you　an　apology　for　keeping　you　in　suspense　so　long；''　said　he。　　‘‘I'm　a　very　busy　man；　with　interests　in　all　parts　of　the　world。　　I　keep　house　some　of　'em　bigger　than　thisopen　and　going　in　sis　different　places。　　I　always　like　to　be　at　home　wherever　my　business　takes　me。''

Mrs。　Presbury　rolled　her　eyes。　　‘‘Isn't　that　WONDERFUL！''　she　exclaimed。　　‘‘What　an　interesting　life　you　must　lead！''

‘‘Oh；　soso；''　replied　the　general。　　‘‘But　I　get　awful　lonesome。　　I'm　naturally　a　domestic　man。　　I　don't　care　for　friends。　　They're　expensive　and　dangerous。　A　man　in　my　position　is　like　a　king。　　He　can't　have　friends。　　So；　if　he　hasn't　got　a　family；　he　hasn't　got　nothanything。''

‘‘Nothing　like　home　life；''　said　Presbury。

‘‘Yes；　indeed；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。

The　little　general　smiled　upon　Mildred；　sitting　pale　and　silent；　with　eyes　downcast。　　‘‘Well；　I　don't　intend　to　be　alone　much　longer；　if　I　can　help　it；''　said　he。　‘‘And　I　may　say　that　I　can　make　a　woman　happy　if　she's　the　right　sortif　she　has　sense　enough　to　appreciate　a　good　husband。''　　This　last　he　said　sternly；　with　more　than　a　hint　of　his　past　matrimonial　misfortunes　in　his　frown　and　in　his　voice。　　‘‘The　trouble　with　a　great　many　women　is　that　they're　foolsflighty；　ungrateful　fools。　　If　I　married　a　woman　like　that；　I'd　make　short　work　of　her。''

‘‘And　she'd　deserve　it；　General；''　said　Mildred's　mother　earnestly。　　‘‘But　you'll　have　no　trouble　if　you　select　a　ladya　girl　who's　been　well　brought　up　and　has　respect　for　herself。''

‘‘That's　my　opinion；　ma'am；''　said　the　general。　‘‘I'm　convinced　that　while　a　man　can　become　a　gentleman；　a　woman's　got　to　be　born　a　lady　or　she　never　is　one。''

‘‘Very　true；　General；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。　　‘‘I　never　thought　of　it　before；　but　it's　the　truest　thing　I　ever　heard。''

Presbury　grinned　at　his　plate。　　He　stole　a　glance　at　Mildred。　　Their　eyes　met。　　She　flushed　faintly。

‘‘I've　had　a　great　deal　of　experience　of　women；''　pur…　sued　the　general。　　‘‘In　my　boyhood　days　I　was　a　ladies'　man。　　And　of　course　since　I've　had　money　they've　swarmed　round　me　like　bees　in　a　clover…patch。''

‘‘Oh；　General；　you're　far　too　modest；''　cried　Mrs。　Presbury。　　‘‘A　man　like　you　wouldn't　need　to　be　afraid；　if　he　hadn't　a　cent。''

‘‘But　not　the　kind　of　women　I　want；''　replied　he；　firmly　if　complacently。　　‘‘A　lady　needs　money　to　keep　up　her　position。　　She　has　to　have　it。　　On　the　other　hand；　a　man　of　wealth　and　station　needs　a　lady　to　assist　him　in　the　proper　kind　of　life　for　men　of　his　sort。　So　they　need　each　other。　　They've　got　to　have　each　other。　　That's　the　practical；　sensible　way　to　look　at　it。''

‘‘Exactly；''　said　Presbury。

‘‘And　I've　made　up　my　mind　to　marry；　and　marry　right　away。　　But　we'll　come　back　to　this　later　on。　Presbury；　you're　neglecting　that　wine。''

‘‘I'm　drinking　it　slowly　to　enjoy　it　better；''　said　Presbury。

The　dinner　was　the　same　unending　and　expensive　function　that　had　wearied　them　and　upset　their　digestions　on　Thanksgiving　Day。　　There　was　too　much　of　everything；　and　it　was　all　just　wrong。　　The　general　was　not　quite　so　voluble　as　he　had　been　before；　his　gaze　was　fixed　most　of　the　time　on　Mildredroving　from　her　lovely　face　to　her　smooth；　slender　shoulders　and　back　again。　　As　he　drank　and　ate　his　gesture　of　slightly　smacking　his　thin　lips　seemed　to　include　an　enjoyment　of　the　girl's　charms。　　And　a　sensitive　observer　might　have　suspected　that　she　was　not　unconscious　of　this　and　was　suffering　some　such　pain　as　if　abhorrent　and　cruel　lips　and　teeth　were　actually　mouthing　and　mumbling　her。　　She　said　n