the price she paid-第14节

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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　lifeless　when　he　was　near。　　Without　any　encouragement　from　her　he　gradually　got　a　deep　respect　for　herwhich　meant　that　he　became　convinced　of　her　coldness　and　exclusiveness；　of　her　absolute　trustworthiness。　　Presbury　was　more　profoundly　right　than　he　knew。　　The　girl　pursued　the　only　course　that　made　possible　the　success　she　longed　for；　yet　dreaded　and　loathed。　　For　at　the　outset　Siddall　had　not　been　nearly　so　strongly　in　earnest　in　his　matrimonial　project　as　he　had　professed　and　had　believed　himself。　　He　wished　to　marry；　wished　to　add　to　his　possessions　the　admirable　show…piece　and　exhibition　opportunity　afforded　by　the　right　sort　of　wife；　but　in　the　bottom　of　his　heart　he　felt　that　such　a　woman　as　he　dreamed　of　did　not　exist　in　all　the　foolish；　fickle；　and　shallow　female　sex。　　This　girlso　cold；　so　proud；　beautiful　yet　not　eager　to　display　her　charms　or　to　have　them　praisedshe　was　the　rare　bird　he　sought。

In　a　month　he　asked　her　to　marry　him；　that　is；　he　said：　　‘‘My　dear；　I　find　that　I　am　ready　to　go　the　limitif　you　are。''　　And　she　assented。　　He　put　his　arm　around　her　and　kissed　her　cheekand　was　delighted　to　discover　that　the　alluring　embrace　made　no　impression　upon　the　ice　of　her　‘‘purity　and　ladylike　dignity。''　　Up　to　the　very　last　moment　of　the　formal　courtship　he　held　himself　ready　to　withdraw　should　she　reveal　to　his　watchfulness　the　slightest　sign　of　having　any　‘‘unladylike''　tendencies　or　feelings。　　She　revealed　no　such　sign；　but　remained　‘‘ladylike''；　and　certainly；　so　the　general　reasoned；　a　woman　who　could　thus　resist　him；　even　in　the　license　of　the　formal　engagement；　would　resist　anybody。

As　soon　as　the　engagement　was　formally　concluded；　the　general　hurried　on　the　preparations　for　the　wedding。　He　opened　accounts　at　half　a　dozen　shops　in　New　Yorkdressmakers；　milliners；　dealers　in　fine　and　fashionable　clothing　of　every　kindand　gave　them　orders　to　execute　whatever　commands　Miss　Gower　or　her　motherfor　HERmight　give　them。　　When　he　told　her　of　this　munificence　and　magnificence　and　paused　for　the　outburst　of　gratitude；　he　listened　in　vain。　Mildred　colored　to　the　roots　of　her　hair　and　was　silent；　was　seeking　the　courage　to　refuse。

‘‘I　know　that　you　and　your　people　can't　afford　to　do　the　thing　as　things　related　to　me　must　be　done；''　he　went　on　to　say。　　‘‘So　I　decided　to　just　start　in　a　little　early　at　what　I've　got　to　do　anyhow。　　Not　that　I　blame　you　for　your　not　having　money；　my　dear。　　On　the　contrary；　that's　one　of　your　merits　with　me。　　I　wouldn't　marry　a　woman　with　money。　　It　puts　the　family　life　on　a　wrong　basis。''

‘‘I　had　planned　a　quiet　wedding；''　said　Mildred。　‘‘I'd　much　prefer　it。''

‘‘Now　you　can　be　frank　with　me；　my　dear；''　said　the　general。　　‘‘I　know　you　ladieshow　cheated　you　feel　if　you　aren't　married　with　all　the　frills　and　fixings。　So　that's　the　way　it　shall　be　done。''

‘‘Really；''　protested　Mildred；　‘‘I'm　absolutely　frank。　I　wish　it　to　be　quite　quietin　our　drawing…room；　with　no　guests。''

Siddall　smiled；　genial　and　tolerant。　　‘‘Don't　argue　with　me；　my　dear。　　I　know　what　you　want；　and　I'll　see　that　you　get　it。　　Go　ahead　with　these　shop…people　I've　put　at　your　disposaland　go　as　far　as　you　like。

There　isn't　anythingANYTHINGin　the　way　of　clothes　that　you　can't　havethat　you　mustn't　have。　Mrs。　General　Siddall　is　going　to　be　the　best…dressed　woman　in　the　worldas　she　is　the　prettiest。　　I　haven't　opened　an　account　for　you　with　Tiffany's　or　any　of　those　people。　　I'll　look　out　for　that　part　of　the　business；　myself。''

‘‘I　don't　care　for　jewelry；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Naturally　not　for　the　kind　that's　been　within　your　means　heretofore；''　replied　he；　‘‘but　you'll　open　your　eyes　when　you　see　MY　jewelry　for　MY　wife。　　All　in　good　time；　my　dear。　　You　and　your　mother　must　start　right　in　with　the　shopping；　and；　a　week　or　so　before　the　wedding；　I'll　send　my　people　down　to　transform　the　house。　　I　may　be　wrong；　but　I　rather　think　that　the　Siddall　wedding　will　cause　some　talk。''

He　was　not　wrong。　　Through　his　confidential　secretary；　Harding　the　thorough；　the　newspaper　press　was　induced　to　take　an　interest　in　the　incredible　extravagance　Siddall　was　perpetrating　in　arranging　for　a　fitting　wedding　for　General　William　Siddall。　　For　many　days　before　the　ceremony　there　were　daily　columns　about　him　and　his　romantic　career　and　his　romantic　wooing　of　the　New　Jersey　girl　of　excellent　family　and　social　position　but　of　comparatively　modest　means。　The　shopkeepers　gave　interviews　on　the　trousseau。　　The　decorators　and　caterers　detailed　the　splendors　and　the　costliness　of　the　preparations　of　which　they　had　charge。　From　morning　until　dark　a　crowd　hung　round　the　house　at　Hanging　Rock；　and　on　the　wedding　day　the　streets　leading　to　it　were　blockedchiefly　with　people　come　from　a　distance；　many　of　them　from　New　York。

At　the　outset　all　this　noise　was　deeply　distasteful　to　Mildred；　but　after　a　few　days　she　recovered　her　normal　point　of　view；　forgot　the　kind　of　man　she　was　marry…　ing　in　the　excitement　and　exultation　over　her　sudden　splendor　and　fame。　　So　strongly　did　the　delusion　presently　become；　t