the price she paid-第21节

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l　Street；　and　that　has　put　him　in　a　good　humor。''

‘‘He'll　not　be　surprised　to　see　mealone；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Wait　till　we're　home；''　said　her　mother　nervously。

At　the　house　Mrs。　Presbury　carried　on　a　foolish；　false…sounding　conversation　for　the　benefit　of　the　servants；　and　finally　conducted　Mildred　to　her　bedroom　and　shut　doors　and　drew　portieres　and　glanced　into　closets　before　saying：　　‘‘Now；　what　IS　the　matter；　Millie？　WHERE　is　your　husband？''

‘‘In　Paris；　I　suppose；''　replied　Mildred。　　‘‘I　have　left　him；　and　I　shall　never　go　back。''

‘‘Presbury　said　you　would！''　cried　her　mother。　‘‘But　I　didn't　believe　it。　　I　don't　believe　it。　　I　brought　you　up　to　do　your　duty；　and　I　know　you　will。''

This　was　Mildred's　first　opportunity　for　frank　and　plain　speaking；　and　that　is　highly　conducive　to　frank　and　plain　thinking。　　She　now　began　to　see　clearly　why　she　had　quit　the　general。　　Said　she：　　‘‘Mamma；　to　be　honest　and　not　mince　words；　I've　left　him　because　there's　nothing　in　it。''

‘‘Isn't　he　rich？''　inquired　her　mother。　　‘‘I've　always　had　a　kind　of　present''

‘‘Oh；　he's　rich；　all　right；''　interrupted　the　girl。　‘‘But　he　saw　to　it　that　I　got　no　benefit　from　that。''

‘‘But　you　wrote　me　how　he　was　buying　you　everything！''

‘‘So　I　thought。　　In　fact　he　was　buying　ME　nothing。''　And　she　went　on　to　explain　the　general's　system。

Her　mother　listened　impatiently。　　She　would　have　in…　terrupted　the　long　and　angry　recital　many　times　had　not　Mildred　insisted　on　a　full　hearing　of　her　grievances；　of　the　outrages　that　had　been　heaped　upon　her。　‘‘And；''　she　ended；　‘‘I　suppose　he's　got　it　so　arranged　that　he　could　have　me　arrested　as　a　thief　for　taking　the　gold　bag。''

‘‘Yes；　it's　terrible　and　all　that；''　said　her　mother。　‘‘But　I　should　have　thought　living　with　me　here　when　Presbury　was　carrying　on　so　dreadfully　would　have　taught　you　something。　　Your　case　isn't　an　exception；　any　more　than　mine　is。　　That's　the　sort　of　thing　we　women　have　to　put　up　with　from　men；　when　we're　in　their　power。''

‘‘Not　I；''　said　Mildred　loftily。

‘‘Yes；　you；''　retorted　her　mother。　　‘‘ANY　woman。　EVERY　woman。　　Unless　we　have　money　of　our　own；　we　all　have　trouble　with　the　men　about　money；　sooner　or　later；　in　one　way　or　another。　　And　rich　men！why；　it's　notorious　that　they're　always　more　or　less　mean　about　money。　A　wife　has　got　to　use　tact。　　Why；　I　even　had　to　use　some　tact　with　your　father；　and　he　was　as　generous　a　man　as　ever　lived。　　Tactthat's　a　woman's　whole　life。　You　ought　to　have　used　tact。　　You'll　go　back　to　him　and　use　tact。''

‘‘You　don't　know　him；　mamma！''　cried　Mildred。　‘‘He's　a　monster。　　He　isn't　human。''

Mrs。　Presbury　drew　a　long　face　and　said　in　a　sad；　soothing　voice：　　‘‘Yes；　I　know；　dear。　　Men　are　very；　very　awful；　in　some　ways；　to　a　nice　womanwith　refined；　ladylike　instincts。　　It's　a　great　shock　to　a　pure''

‘‘Oh；　gammon！''　interrupted　Mildred。　　‘‘Don't　be　silly；　mother。　　It　isn't　worth　while　for　one　woman　to　talk　that　kind　of　thing　to　another。　　I　didn't　fully　know　what　I　was　doing　when　I　married　a　man　I　didn't　love　a　man　who　was　almost　repulsive　to　me。　　But　I　knew　enough。　　And　I　was　getting　along　well　enough；　as　any　woman　does；　no　matter　what　she　may　sayyes；　you　needn't　look　shocked；　for　that's　hypocrisy；　and　I　know　it　now　　But；　as　I　was　saying；　I　didn't　begin　to　HATE　him　until　he　tried　to　make　a　slave　of　me。　　A　slave！''　she　shuddered。　　‘‘He's　a　monster！''

‘‘A　little　tact；　and　you　can　get　everything　you　want；''　insisted　her　mother。

‘‘I　tell　you；　you　don't　know　the　man；''　cried　Mildred。　‘‘By　tact　I　suppose　you　mean　I　could　have　sold　things　behind　his　backand　all　that。''　　She　laughed。　　‘‘He　hasn't　got　any　back。　　He　had　it　so　arranged　that　those　cold；　wicked　eyes　of　his　were　always　watching　me。　　His　second　wife　tried　‘tact。'　　He　caught　her　and　drove　her　into　the　streets。　　I'd　have　had　no　chance　to　get　a　cent；　and　if　I　had　gotten　it　I'd　not　have　dared　spend　it。　　Do　you　imagine　I　ran　away　from　him　without　having　THOUGHT？　　If　there'd　been　any　way　of　staying　on；　any　way　of　making　things　even　endurable；　I'd　have　stayed。''

‘‘But　you've　got　to　go　back；　Milly；''　cried　her　mother；　in　tears。

‘‘You　mean　that　you　can't　support　me？''

‘‘And　your　brother　Frank''　Mrs。　Presbury's　eyes　flashed　and　her　rather　stout　cheeks　quivered。　　‘‘I　never　thought　I'd　tell　anybody；　but　I'll　tell　you。　　I　never　liked　your　brother　Frank；　and　he　never　liked　me。　That　sounds　dreadful；　doesn't　it？''

‘‘No；　mother　dear；''　said　Mildred　gently。　　‘‘I've　learned　that　life　isn't　at　all　asas　everybody　pretends。''

‘‘Indeed　it　isn't；''　said　her　mother。　　‘‘Mothers　always　have　favorites　among　their　children；　and　very　often　a　mother　dislikes　one　of　her　children。　　Of　course　she　hides　her　feeling　and　does　her　duty。　　But　all　the　same　she　can't　help　the　feeling　that　is　down　in　her　heart。　　I　had　a　presentiment　before　he　was　born　that　I　wouldn't　like　him；　and　sure　enough；　I　didn't。　　And　he　didn't　like　me；　or　his　father；　or　any　of　us。''

‘‘It　would　never　occur　to　me　to　turn　to　him；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Then　you　see　that　you've　got　to　go　back　to　the　general。　　You　can't　get　a　divorce　and　alimony；　for　it　was　you　that　left　himand　for　no　cause。　　He　was　within　his　rights。''

Mildred　hesitated；　confessed：　　‘‘I　had　thought　of　going　back　to　him　and　acting　in　such　a　way　that　he'd　be　glad　to　give　me　a　divorce　and　an　allowance。''

‘‘Yes；　you　might　do　that；''　said　her　mother。　　‘‘A　great　many　women　do。　　And；　after　all；　haven't　they　a　right　to？　　A　lady　has　got　to　have　proper　support；　and　is　it　just　to　ask　her　to　live　with　a　man　she　loathes？''

‘‘I　haven't　thought　of　the　right　or　wrong　of　it；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘It　looks　to　me　as　though　right　and　wrong　have　very　little　to　do　with　life　as　it's　lived。　　They're　for　hypocritesand　fools。''

‘‘Mildred！''　exclaimed　her　mother；　deeply　shocked。

Mildred　was　not　a　little　shocked　at　her　own　thoughts　as　she　inspected　them　in　the　full　light　into　which　speech　had　dragged　them。　　‘‘Anyhow；''　she　went　on；　‘‘I　soon　saw　that　such　a　plan　was　hopeless。　　He's　not　the　man　to　be　trifled　with。　　Long　before　I　could　drive　him　to　give　me　a　living　and　let　me　go　he　would　have　driven　me　to　flight　or　suicide。''

Her　mother　had　now　had　time　to　reflect　upon　Mildred's　revelations。　　Aided　by　the　impressions　she　herself　had　gotten　of　the　little　general；　she　began　to　understand　why　her　daughter　had　fled　and　why　she　would　not　return。　She　felt　that　the　situation　was　one　which　time　alone　could　solve。　　Said　she：　　‘‘Well；　the　best　thing　is　for　you　to　stay　on　here　and　wait　until　he　makes　some　move。''

‘‘He'll　have　me　watchedthat's　all　he'll　do；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘When　he　gets　ready　he'll　divorce　me　for　deserting　him。''

Mrs。　Presbury　felt　that　she　was　right。　　But；　concealing　her　despondency；　she　said：　　‘‘All　we　can　do　is　to　wait　and　see。　　You　must　send　for　your　luggage。''

‘‘I've　nothing　but　a　large　bag；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　checked　it　in　the　parcel…room　of　the　New　York　station。''

Mrs。　Presbury　was　overwhelmed。　　How　account　to　Hanging　Rock　for　the　reappearance　of　a　baggageless　and　husbandless　bride？　　But　she　held　up　bravely。　With　a　cheerfulness　that　did　credit　to　her　heart　and　showed　how　well　she　loved　her　daughter　she　said：　　‘‘We　must　do　the　best　we　can。　　We'll　get　up　some　story。''

‘‘No；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I'm　going　back　to　New　York。　　You　can　tell　people　here　what　you　please　that　I've　gone　to　rejoin　him　or　to　wait　for　himany　old　thing。''

‘‘At　least　you'll　wait　and　talk　with　Presbury；''　pleaded　her　mother。　　‘‘He　is　VERY　sensible。''

‘‘If　he　has　anything　to　suggest；''　said　Mildred；　‘‘he　can　write　it。　　I'll　send　you　my　address。''

‘‘Milly；''　cried　her　mother；　agitated　to　the　depths；　‘‘where　ARE　you　going？　　WHAT　are　you　going　to　do？　You　look　so　strangenot　at　all　like　yourself。''

‘‘I'm　going　to　a　hotel　to…nightprobably　to　a　boarding…house　to…morrow；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘In　a　few　days　I　shall　begin　to''　she　hesitated；　decided　against　confidence''　begin　to　support　myself　at　something　or　other。''

‘‘You　must　be　crazy！''　cried　her　mother。　　‘‘You　wouldn't　do　anythingand　you　couldn't。''

‘‘Let's　not　discuss　it；　mamma；''　said　the　girl　tranquilly。

The　mother　looked　at　her　with　eyes　full　of　the　suspicion　one　lady　cannot　but　have　as　to　the　projects　of　another　lady　in　such　circumstances。

‘‘Mildred；''　she　said　pleadingly；　‘‘you　must　be　careful。　　You'll　find　yourself　involved　in　a　dreadful　scandal。　I　know　you　wouldn't　DO　anything　WRONG　no　matter　how　you　were　driven。　　But''

‘‘I'll　not　do　anything　FOOLISH；　mamma；''　interrupted　the　girl。　　‘‘You　are　thinking　about　men；　aren't　you？''

‘‘Men　are　always　ready　to　destroy　a　woman；''　said　her　mother。　　‘‘You　must　be　careful''

Mildred　was　laughing。　　‘‘Oh；　mamma；''　she　cried；　‘‘do　be　sensible　and　do　give　me　credit　for　a　little　sense。　　I've　got　a　very　clear　idea　of　what　a　woman　ought　to　do　about　men；　and　I　assure　you　I'm　not　going　to　be　FOOLISH。　And　you　know　a　woman　who　isn't　foolish　can　be　trusted　where　a　woman　who's　only　protected　by　her　principles　would　yield　to　the　first　temptationor　hunt　round　for　a　temptation。''

‘‘But　you　simply　can't　go　to　New　York　and　live　there　all　aloneand　with　nothing！''

‘‘Can　I　stay　herefor　more　than　a　few　days？''

‘‘But　maybe；　after　a　few　days''　stammered　her　mother。

‘‘You　see；　I've