the price she paid-第24节

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lloc　asked　a　few　tactful；　penetrating　questions。　　But　Mrs。　Belloc　refrained；　and　Mildred's　timidity　or　delicacy　induced　her　to　postpone。　　The　next　day　she　wrote　Stanley　Baird；　giving　her　address　and　her　name　and　asking　him　to　call　‘‘any　afternoon　at　four　or　five。''　　She　assumed　that　he　would　come　on　the　following　day；　but　the　letter　happened　to　reach　him　within　an　hour　of　her　mailing　it；　and　he　came　that　very　afternoon。

When　she　went　down　to　the　drawing…room　to　receive　him；　she　found　him　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　room　gazing　about　with　a　quizzical　expression。　　As　soon　as　the　greetings　were　over　he　said：

‘‘You　must　get　out　of　here；　Mildred。　　This　won't　do。''

‘‘Indeed　I　shan't；''　said　she。　　‘‘I've　looked　everywhere；　and　this　is　the　only　comfortable　place　I　could　findwhere　the　rates　were　reasonable　and　where　the　landlady　didn't　have　her　nose　in　everybody's　business。''

‘‘You　don't　understand；''　said　he。　　‘‘This　is　a　bird…　cage。　　Highly　gilded；　but　a　bird…cage。''

She　had　never　heard　the　phrase；　but　she　understood　and　instantly　she　knew　that　he　was　right。　　She　colored　violently；　sat　down　abruptly。　　But　in　a　moment　she　recovered　herself；　and　with　fine　defiance　said：

‘‘I　don't　care。　　Mrs。　Belloc　is　a　kind…hearted　woman；　and　it's　as　easy　to　be　respectable　here　as　anywhere。''

‘‘Sure；''　assented　he。　　‘‘But　you've　got　to　consider　appearances　to　a　certain　extent。　　You　won't　be　able　to　find　the　right　sort　of　a　boarding…houseone　you'd　be　comfortable　in。　　You've　got　to　have　a　flat　of　your　own。''

‘‘I　can't　afford　it；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　can't　afford　this；　even。　　But　I　simply　will　not　live　in　a　shabby；　mussy　way。''

‘‘That's　right！''　cried　Stanley。　　‘‘You　can't　do　proper　work　in　poor　surroundings。　　Some　women　could；　but　not　your　sort。　　But　don't　worry。　　I'm　going　to　see　you　through。　　I'll　find　a　placeright　away。　You　want　to　start　in　at　once；　don't　you？''

‘‘I've　got　to；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Then　leave　it　all　to　me。''

‘‘But　WHAT　am　I　to　do？''

‘‘Sing；　if　you　can。　　If　not；　then　act。　　We'll　have　you　on　the　stage　within　a　year　or　so。　　I'm　sure　of　it。　And　I'll　get　my　money　back；　with　interest。''

‘‘I　don't　see　how　I　can　accept　it；''　said　Mildred　very　feebly。

‘‘You've　got　to；''　said　Stanley。　　‘‘What　alternative　is　there？　　None。　　So　let's　bother　no　more　about　it。　I'll　consult　with　those　who　know；　find　out　what　the　thing　costs；　and　arrange　everything。　　You're　as　helpless　as　a　baby；　and　you　know　it。''

Yes；　Mildred　knew　it。

He　looked　at　her　with　an　amused　smile。　　‘‘Come；　out　with　it！''　he　cried。　　‘‘You've　got　something　on　your　mind。　　Let's　get　everything　straightand　keep　it　that　way。''

Mildred　hung　her　head。

‘‘You're　uneasy　because　I；　a　man；　am　doing　this　for　you；　a　young　woman？　　Is　that　it？''

‘‘Yes；''　she　confessed。

He　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　crossed　his　legs；　and　spoke　in　a　brisk；　businesslike　way。　　‘‘In　the　first　place；　it's　got　to　be　done；　hasn't　it？　　And　someone　has　got　to　do　it？　　And　there　is　no　one　offering　but　me？　　Am　I　right？''

She　nodded。

‘‘Then　_I_'ve　got　to　do　it；　and　you've　GOT　to　let　me。　There's　logic；　if　ever　there　was　logic。　　A　Philadelphia　lawyer　couldn't　knock　a　hole　in　it。　　You　trust　me；　don't　you？''

She　was　silent。

‘‘You　don't　trust　me；　then；''　said　he　cheerfully。　‘‘Well；　perhaps　you're　right。　　But　you　trust　yourself；　don't　you？''

She　moved　restlessly；　but　remained　silent。

‘‘You　are　afraid　I　might　put　you　in　a　difficult　position？''

‘‘Something　like　that；''　she　admitted；　in　a　low；　embarrassed　voice。

‘‘You　fear　that　I　expect　some　return　which　you　do　not　intend　to　give？''

She　was　silent。

‘‘Well；　I　don't；''　said　he　bluntly。　　‘‘So　put　your　mind　at　rest。　　Some　day　I'll　tell　you　why　I　am　doing　this；　but　I　want　you　to　feel　that　I　ask　nothing　of　you　but　my　money　back　with　interest；　when　you　can　afford　to　pay。''

‘‘I　can't　feel　that；''　said　she。　　‘‘You're　putting　me　in　your　debtso　heavily　that　I'd　feel　I　ought　to　pay　anything　you　asked。　　But　I　couldn't　and　wouldn't　pay。''

‘‘Unless　you　felt　like　it？''　suggested　he。

‘‘It's　honest　for　me　to　warn　you　that　I'm　not　likely　to　feel　that　way。''

‘‘There　is　such　a　thing　as　winning　a　woman's　love；　isn't　there？''　said　he　jestingly。　　It　was　difficult　to　tell　when　Stanley　Baird　was　jesting　and　when　he　was　in　earnest。

‘‘Is　that　what　you　expect？''　said　she　gravely。

‘‘If　I　say　yes？''

She　lowered　her　eyes　and　laughed　in　an　embarrassed　way。

He　was　frankly　amused。　　‘‘You　see；　you　feel　that　you're　in　my　power。　　And　you　are。　　So　why　not　make　the　best　of　it？''　　A　pause；　then　he　said　abruptly　and　with　a　convincing　manliness；　‘‘I　think；　Mildred；　you　can　trust　me　not　to　be　a　beast。''

She　colored　and　looked　at　him　with　quick　contrition。　‘‘I'm　ashamed　of　myself；''　said　she。　　‘‘Please　forget　that　I　said　anything。　　I'll　take　what　I　must；　and　I'll　pay　it　back　as　soon　as　I　can。　　Andthank　you；　Stanley。''　The　tears　were　in　her　eyes。　　‘‘If　I　had　anything　worth　your　taking　I'd　be　glad　to　give　it　to　you。　　What　vain　fools　we　women　are！''

‘‘Aren't　you；　though！''　laughed　he。　　‘‘And　now　it's　all　settleduntil　you're　on　the　stage；　and　free；　and　the　money's　paid　backWITH　interest。　　I　shall　charge　you　six　per　cent。''

When　she　first　knew　him　she　had　not　been　in　the　least　impressed　by　what　now　seemed　to　her　his　finest　and　rarest　trait；　for；　in　those　days　she　had　been　as　ignorant　of　the　realities　of　human　nature　as　one　who　has　never　adventured　his　boat　beyond　the　mouth　of　the　peaceful　land…locked　harbor　is　ignorant　of　the　open　sea。　　But　in　the　hard　years　she　had　been　learningnot　only　from　Presbury　and　General　Siddall；　but　from　the　cook　and　the　housemaid；　from　every　creditor；　every　tradesman；　everyone　whose　attitude　socially　toward　her　had　been　modified　by　her　changed　fortunesand　whose　attitude　had　not　been　changed？　　Thus；　she　was　now　able　to　appreciateat　least　in　some　measureStanley　Baird's　delicacy　and　tact。　　No；　not　delicacy　and　tact；　for　that　implied　effort。　　His　ability　to　put　this　offer　in　such　a　way　that　she　could　accept　without　serious　embarrassment　arose　from　a　genuine　indifference　to　money　as　money；　a　habit　of　looking　upon　it　simply　as　a　means　to　an　end。　　He　offered　her　the　money　precisely　as　he　would　have　offered　her　his　superior　strength　if　it　had　been　necessary　to　cross　a　too　deep　and　swift　creek。　　She　had　the　sense　that　he　felt　he　was　doing　something　even　less　notable　than　he　admitted；　and　that　he　talked　of　it　as　a　valuable　and　rather　unusual　service　simply　because　it　was　the　habit　thus　to　regard　such　matters。

As　they　talked　on　of　‘‘the　great　career''　her　spirits　went　up　and　up。　　It　was　evident　that　he　now　had　a　new　and　keen　interest　in　life；　that　she　was　doing　him　a　greater　favor　than　he　was　doing　her。　　He　had　always　had　money；　plenty　of　it；　more　than　he　could　use。　　He　now　had　more　than　everfor；　several　rich　relatives　had　died　and；　after　the　habit　of　the　rich；　had　left　everything　to　him；　the　one　of　all　the　connections　who　needed　it　least。　　He　had　a　very　human　aversion　to　spending　money　upon　people　or　things　he　did　not　like。　　He　would　have　fought　to　the　last　court　an　attempt　by　his　wife　to　get　alimony。　　He　had　a　reputation　with　the　‘‘charity　gang''　of　being　stingy　because　he　would　not　give　them　so　much　as　the　price　of　a　bazaar　ticket。　Also；　the　impecunious　spongers　at　his　clubs　spread　his　fame　as　a　‘‘tight…wad''　because　he　refused　to　let　them　‘‘stick　him　up''　for　even　a　round　of　drinks。　　Where　many　a　really　stingy　man　yielded　through　weakness　or　fear　of　public　opinion；　he　stood　firm。　　His　one　notable　surrender　of　any　kind　had　been　his　marriage；　that　bitter　experience　had　cured　him　of　the　surrendering　habit　for　all　time。　　Thenceforth　he　did　absolutely　and　in　everything　as　he　pleased。

Mildred　had　heard　that　he　was　close　about　money。　She　had　all　but　forgotten　it；　because　her　own　experience　with　him　had　made　such　a　charge　seem　ridiculous。　She　now　assumedso　far　as　she　thought　about　it　at　allthat　he　was　extremely　generous。　　She　did　not　realize　what　a　fine　discriminating　generosity　his　was；　or　how　striking　an　evidence　of　his　belief　in　her　as　well　as　of　his　liking　for　her。

As　he　rose　to　go　he　said：　　‘‘You　mustn't　forget　that　our　arrangement　is　a　secret　between　us。　　Neither　of　us　can　afford　to　have　anyone　know　it。''

‘‘There　isn't　anyone　in　the　world　who　wouldn't　misunderstand　it；''　said　she；　without　the　least　feeling　of　embarrassment。

‘‘Just　so；''　said　he。　　‘‘And　I　want　you　to　live　in　such　a　way　that　I　can　come　to　call。　　We　must　arrange　things　so　that　you　will　take　your　own　name''

‘‘I　intend　to　use　the　name　Mary　Stevens　in　my　work；''　she　interrupted。

‘‘But　there　mustn't　be　any　concealment；　any　mystery　to　excite　curiosity　and　scandal''

This　time　the　interruption　was　her　expression。　　He　turned　to　see　what　had　startled　her；　and　saw　in　the　doorway　of　the　drawing…room　the　grotesquely　neat　and　stylish　figure　of　the　little　general。　　Before　either　could　speak　he　said：

‘‘How　d'you　do；　Mr。　Baird？　　You'll　pardon　me　if　I　ask　you　to　leave　me　alone　with　my　WIFE。''

Stanley　met　the　situation　with　perfect　coolness。　‘‘How　are　you；　General？''　said　he。　　‘‘Certainly；　I　was　just　going。''　　He　extended　his　hand　to　Mildred；　said　in　a　correct　tone　of　conventional　friendliness；　‘‘Then　you'll　let　me　know　when　you're　settled？'