the price she paid-第15部分

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‘‘Is　shepoor？''　asked　Mildred。

‘‘I　should　prefer　not　to''

‘‘Did　the　general　forbid　you　to　tell　me？''

‘‘On　the　contrary；　he　instructed　me　　But　I'd　rather　not　talk　about　it；　Mrs。　Siddall。''

‘‘Is　she　poor？''　repeated　Mildred。

‘‘Yes。''

‘‘What　became　of　her？''

A　long　pause。　　Then　Harding　said：　　‘‘She　was　a　poor　girl　when　the　general　married　her。　　After　the　divorce　she　lived　for　a　while　with　the　man。　　But　he　had　nothing。　　They　separated。　　She　tried　various　kinds　of　workand　other　things。　　Since　she　lost　her　looks　She　writes　from　time　to　time；　asking　for　money。''

‘‘Which　she　never　gets？''　said　Mildred。

‘‘Which　she　never　gets；''　said　Harding。　　‘‘Lately　she　was　cashier　or　head　waitress　in　a　cheap　restaurant　in　St。　Louis。''

After　a　long　silence　Mildred　said：　　‘‘I　understand。　I　understand。''　　She　drew　a　long　breath。　　‘‘I　shall　understand　better　as　time　goes　on；　but　I　understand　fairly　well　now。''

‘‘I　need　not　tell　you；　Mrs。　Siddall；''　said　Harding　in　his　gentle；　tranquil　way；　‘‘that　the　general　is　the　kindest　and　most　generous　of　men；　but　he　has　his　own　methods　as　who　has　not？''

Mildred　had　forgotten　that　he　was　therenot　a　difficult　matter；　when　he　had　in　its　perfection　the　secretarial　manner　of　complete　self…effacement。　　Said　she　reflectively；　like　one　puzzling　out　a　difficult　problem：

‘‘He　buys　a　woman；　as　he　buys　a　dog　or　a　horse。　He　does　not　give　his　dog；　his　horse；　pocket…money。　Why　should　he　give　his　woman　pocket…money？''

‘‘Will　it　help　matters；　Mrs。　Siddall；　to　go　to　the　other　extreme　and　do　him　a　grave　injustice？''

She　did　not　hear。　　At　the　picture　presented　to　her　mind　by　her　own　thoughts　she　gave　a　short　satirical　laugh。　　‘‘How　stupid　of　me　not　to　have　understood　from　the　outset；''　said　she。　　‘‘Why；　I've　often　heard　of　this　very　thing。''

‘‘It　is　more　and　more　the　custom　among　men　of　large　property；　I　believe；''　said　Harding。　　‘‘Perhaps；　Mrs。　Siddall；　you　would　not　blame　them　if　you　were　in　their　position。　　The　rich　men　who　are　carelessthey　ruin　everybody　about　them；　I　assure　you。　　I've　seen　it　again　and　again。''

But　the　young　wife　was　absorbed　in　her　own　thoughts。　　Harding；　feeling　her　mood；　did　not　interrupt。　After　a　while　she　said：

‘‘I　must　ask　you　some　questions。　　These　jewels　the　general　has　been　buying''

Harding　made　a　movement　of　embarrassment　and　protest。　　She　smiled　ironically　and　went　on：

‘‘One　moment；　please。　　Every　time　I　wish　to　wear　any　of　them　I　have　to　go　to　him　to　get　them。　　He　asks　me　to　return　them　when　I　am　undressing。　　He　says　it　is　safer　to　keep　everything　in　his　strong　box。　　I　have　been　assuming　that　that　was　the　only　reason。　　I　begin　to　suspect　　Am　I　right；　Mr。　Harding？''

‘‘Really　I　can't　say；　Mrs。　Siddall；''　said　Harding。　‘‘These　are　not　matters　to　discuss　with　me；　if　you　will　permit　me　to　say　so。''

‘‘Oh；　yes；　they　are；''　replied　she　laughingly。　‘‘Aren't　we　all　in　the　same　boat？all　employes　of　the　general？''

Harding　made　no　reply。

Mildred　was　beside　herself　with　a　kind　of　rage　that；　because　outlet　was　necessary　and　because　raving　against　the　little　general　would　be　absolutely　futile；　found　outlet　in　self…mockery　and　reckless　sarcasm。

‘‘I　understand　about　the　jewels；　too；''　she　went　on。　‘‘They　are　not　mine。　　Nothing　is　mine。　　Everything；　including　myself；　belongs　to　him。　　If　I　give　satisfaction　in　the　position　for　which　I've　been　hired　for　my　board　and　clothes；　I　may　continue　to　eat　the　general's　food　and　sleep　in　the　general's　house　and　wear　the　general's　jewels　and　dresses　and　ride　in　the　general's　traps　and　be　waited　on　by　the　general's　servants。　　If　I　don't　like　my　place　or　he　doesn't　like　my　way　of　filling　it''she　laughed　merrily；　mockingly‘‘out　I　gointo　the　streetsafter　the　second　Mrs。　Siddall。　　And　the　general　will　hire　a　new''　　She　paused；　cast　about　for　a　word　in　vain；　appealed　to　the　secretary；　‘‘What　would　you　call　it；　Mr。　Harding？''

Harding　rose；　looking　at　her　with　a　very　soothing　tranquillity。　　‘‘If　I　were　you；　Mrs。　Siddall；''　said　he；　‘‘I　should　get　into　the　auto　and　go　for　a　long　drive　out　to　the　Boisout　to　Versaillesa　long；　long　drive。　　I　should　be　gone　four　or　five　hours　at　least；　and　I　should　look　at　the　thing　from　all　sides。　　Especially；　I'd　look　at　it　from　HIS　standpoint。''

Mildred；　somewhat　quieter；　but　still　mocking；　said：　‘‘If　I　should　decide　to　quit；　would　my　expenses　be　paid　back　to　where　I　was　engaged？　　I　fancy　not。''

Harding　looked　grave。　　‘‘If　you　had　had　money　enough　to　pay　your　own　expenses　about；　would　you　have　married　him？''　said　he。　　‘‘Isn't　he　payingpaying　liberally；　Mrs。　Siddallfor　ALL　he　gets？''

Mildred；　stung；　drew　herself　up　haughtily；　gave　him　a　look　that　reminded　him　who　she　was　and　who　he　was。　But　Harding　was　not　impressed。

‘‘You　said　a　moment　agotrulythat　we　are　all　in　the　same　boat；''　observed　he。　　‘‘I　put　those　questions　to　you　because　I　honestly　wish　to　help　youbecause　I　wish　you　not　to　act　foolishly；　hastily。''

‘‘Thank　you；　Mr。　Harding；''　said　Mildred　coldly。　And　with　a　slight　nod　she　went；　angry　and　ashamed　that　she　had　so　unaccountably　opened　up　her　secret　soul；　bared　its　ugly　wounds；　before　a　man　she　knew　so　slightly；　a　man　in　a　position　but　one　remove　from　menial。　　However；　she　took　his　advicenot　as　to　trying　to　view　the　matter　from　all　sides；　for　she　was　convinced　that　there　was　only　the　one　side；　but　as　to　calming　herself　by　a　long　drive　alone　in　the　woods　and　along　quiet　roads。　　When　she　returned　she　was　under　control　once　more。

She　found　the　general　impatiently　awaiting　her。　Many　packages　had　comefrom　the　jewelers；　from　the　furriers；　from　a　shop　whose　specialty　was　the　thinnest　and　most　delicate　of　hand…made　underwear。　　The　general　loved　to　open　and　inspect　finery　for　her　loved　it　more　than　he　loved　inspecting　finery　for　himself；　because　feminine　finery　was　far　more　attractive　than　masculine。　　To　whet　his　pleasure　to　the　keenest　she　must　be　there　to　admire　with　him；　to　try　on；　to　exhibit。　　As　she　entered　the　salon　where　the　little　man　was　fussing　about　among　the　packages；　their　glances　met。　　She　saw　that　Harding　had　told　himat　least　in　discreet　outlineof　their　conversation。　　She　also　saw　that　if　she　reopened　the　subject　she　would　find　herself　straightway　whirled　out　upon　a　stormy　sea　of　danger　that　might　easily　overwhelm　her　flimsy　boat。　　She　silently　and　sullenly　dropped　into　her　place；　she　ministered　to　the　general's　pleasure　in　packages　of　finery。　But　she　did　not　exclaim；　or　admire；　or　respond　in　any　way。　　The　honeymoon　was　over。　　Her　dream　of　wifehood　was　dissipated。

She　understood　now　the　look　she　so　often　had　seen　on　the　faces　of　rich　men's　poor　wives　driving　in　state　in　Fifth　Avenue。　　That　night；　as　she　inspected　herself　in　the　glass　while　the　general's　maid　for　her　brushed　her　long　thick　hair；　she　saw　the　beginnings　of　that　look　in　her　own　face。　　‘‘I　don't　know　just　what　I　am；''　she　said　to　herself。　　‘‘But　I　do　know　what　I　am　not。　　I　am　not　a　wife。''

She　sent　away　the　maid；　and　sat　there　in　the　dressing…　room　before　the　mirror；　waiting；　her　glance　traveling　about　and　noting　the　profuse　and　prodigal　luxury。　　In　the　corner　stood　a　circular　rack　loaded　with　dressing…　gownsmore　than　a　score　of　exquisite　combinations　of　silk　and　lace　or　silk　and　chiffon。　　It　so　happened　that　there　was　nowhere　in　sight　a　single　article　of　her　apparel　or　for　her　toilet　that　was　not　bought　with　the　general's　money。　　No；　there　were　some　hairpins　that　she　had　paid　for　herself；　and　a　comb　with　widely　separated　teeth　that　she　had　chanced　to　see　in　a　window　when　she　was　alone　one　day。　　Anything　else？　Yes；　a　two…franc　box　of　pins。　　And　that　was　all。　Everything　else　belonged　to　the　general。　　In　the　closets；　in　the　trunksall　the　general's；　part　of　the　trousseau　he　had　paid　for。　　Not　an　undergarment；　not　an　outer　garment；　not　a　hat　or　a　pair　of　shoes；　not　a　wrap；　not　a　pair　of　gloves。　　All；　the　general's。

He　was　in　the　door　of　the　dressing…roomthe　small　wiry　figure　in　rose…silk　pajamas。　　The　mustache　and　imperial　were　carefully　waxed　as　always；　day　and　night。　On　the　little　feet　were　high…heeled　slippers。　　On　the　head　was　a　rose…silk　Neapolitan　nightcap　with　gay　tassel。　The　nightcap　hid　the　bald　spot　from　which　the　lofty　toupee　had　been　removed。　　A　grotesque　little　figure；　but　not　grotesque　to　her。　　Through　the　mask　of　the　vain；　boastful　little　face　she　saw　the　general　watching　her；　as　she　had　seen　him　that　afternoon　when　she　came　inthe　mysterious　and　terrible　personality　that　had　made　the　vast　fortune；　that　had　ridden　ruthlessly　over　friend　and　foe；　over　man　and　woman　and　childto　the　goal　of　its　desires。

‘‘It's　late；　my　dear？''　said　the　little　man。　　‘‘Come　to　bed。''

She　rose　to　obeyshe　in　the　general's　purchases　of　filmy　nightgown　under　a　pale…pink　silk　dressing…gown。

He　smiled　with　that　curious　noiseless　mumbling　and　smacking　of　the　thin　lips。　　She　sat　down　again。

‘‘Don't　keep　me　waiting。　　It's　chilly；''　he　said；　advancing　toward　her。

‘‘I　shall　sleep　in　here　to…nighton　the　couch；''　said　she。　　She　was　trembling　with　fright　at　her　own　audacity。　She　could　see　a　fifty…centime　piece　and　a　copper　dancing　before　her　eyes。　　She　felt　horribly　alone　and　weak；　but　she　had　no　desire　to　retract　the　words　with　which　she　had　thrown　down　the　gauntlet。

The　little　general　halted。　　The　mask　dropped；　the　man；　the　monster；　looked　at　her。　　‘‘What's　the　matter？''　said　he　in　an　ominously　quiet　voice。

‘‘Mr。　Harding　delivered　your　message　to…day；''　said　she；　and　her　steady　voice　astonished　her。　　‘‘So　I　am　going　back　home。''

He　waited；　looking　steadily　at　her。

‘‘After　he　told　me　and　I　thought　about　it；　I　decided　to　submit；　but　just　now　I　saw　that　I　couldn't。　　I　don't　know　what　possesses　me。　　I　don't　know　what　I'm　going　to　do；　or　how　I'm　going　to　do　it。　　But　it's　all　over　between　us。''　　She　said　this　rapidly；　fluently；　in　a　decisive　way；　quite　foreign　to　her　character　as　she　had　thought　it。

‘‘You　are　coming　to　bed；　where　you　belong；''　said　he　quietly。

‘‘No；''　replied　she；　pressing　herself　against　her　chair　as　if　force　were　being　used　to　drag　her　from　it。　　She　cast　about　for　something　that　would　make　yielding　impossible。　　‘‘You　arerepulsive　to　me。''

He　looked　at　her　without　change　of　countenance。　Said　he：　　‘‘Come　to　bed。　　I　ask　you　for　the　last　time。''

There　was　no　anger　in　his　v