the price she paid-第16章
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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； that she was looking at the little general with anything but unfavorable eyes。 He seemed to her a quaint； fascinating； benevolent necromancer； having miraculous powers which he was exercising in her behalf。 She even reproached herself with ingratitude in not being wildly in love with him。 Would not any other girl； in her place； have fallen over ears in love with this marvelous man？
However； while she could not quite convince herself that she loved； she became convinced without effort that she was happy； that she was going to be still happier。 The excitement wrought her into a state of exaltation and swept her through the wedding ceremony and the going away as radiant a bride as a man would care to have。
There is much to be said against the noisy； showy wedding。 Certainly love has rarely been known to degrade himself to the point of attending any such。 But there is something to be said for that sort of married startfor instance； where love is neither invited nor desired； an effort must be made to cover the painful vacancy his absence always causes。
The little general's insistence on a ‘‘real wedding'' was most happy for him。 It probably got him his bride。
III
THE intoxication of that wedding held on long enough and strongly enough to soften and blunt the disillusionments of the first few days of the honeymoon。 In the prospect that period had seemed； even to Mildred's rather unsophisticated imagination； appalling beyond her power to endure。 In the factthanks in large part to that intoxicationit was certainly not unendurable。 A human being； even an innocent young girl； can usually bear up under any experience to which a human being can be subjected。 The general in pajamas of the finest silk and of pigeon's…egg blue with a vast gorgeous monogram on the pocketwas more grotesque； rather than more repellent； than the general in morning or evening attire。 Also hethat is； his expert staff of providers of luxuryhad arranged for the bride a series of the most ravishing sensations in whisking her； like the heroine of an Arabian Night's
