the price she paid-第28章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


said　in　a　correct　tone　of　conventional　friendliness；　‘‘Then　you'll　let　me　know　when　you're　settled？''　　He　bowed；　moved　toward　the　door；　shook　hands　with　the　general；　and　passed　out；　giving　from　start　to　finish　a　model　example　of　a　man　of　the　world　extricating　him…　self　from　an　impossible　situation　and　leaving　it　the　better　for　his　having　been　entangled。　　To　a　man　of　Siddall's　incessant　and　clumsy　self…consciousness　such　unaffected　ease　could　not　but　be　proof　positive　of　Mildred's　innocenceunless　he　had　overheard。　　And　his　first　words　convinced　her　that　he　had　not。　　Said　he：

‘‘So　you　sent　for　your　old　admirer？''

‘‘I　ran　across　him　accidentally；''　replied　Mildred。

‘‘I　know；''　said　the　little　general。　　‘‘My　men　picked　you　up　at　the　pier　and　haven't　lost　sight　of　you　since。　It's　fortunate　that　I've　kept　myself　informed；　or　I　might　have　misunderstood　that　chap's　being　here。''　　A　queer；　cloudy　look　came　into　his　eyes。　　‘‘I　must　give　him　a　warning　for　safety's　sake。''　　He　waved　his　hand　in　dismissal　of　such　an　unimportant　trifle　as　the　accidental　Baird。　　He　went　on；　his　wicked　eyes　bent　coldly　and　dully　upon　her：　　‘‘Do　you　know　what　kind　of　a　house　this　is？''

‘‘Stanley　Baird　urged　me　to　leave；''　replied　she。　‘‘But　I　shall　stay　until　I　find　a　betterand　that's　not　easy。''

‘‘Yes；　my　men　have　reported　to　me　on　the　difficulties　you've　had。　　It　was　certainly　fortunate　for　you　that　I　had　them　look　after　you。　　Otherwise　I'd　never　have　understood　your　landing　in　this　sort　of　a　house。　You　are　ready　to　come　with　me？''

‘‘Your　secretary　explained　that　if　I　left　the　hotel　it　was　the　end。''

‘‘He　told　you　that　by　my　orders。''

‘‘So　he　explained；''　said　Mildred。　　She　seated　herself；　overcome　by　a　sudden　lassitude　that　was　accompanied　not　by　fear；　but　by　indifference。　　‘‘Won't　you　sit　down？　I　am　willing　to　hear　what　you　have　to　say。''

The　little　general；　about　to　sit；　was　so　astonished　that　he　straightened　and　stiffened　himself。　　‘‘In　consenting　to　overlook　your　conduct　and　take　you　back　I　have　gone　farther　than　I　ever　intended。　　I　have　taken　into　consideration　your　youth　and　inexperience。''

‘‘But　I　am　not　going　back；''　said　Mildred。

The　little　general　slowly　seated　himself。　　‘‘You　have　less　than　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　left；''　said　he。

‘‘Really？　　Your　spies　know　better　than　I。''

‘‘I　have　seen　Presbury。　　He　assures　me　that　in　no　circumstances　will　he　and　your　mother　take　you　back。''

‘‘They　will　not　have　the　chance　to　refuse；''　said　Mildred。

‘‘As　for　your　brother''

‘‘I　have　no　brother；''　said　she　coldly。

‘‘Then　you　are　coming　back　with　me。''

‘‘No；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　should''she　cast　about　for　an　impressive　alternative‘‘I　should　stay　on　here；　rather。''

The　little　generalhis　neat　varnished　leather　and　be…spatted　shoes　just　touched　the　floorexamined　his　highly　polished　top…hat　at　several　angles。　　Finally　he　said：　　‘‘You　need　not　fear　that　your　misconduct　will　be　remembered　against　you。　　I　shall　treat　you　in　every　way　as　my　wife。　　I　shall　assume　that　youryour　flight　was　an　impulse　that　you　regret。''

‘‘I　shan't　go　back；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘Nothing　you　could　offer　would　change　me。''

‘‘I　cannot　make　any　immediate　concession　on　the　the　matter　that　caused　you　to　go；''　pursued　he；　as　if　she　had　not　spoken；　‘‘but　if　I　see　that　you　have　reliability　and　good　sense；　I'll　agree　to　give　you　an　allowance　later。''

Mildred　eyed　him　curiously。　　‘‘Why　are　you　making　these　offers；　these　concessions？''　she　said。　　‘‘You　think　everyone　in　the　world　is　a　fool　except　yourself。　　You're　greatly　deceived。　　I　know　that　you　don't　mean　what　you've　been　saying。　　I　know　that　if　you　got　me　in　your　power　again；　you　would　do　something　frightful。　I've　seen　through　that　mask　you　wear。　　I　know　the　kind　of　man　you　are。''

‘‘If　you　know　that；''　said　the　general　in　his　even　slow　way；　monotonous；　almost　lifeless；　‘‘you　know　you'd　better　come　with　me　than　stand　out　against　me。''

She　did　not　let　him　see　how　this　struck　terror　into　her。　　She　said：　　‘‘No　matter　what　you　might　do　to　me；　when　I'm　away　from　you；　it　would　be　less　than　you'd　do　with　me　under　your　roof。　　At　any　rate；　it'd　seem　less。''

The　general　reflected；　decided　to　change　to　another　point：　　‘‘You　made　a　bargain　with　me。　　You've　broken　it。　　I　never　let　anyone　break　a　bargain　with　me　without　making　them　regret　it。　　I'm　giving　you　a　chance　to　keep　your　bargain。''

She　was　tempted　to　discuss；　but　she　could　not　find　the　words；　or　the　strength。　　Besides；　how　futile　to　discuss　with　such　a　man。　　She　sank　back　in　her　chair　wearily。　　‘‘I　shall　never　go　back；''　she　said。

He　looked　at　her；　his　face　devoid　of　expression；　but　she　had　a　sense　of　malignance　unutterable　eying　her　from　behind　a　screen。　　He　said：　　‘‘I　see　you've　misunderstood　my　generosity。　　You　think　I'm　weak　where　you　are　concerned　because　I've　come　to　you　instead　of　doing　as　I　said　and　making　you　come　to　me。''　　He　rose。　‘‘Well；　my　offer　to　you　is　closed。　　And　once　more　I　say；　you　will　come　to　me　and　ask　to　be　taken　back。　　I　may　or　may　not　take　you　back。　　It　depends　on　how　I'll　feel　at　that　time。''

Slowly；　with　his　ludicrously　pompous　strut；　he　marched　to　the　drawing…room　door。　　She　had　not　felt　like　smiling；　but　if　there　had　been　any　such　inclination　it　would　have　fled　before　the　countenance　that　turned　upon　her　at　the　threshold。　　It　was　the　lean；　little　face　with　the　funny　toupee　and　needle…like　mustache　and　imperial；　but　behind　it　lay　a　personality　like　the　dull；　cold；　yellow　eyes　of　the　devil…fish　ambushed　in　the　hazy　mass　of　dun…colored　formlessness　of　collapsed　body　and　tentacles。　　He　said：

‘‘You'd　best　be　careful　how　you　conduct　yourself。　You'll　be　under　constant　observation。　　And　any　friends　you　makethey'd　do　well　to　avoid　you。''

He　was　gone。　　She　sat　without　the　power　of　motion；　without　the　power　of　thought。　　After　a　timeperhaps　long；　perhaps　short；　she　did　not　knowMrs。　Belloc　came　in　and　entered　upon　a　voluble　apology　for　the　maid's　having　shown　‘‘the　little　gentleman''　into　the　drawing…room　when　another　was　already　there。　‘‘That　maid's　as　green　as　spring　corn；''　said　she。　‘‘Such　a　thing　never　happened　in　my　house　before。　And　it'll　never　happen　again。　　I　do　hope　it　didn't　cause　trouble。''

‘‘It　was　my　husband；''　said　Mildred。　　‘‘I　had　to　see　him　some　time。''

‘‘He's　certainly　a　very　elegant　little　gentleman；''　said　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘I　rather　like　small　men；　myself。''

Mildred　gazed　at　her　vaguely　and　said；　‘‘Tell　me　a　rich　man；　a　very　rich　manif　he　hates　anyone；　can　he　make　trouble？''

‘‘Money　can　do　anything　in　this　town；''　replied　Mrs。　Belloc。　　‘‘But　usually　rich　men　are　timid　and　stingy。　If　they　weren't；　they'd　make　us　all　cringe。　　As　it　is；　I've　heard　some　awful　stories　of　how　men　and　women　who've　got　some　powerful　person　down　on　them　have　been　hounded。''

Mildred　turned　deathly　sick。　　‘‘I　think　I'll　go　to　my　room；''　she　said；　rising　uncertainly　and　forcing　herself　toward　the　door。

Mrs。　Belloc's　curiosity　could　not　restrain　itself。　‘‘You're　leaving？''　she　asked。　　‘‘You're　going　back　to　your　husband？''

She　was　startled　when　the　girl　abruptly　turned　on　her　and　cried　with　flashing　eyes　and　voice　strong　and　vibrant　with　passion：　　‘‘Never！　　Never！　　No　matter　what　comesNEVER！''


The　rest　of　the　day　and　that　night　she　hid　in　her　room　and　made　no　effort　to　resist　the　terror　that　preyed　upon　her。　　Just　as　our　strength　is　often　the　source　of　weakness；　so　our　weaknesses　often　give　birth　to　strength。　Her　terror　of　the　little　general；　given　full　swing；　shrieked　and　grimaced　itself　into　absurdity。　　She　was　ashamed　of　her　orgy；　was　laughing　at　it　as　the　sun　and　intoxicating　air　of　a　typical　New　York　morning　poured　in　upon　her。　　She　accepted　Mrs。　Belloc's　invitation　to　take　a　turn　through　the　park　and　up　Riverside　Drive　in　a　taxicab；　came　back　restored　to　her　normal　state　of　blind　confidence　in　the　future。　　About　noon　Stanley　Baird　telephoned。

‘‘We　must　not　see　each　other　again　for　some　time；''　said　he。　　‘‘I　rather　suspect　that　youknowwho　may　be　having　you　watched。''

‘‘I'm　sure　of　it；''　said　she。　　‘‘He　warned　me。''

‘‘Don't　let　that　disturb　you；''　pursued　Stanley。　　‘‘A　mana　singing　teacherhis　name's　Eugene　Jennings　will　call　on　you　this　afternoon　at　three。　　Do　exactly　as　he　sugg