The Price She Paid [22]
Ever been sick? I must look into your health. That's a point on which I must be satisfied.''
A wave of anger swept through her, restoring her strength. She was about to speak--a rebuke to his colossal impudence that he would not soon forget. Then she remembered, and bit her lips.
``I don't ask you to decide to-night,'' pursued he, hastening to explain this concession by adding: ``I don't intend to decide, myself. All I say is that I am willing--if the goods are up to the sample.''
Mildred saw her stepfather and her mother watching from just within the conservatory door. A movement of the portiere at the door into the hall let her know that Darcy, the butler, was peeping and listening there. She stood up, clenched her hands, struck them together, struck them against her temples, crossed the room swiftly, flung herself down upon a sofa, and burst into tears. Presbury and his wife entered. Siddall was standing, looking after Mildred with a grin. He winked at Presbury and said:
``I guess we gave her too much of that wine. It's all old and stronger than you'd think.''
``My daughter hardly touched her glasses,'' cried Mrs. Presbury.
``I know that, ma'am,'' replied Siddall. ``I watched her. If she'd done much drinking, I'd have been done, then and there.''
``I suspect she's upset by what you've been saying, General,'' said Presbury. ``Wasn't it enough to upset a girl? You don't realize how magnificent you are-- how magnificent everything is here.''
``I'm sorry if I upset her,'' said the general, swelling and loftily contrite. ``I don t know why it is that people never seem to be able to act natural with me.'' He hated those who did, regarding them as sodden, unappreciative fools.
Mrs. Presbury was quieting her daughter. Presbury and Siddall lighted cigars and went into the smoking-- and billiard-room across the hall. Said Presbury:
``I didn't deceive you, did I, General?''
``She's entirely satisfactory,'' replied Siddall. ``I'm going to make careful inquiries about her character and her health. If those things prove to be all right I'm ready to go ahead.''
``Then the thing's settled,'' said Presbury. ``She's all that a lady should be. And except a cold now and then she never has anything the matter with her. She comes of good healthy stock.''
``I can't stand a sickly, ailing woman,'' said Siddall. ``I wouldn't marry one, and if one I married turned out to be that kind, I'd make short work of her. When you get right down to facts, what is a woman? Why, a body. If she ain't pretty and well, she ain't nothing. While I'm looking up her pedigree, so to speak, I want you to get her mother to explain to her just what kind of a man I am.''
``Certainly, certainly,'' said Presbury.
``Have her told that I don't put up with foolishness. If she wants to look at a man, let her look at me.''
``You'll have no trouble in that way,'' said Presbury.
``I DID have trouble in that way,'' replied the general sourly. ``Women are fools--ALL women. But the principal trouble with the second Mrs. Siddall was that she wasn't a lady born.''
``That's why I say you'll have no trouble,'' said Presbury.
``Well, I want her mother to talk to her plainer than a gentleman can talk to a young lady. I want her to understand that I am marrying so that I can have a WIFE--cheerful, ready, and healthy. I'll not put up with foolishness of any kind.''
``I understand,'' said Presbury. ``You'll find that she'll meet all your conditions.''
``Explain to her that, while I'm the easiest, most liberal-spending man in the world when I'm getting what I want, I am just the opposite when I'm not getting what I pay for. If I take her and if she acts right, she'll have more of everything that women want than any woman in the world. I'd take a pride in my wife. There isn't anything I wouldn't spend in showing her off to advantage. And I'm willing to be liberal with her mother, too.''
Presbury had been hoping for this. His eyes sparkled. ``You're a prince, General,'' he said. ``A genuine
A wave of anger swept through her, restoring her strength. She was about to speak--a rebuke to his colossal impudence that he would not soon forget. Then she remembered, and bit her lips.
``I don't ask you to decide to-night,'' pursued he, hastening to explain this concession by adding: ``I don't intend to decide, myself. All I say is that I am willing--if the goods are up to the sample.''
Mildred saw her stepfather and her mother watching from just within the conservatory door. A movement of the portiere at the door into the hall let her know that Darcy, the butler, was peeping and listening there. She stood up, clenched her hands, struck them together, struck them against her temples, crossed the room swiftly, flung herself down upon a sofa, and burst into tears. Presbury and his wife entered. Siddall was standing, looking after Mildred with a grin. He winked at Presbury and said:
``I guess we gave her too much of that wine. It's all old and stronger than you'd think.''
``My daughter hardly touched her glasses,'' cried Mrs. Presbury.
``I know that, ma'am,'' replied Siddall. ``I watched her. If she'd done much drinking, I'd have been done, then and there.''
``I suspect she's upset by what you've been saying, General,'' said Presbury. ``Wasn't it enough to upset a girl? You don't realize how magnificent you are-- how magnificent everything is here.''
``I'm sorry if I upset her,'' said the general, swelling and loftily contrite. ``I don t know why it is that people never seem to be able to act natural with me.'' He hated those who did, regarding them as sodden, unappreciative fools.
Mrs. Presbury was quieting her daughter. Presbury and Siddall lighted cigars and went into the smoking-- and billiard-room across the hall. Said Presbury:
``I didn't deceive you, did I, General?''
``She's entirely satisfactory,'' replied Siddall. ``I'm going to make careful inquiries about her character and her health. If those things prove to be all right I'm ready to go ahead.''
``Then the thing's settled,'' said Presbury. ``She's all that a lady should be. And except a cold now and then she never has anything the matter with her. She comes of good healthy stock.''
``I can't stand a sickly, ailing woman,'' said Siddall. ``I wouldn't marry one, and if one I married turned out to be that kind, I'd make short work of her. When you get right down to facts, what is a woman? Why, a body. If she ain't pretty and well, she ain't nothing. While I'm looking up her pedigree, so to speak, I want you to get her mother to explain to her just what kind of a man I am.''
``Certainly, certainly,'' said Presbury.
``Have her told that I don't put up with foolishness. If she wants to look at a man, let her look at me.''
``You'll have no trouble in that way,'' said Presbury.
``I DID have trouble in that way,'' replied the general sourly. ``Women are fools--ALL women. But the principal trouble with the second Mrs. Siddall was that she wasn't a lady born.''
``That's why I say you'll have no trouble,'' said Presbury.
``Well, I want her mother to talk to her plainer than a gentleman can talk to a young lady. I want her to understand that I am marrying so that I can have a WIFE--cheerful, ready, and healthy. I'll not put up with foolishness of any kind.''
``I understand,'' said Presbury. ``You'll find that she'll meet all your conditions.''
``Explain to her that, while I'm the easiest, most liberal-spending man in the world when I'm getting what I want, I am just the opposite when I'm not getting what I pay for. If I take her and if she acts right, she'll have more of everything that women want than any woman in the world. I'd take a pride in my wife. There isn't anything I wouldn't spend in showing her off to advantage. And I'm willing to be liberal with her mother, too.''
Presbury had been hoping for this. His eyes sparkled. ``You're a prince, General,'' he said. ``A genuine