第17章

``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 prince.You know how to do things right.''

``I flatter myself I do,'' said the general.``I've been up and down the world, and I tell you most of the kings live cheap beside me.And when I get a wife worth showing of, I'll do still better.I've got wonderful creative ability.There isn't anything I can't and won't buy.''

Presbury noted uneasily how cold and straight, how obviously repelled and repelling the girl was as she yielded her fingers to Siddall at the leave-taking.He and her mother covered the silence and ice with hot and voluble sycophantry.They might have spared themselves the exertion.To Siddall Mildred was at her most fascinating when she was thus ``the lady and the queen.'' The final impression she made upon him was the most favorable of all.

In the cab Mrs.Presbury talked out of the fullness of an overflowing heart.``What a remarkable man the general is!'' said she.``You've only to look at him to realize that you're in the presence of a really superior person.And what tact he has!--and how generous he is!--and how beautifully he entertains!

So much dignity--so much simplicity--so much--''

``Fiddlesticks!'' interrupted Presbury.``Your daughter isn't a damn fool, Mrs.Presbury.''

Mildred gave a short, dry laugh.

Up flared her mother.``I mean every word I said!''

cried she.``If I hadn't admired and appreciated him, I'd certainly not have acted as I did._I_ couldn't stoop to such hypocrisy.''

``Fiddlesticks!'' sneered Presbury.``Bill Siddall is a horror.His house is a horror.His dinner was a horror.These loathsome rich people! They're ruining the world--as they always have.They're making it impossible for anyone to get good service or good food or good furniture or good clothing or good anything.They don't know good things, and they pay exorbitant prices for showy trash, for crude vulgar luxury.They corrupt taste.They make everyone round them or near them sycophants and cheats.They substitute money for intelligence and discrimination.

They degrade every fine thing in life.Civilization is built up by brains and hard work, and along come the rich and rot and ruin it!''

Mildred and her mother were listening in astonishment.

Said the mother:

``I'd be ashamed to confess myself such a hypocrite.''

``And I, madam, would be ashamed to be such a hypocrite without taking a bath of confession afterward,''

retorted Presbury.

``At least you might have waited until Mildred wasn't in hearing,'' snapped she.

``I shall marry him if I can,'' said Mildred.

``And blissfully happy you'll be,'' said Presbury.

``Women, ladies--true ladies, like you and your mother--have no sensibilities.All you ask is luxury.

If Bill Siddall were a thousand times worse than he is, his money would buy him almost any refined, delicate lady anywhere in Christendom.''

Mrs.Presbury laughed angrily.``YOU, talking like this--you of all men.Is there anything YOU wouldn't stoop to for money?''

``Do you think I laid myself open to that charge by marrying you?'' said Presbury, made cheerful despite his savage indigestion by the opportunity for effective insult she had given him and he had promptly seized.