United States or Vanuatu ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The cost of the Presbury gout-boot had been, thanks to patient search for a cheap cobbler, something under four dollars this, when men paid shoe specialists twenty, thirty, and even forty dollars a pair for gout-boots that gave less comfort. The morning after the dinner at which he had drunk to drown his chagrin and to give him courage and tongue for sycophantry, he put on the boots.
Presbury was overwhelmed. How account to Hanging Rock for the reappearance of a baggageless and husbandless bride? But she held up bravely. With a cheerfulness that did credit to her heart and showed how well she loved her daughter she said: "We must do the best we can. We'll get up some story." "No," said Mildred. "I'm going back to New York.
Presbury apologized courteously for his intrusion and went away, cursing under his breath. You may be sure that he made his wife and his stepdaughter suffer for what he had been through. Two weeks more passed three a month.
"To be a lady, Mr. Presbury would say," suggested Mildred. After some discussion, they fixed upon Joseph Tilker as the best available investigator of General Siddall. Tilker had been head clerk for Henry Gower. He was now in for himself and had offered to look after any legal business Mrs. Presbury might have without charging her.
As soon as they were armed they hastened to give battle again. She avoided Presbury. Her mother she could not avoid; and when her mother was not in combat with him, she was weeping or wailing or railing to Mildred. It was at Mildred's urging that her mother acquiesced in Presbury's plans for reducing expenses within income.
"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."
Presbury, reduced now by various infirmities by absolute deafness, by dimness of sight, by difficulty in walking to where eating was his sole remaining pleasure, or, indeed, distraction, spent all his time in concocting dishes for himself. Mildred could not resist and who can when seated at table with the dish before one's eyes and under one's nose. The Rivi regimen was suspended for the visit.
"He'll have me watched that's all he'll do," said Mildred. "When he gets ready he'll divorce me for deserting him." Mrs. Presbury felt that she was right. But, concealing her despondency, she said: "All we can do is to wait and see. You must send for your luggage." "I've nothing but a large bag," said Mildred. "I checked it in the parcel-room of the New York station." Mrs.
"Can I stay here for more than a few days?" "But maybe, after a few days " stammered her mother. "You see, I've got to begin," said Mildred. "So why delay? I'd gain nothing. I'd simply start Hanging Rock to gossiping and start Mr. Presbury to acting like a fiend again."
He said to Presbury: "Take your wife into the conservatory to look at my orchids. I want to say a word to your stepdaughter." Mildred started up nervously. She saw how drunk the general was, saw the expression of his face that a woman has to be innocent indeed not to understand. She was afraid to be left alone with him. Presbury came up to her, said rapidly, in a low tone: "It's all right.
Word Of The Day