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"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.
Against her will, her weak arm began to draw the door open. Harding came toward her, stood before her and looked directly into her eyes. His eyes had dread and entreaty in them, but his voice was as always when he said: "You know him, Mrs. Siddall." "Yes," she said. "The reason he has got ALL he wanted whatever he wanted is that he will go to any length.
At the picture presented to her mind by her own thoughts she gave a short satirical laugh. "How stupid of me not to have understood from the outset," said she. "Why, I've often heard of this very thing." "It is more and more the custom among men of large property, I believe," said Harding. "Perhaps, Mrs. Siddall, you would not blame them if you were in their position.
The temper men show toward men bears small resemblance either in kind or in degree to the temper of jealous passion they show toward the woman who baffles them or arouses their suspicions; and no man would recognize his most intimate man friend or himself when in that paroxysm. Mildred had seen this mood, gleaming at her through a mask, in General Siddall.
After a gorgeous dessert which nobody more than touched a molded mousse of whipped and frozen cream and strawberries "specially sent on to me from Florida and costing me a dollar apiece, I guess" after this costly wonder had disappeared fruit was served. General Siddall had ready a long oration upon this course. He delivered it in a disgustingly thick tone.
One morning in the mail there arrived this note type-written upon business paper: JAMES PRESBURY, Esqr.: DEAR SIR: General Siddall asks me to present his compliments and to say that he will be pleased if you and your wife and the young lady will dine with him at his house next Thursday the seventeenth at half-past seven sharp. ROBERT CHANDLESS, Secretary.
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?"
She must speak. Not to speak was to lie, was to play the hypocrite. Yet speak she dared not. At least Stanley Baird was better than Siddall. Anyhow, who was she, that had been the wife of Siddall, to be so finicky? "You don't believe me?" he said miserably. "You think I'll forget myself sometime again?" "I hope not," she said gently. "I believe not. I trust you, Stanley."
She had just got a new hat that was peculiarly becoming to her. She had shown Siddall herself at the best in evening attire; another sort of costume would give him a different view of her looks, one which she flattered herself was not less attractive. But Presbury interposed an emphatic veto. "You'll wear full evening dress," said he. "Bare neck and arms for men like Bill Siddall.
He presently reported that there was not a doubt as to the wealth of the little general. "There are all sorts of ugly stories about how he made his money," said Tilker; "but all the great fortunes have a scandalous history, and I doubt if Siddall's is any worse than the others. I don't see how it well could be. Siddall has the reputation of being a mean and cruel little tyrant.
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