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‘‘Is shepoor？'' asked Mildred。
‘‘I should prefer not to''
‘‘Did the general forbid you to tell me？''
‘‘On the contrary； he instructed me But I'd rather not talk about it； Mrs。 Siddall。''
‘‘Is she poor？'' repeated Mildred。
‘‘Yes。''
‘‘What became of her？''
A long pause。 Then Harding said： ‘‘She was a poor girl when the general married her。 After the divorce she lived for a while with the man。 But he had nothing。 They separated。 She tried various kinds of workand other things。 Since she lost her looks She writes from time to time； asking for money。''
‘‘Which she never gets？'' said Mildred。
‘‘Which she never gets；'' said Harding。 ‘‘Lately she was cashier or head waitress in a cheap restaurant in St。 Louis。''
After a long silence Mildred said： ‘‘I understand。 I understand。'' She drew a long breath。 ‘‘I shall understand better as time goes on； but I understand fairly well now。''
‘‘I need not tell you； Mrs。 Siddall；'' said Harding in his gentle； tranquil way； ‘‘that the general is the kindest and most generous of men； but he has his own methods as who has not？''
Mildred had forgotten that he was therenot a difficult matter； when he had in its perfection the secretarial manner of complete self…effacement。 Said she reflectively； like one puzzling out a difficult problem：
‘‘He buys a woman； as he buys a dog or a horse。 He does not give his dog； his horse； pocket…money。 Why should he give his woman pocket…money？''
‘‘Will it help matters； Mrs。 Siddall； to go to the other extreme and do him a grave injustice？''
She did not hear。 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 rich men who are carelessthey ruin everybody about them； I assure you。 I've seen it again and again。''
But the young wife was absorbed in her own thoughts。 Harding； feeling her mood； did not interrupt。 After a while she said：
‘‘I must ask you some questions。 These jewels the general has been buying''
Harding made a movement of embarrassment and protest。 She smiled ironically and went on：
‘‘One moment； please。 Every time I wish to wear any of them I have to go to him to get them。 He asks me to return them when I am undressing。 He says it is safer to keep everything in his strong box。 I have been assuming that that was the only reason。 I begin to suspect Am I right； Mr。 Harding？''
‘‘Really I can't say； Mrs。 Siddall；'' said Harding。 ‘‘These are not matters to discuss with me； if you will permit me to say so。''
‘‘Oh； yes； they are；'' replied she laughingly。 ‘‘Aren't we all in the same boat？all employes of the general？''
Harding made no reply。
Mildred was beside herself with a kind of rage that； because outlet was necessary and because raving against the little general would be absolutely futile； found outlet in self…mockery and reckless sarcasm。
‘‘I understand about the jewels； too；'' she went on。 ‘‘They are not mine。 Nothing is mine。 Everything； including myself； belongs to him。 If I give satisfaction in the position for which I've been hired for my board and clothes； I may continue to eat the general's food and sleep in the general's house and wear the general's jewels and dresses and ride in the general's traps and be waited on by the general's servants。 If I don't like my place or he doesn't like my way of filling it''she laughed merrily； mockingly‘‘out I gointo the streetsafter the second Mrs。 Siddall。 And the general will hire a new'' She paused； cast about for a word in vain； appealed to the secretary； ‘‘What would you call it； Mr。 Harding？''
Harding rose； looking at her with a very soothing tranquillity。 ‘‘If I were you； Mrs。 Siddall；'' said he； ‘‘I should get into the auto and go for a long drive out to the Boisout to Versaillesa long； long drive。 I should be gone four or five hours at least； and I should look at the thing from all sides。 Especially； I'd look at it from HIS standpoint。''
Mildred； somewhat quieter； but still mocking； said： ‘‘If I should decide to quit； would my expenses be paid back to where I was engaged？ I fancy not。''
Harding looked grave。 ‘‘If you had had money enough to pay your own expenses about； would you have married him？'' said he。 ‘‘Isn't he payingpaying liberally； Mrs。 Siddallfor ALL he gets？''
Mildred； stung； drew herself up haughtily； gave him a look that reminded him who she was and who he was。 But Harding was not impressed。
‘‘You said a moment agotrulythat we are all in the same boat；'' observed he。 ‘‘I put those questions to you because I honestly wish to help youbecause I wish you not to act foolishly； hastily。''
‘‘Thank you； Mr。 Harding；'' said Mildred coldly。 And with a slight nod she went； angry and ashamed that she had so unaccountably opened up her secret soul； bared its ugly wounds； before a man she knew so slightly； a man in a position but one remove from menial。 However； she took his advicenot as to trying to view the matter from all sides； for she was convinced that there was only the one side； but as to calming herself by a long drive alone in the woods and along quiet roads。 When she returned she was under control once more。
She found the general impatiently awaiting her。 Many packages had comefrom the jewelers； from the furriers； from a shop whose specialty was the thinnest and most delicate of hand…made underwear。 The general loved to open and inspect finery for her loved it more than he loved inspecting finery for himself； because feminine finery was far more attractive than masculine。 To whet his pleasure to the keenest she must be there to admire with him； to try on； to exhibit。 As she entered the salon where the little man was fussing about among the packages； their glances met。 She saw that Harding had told himat least in discreet outlineof their conversation。 She also saw that if she reopened the subject she would find herself straightway whirled out upon a stormy sea of danger that might easily overwhelm her flimsy boat。 She silently and sullenly dropped into her place； she ministered to the general's pleasure in packages of finery。 But she did not exclaim； or admire； or respond in any way。 The honeymoon was over。 Her dream of wifehood was dissipated。
She understood now the look she so often had seen on the faces of rich men's poor wives driving in state in Fifth Avenue。 That night； as she inspected herself in the glass while the general's maid for her brushed her long thick hair； she saw the beginnings of that look in her own face。 ‘‘I don't know just what I am；'' she said to herself。 ‘‘But I do know what I am not。 I am not a wife。''
She sent away the maid； and sat there in the dressing… room before the mirror； waiting； her glance traveling about and noting the profuse and prodigal luxury。 In the corner stood a circular rack loaded with dressing… gownsmore than a score of exquisite combinations of silk and lace or silk and chiffon