h, I have wanted good times. I used to sit night after night alone in
the office while you and Jean went out and did the things I was dying
to do. I wanted to go to dances and to the theater and to supper with
a gay crowd. But you never seemed to think of it. I am young and I
want pretty clothes--yet you thought I was satisfied to have you come
home and say a few careless pleasant words, and to tease me a little.
That was all you ever did for me--all you ever wanted.

"But the General wants more than that. He wants me here in the big
house, to be his wife, and to meet his friends. He had a man come up
the other day with a lot of rings, and he bought me this." She showed
the great diamonds flashing on her third finger. "I have always wanted
a ring like this, and now I can have as many as I want. Do you blame
me for shaking the tree?"

He sat, listening, spellbound to her sophistry. But was it sophistry?
Wasn't some of it true? He saw her for the first time as a woman
wanting things like other women.

She swept out her hand to include the contents of the little room. "I
have always longed for a place like this. I don't know a thing about
china. But I know that all that stuff in the cabinet cost a fortune.
And it's a pretty room, and some day when I am the General's wife, I'll
ask you here to take tea with me, and I'll wear a silver gown like your
daughter wears, and I think you'll be surprised to see that I can do it
well."

He flung up his hand. "I can't argue it, Hilda. I can't analyze it.
But it is all wrong. In all the years that you worked for me, while I
laughed at you, I respected you. But I don't respect you now."

She shrugged. "Do you think I care? And a man's respect after all is
rather a cold thing, isn't it? But I am sorry you feel as you do about
it. I should have been glad to have you wish me happiness."

"Happiness--" His anger seemed to die suddenly. "You won't find
happiness, Hilda, if you separate a son from his father."

"Did he tell you that? I had nothing to do with it. His father was
angry at his--interference."

He stood up. "We won't discuss it. But you may tell him this. That I
am glad his son is poor, for my daughter will marry now the man and not
his money."

"Then he will marry her?"

"Yes. On Christmas Day."

She wished that she might tell him the date of her own wedding, but she
did not know it. The General seemed in no hurry. He had carefully
ob