a
house. You are ready to come with me?"

"Your secretary explained that if I left the hotel it was the end."

"He told you that by my orders."

"So he explained," said Mildred. She seated herself, overcome by a
sudden lassitude that was accompanied not by fear, but by indifference.
"Won't you sit down? I am willing to hear what you have to say."

The little general, about to sit, was so astonished that he
straightened and stiffened himself. "In consenting to overlook your
conduct and take you back I have gone farther than I ever intended. I
have taken into consideration your youth and inexperience."

"But I am not going back," said Mildred.

The little general slowly seated himself. "You have less than two
hundred and fifty dollars left," said he.

"Really? Your spies know better than I."

"I have seen Presbury. He assures me that in no circumstances will he
and your mother take you back."

"They will not have the chance to refuse," said Mildred.

"As for your brother--"

"I have no brother," said she coldly.

"Then you are coming back with me."

"No," said Mildred. "I should"--she cast about for an impressive
alternative--"I should stay on here, rather."

The little general--his neat varnished leather and be-spatted shoes
just touched the floor--examined his highly polished top-hat at several
angles. Finally he said: "You need not fear that your misconduct will
be remembered against you. I shall treat you in every way as my wife.
I shall assume that your--your flight was an impulse that you regret."

"I shan't go back," said Mildred. "Nothing you could offer would
change me."

"I cannot make any immediate concession on the--the matter that caused
you to go," pursued he, as if she had not spoken, "but if I see that
you have reliability and good sense, I'll agree to give you an
allowance later."

Mildred eyed him curiously. "Why are you making these offers, these
concessions?" she said. "You think everyone in the world is a fool
except yourself. You're greatly deceived. I know that you don't mean
what you've been saying. I know that if you got me in your power
again, you would do something frightful. I've seen through that mask
you wear. I know the kind of man you are."

"If you know that," said the general in his even slow way, monotonous,
almost lifeless, "you know you'd better come with me than stand out
against me."

She did not let him see how this struck terror into her.