all that a lady should be. And except a cold now and
then she never has anything the matter with her. She
comes of good healthy stock.''

``I can't stand a sickly, ailing woman,'' said Siddall.
``I wouldn't marry one, and if one I married turned out
to be that kind, I'd make short work of her. When you
get right down to facts, what is a woman? Why, a
body. If she ain't pretty and well, she ain't nothing.
While I'm looking up her pedigree, so to speak, I want
you to get her mother to explain to her just what kind
of a man I am.''

``Certainly, certainly,'' said Presbury.

``Have her told that I don't put up with foolishness.
If she wants to look at a man, let her look at me.''

``You'll have no trouble in that way,'' said Presbury.

``I DID have trouble in that way,'' replied the general
sourly. ``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