The Price She Paid by David Graham Phillips
page 75 of 465 (16%)
page 75 of 465 (16%)
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yielded her fingers to Siddall at the leave-taking. He
and her mother covered the silence and ice with hot and voluble sycophantry. They might have spared themselves the exertion. To Siddall Mildred was at her most fascinating when she was thus ``the lady and the queen.'' The final impression she made upon him was the most favorable of all. In the cab Mrs. Presbury talked out of the fullness of an overflowing heart. ``What a remarkable man the general is!'' said she. ``You've only to look at him to realize that you're in the presence of a really superior person. And what tact he has!--and how generous he is!--and how beautifully he entertains! So much dignity--so much simplicity--so much--'' ``Fiddlesticks!'' interrupted Presbury. ``Your daughter isn't a damn fool, Mrs. Presbury.'' Mildred gave a short, dry laugh. Up flared her mother. ``I mean every word I said!'' cried she. ``If I hadn't admired and appreciated him, I'd certainly not have acted as I did. _I_ couldn't stoop to such hypocrisy.'' ``Fiddlesticks!'' sneered Presbury. ``Bill Siddall is a horror. His house is a horror. His dinner was a horror. These loathsome rich people! They're ruining the world--as they always have. They're making |
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