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their honor； but in his ownto show them what he could do when he wished to make a holiday。 Finally the grand course was reached。 Into the dining…room； to the amazement of the guests； were rolled two great restaurant joint wagons。 Instead of being made of silver…plated nickel or plain nickel they were of silver embossed with gold； and the large carvers and serving… spoons and forks had gold…mounted silver handles。 When the lackeys turned back the covers there were disclosed several truly wonderful young turkeys； fattened as if by painstaking and skillful hand and superbly browned。
Up to that time the rich and costly food had been sadly mediumlike the wines。 But these turkeys were a genuine triumph。 Even Mildred gave them a look of interest and admiration。 In a voice that made General Siddall ecstatic Presbury cried：
‘‘GOD bless my soul！ WHERE did you get those beauties； old man！''
‘‘Paris；'' said Siddall in a voice tremulous with pride and self…admiration。 You would have thought that he had created not merely the turkeys； but Paris； also。 ‘‘Potin sends them over to me。 Potin； you know； is the finest dealer in groceries； fruit； game； and so on in the world。 I have a standing order with him for the best of everything that comes in。 I'd hate to tell you what my bill with Potin is every monthhe only sends it to me once a year。 Really； I think I ought to be ashamed of myself； but I reason that； if a man can afford it； he's a fool to put anything but the best into his stomach。''
‘‘You're right there！'' mumbled Presbury。 His mouth was full of turkey。 ‘‘You HAVE got a chef； General！''
‘‘He ought to cook well。 I pay him more than most bank…presidents get。 What do you think of those joint wagons； Mrs。 Presbury？''
‘‘They're veryinteresting；'' replied she； a little nervous because she suspected they were some sort of vulgar joke。
‘‘I knew you'd like them；'' said the general。 ‘‘My own idea entirely。 I saw them in several restaurants abroadonly of course those they had were just ordinary affairs； not fit to be introduced into a gentleman's dining…room。 But I took the idea and adapted it to my purposesand there you are！''
‘‘Very original； old man；'' said Presbury； who had been drinking too much。 ‘‘I've never seen it before； and I don't think I ever shall again。 Got the idea patented？''
But Siddall in his soberest moment would have been slow to admit a suspicion that any of the human race； which he regarded as on its knees before him； was venturing to poke fun at him。 Drunk as he now was； the openest sarcasm would have been accepted as a compliment。 After a gorgeous dessert which nobody more than toucheda molded mousse of whipped and frozen cream and strawberries‘‘specially sent on to me from Florida and costing me a dollar apiece； I guess''after this costly wonder had disappeared fruit was served。 General Siddall had ready a long oration upon this course。 He delivered it in a disgustingly thick tone。 The pineapple was an English hothouse product； the grapes were grown by a costly process under glass in Belgium。 As for the peaches； Potin had sent those deli… cately blushing marvels； and the charge for this would be ‘‘not less than a louis apiece； sira louis d'or which； as you no doubt know； is about four dollars of Uncle Sam's money。''
The coffee‘‘the Queen of Holland may have it on her PRIVATE tableMAY； I saybut I doubt if anyone else in the world gets a smell of it except me'' the coffee and the brandy came not a moment too soon。 Presbury was becoming stupefied with indigestion； his wife was nodding and was wearing that vague； forced； pleasant smile which stands propriety…guard over a mind asleep； Mildred Gower felt that her nerves would endure no more； and the general was falling into a besotted state； spilling his wine； mumbling his words。 The coffee and the brandy revived them all somewhat。 Mildred； lifting her eyes； saw by way of a mirrored section of the enormous sideboard the English butler surveying master and guests with slowly moving； sneering glance of ineffable contempt。
In the drawing…room again Mildred； requested by Siddall and ordered by Presbury； sang a little French song and thenat the urging of Siddall‘‘Annie Laurie。'' Siddall was wiping his eyes when she turned around。 He said to Presbury：
‘‘Take your wife into the conservatory to look at my orchids。 I want to say a word to your stepdaughter。''
Mildred started up nervously。 She saw how drunk the general was； saw the expression of his face that a woman has to be innocent indeed not to understand。 She was afraid to be left alone with him。 Presbury came up to her； said rapidly； in a low tone：
‘‘It's all right。 He's got a high sense of what's due a respectable woman of our class。 He isn't as drunk as he looks and acts。''
Having said which； he took his wife by the arm and pushed her into the adjoining conservatory。 Mildred reseated herself upon the inlaid piano…bench。 The little man； his face now shiny with the sweat of drink and emotion； drew up a chair in front of her。 He sat and he was almost as tall sitting as standing。 He said graciously：
‘‘Don't be afraid； my dear girl。 I'm not that dangerous。''
She lifted her eyes and looked at him。 She tried to conceal her aversion； she feared she was not succeeding。 But she need not have concerned herself about that。 General Siddall； after the manner of very rich men； could not conceive of anyone being less impressed with his superiority in any way than he himself was。 For years he had heard only flatteries of himselfhis own voice singing his praises； the fawning voices of those he hired and of those hoping to get some financial advantage。 He could not have imagined a mere woman not being overwhelmed by the prospect of his courting her。 Nor would it have entered his head that his money would be the chief； much less the only； consideration with her。 He had long since lost all point of view； and believed that the adulation paid his wealth was evoked by his charms of person； mind； and manner。 Those who imagine this was evidence of folly and weak…mindedness and extraordinary vanity show how little they know human nature。 The strongest head could not re… main steady； the most accurate eyes could not retain their measuring skill； in such an environment as always completely envelops wealth and power。 And the much… talked…of difference between those born to wealth and power and those who rise to it from obscurity resolves itself to little more than the difference between those born mad and those who go insane。
Looking at the little man with the disagreeable eyes； so dull yet so shrewd； Mildred saw that within the drunkard who could scarcely sit straight upon the richly upholstered and carved gilt chair there was another person； coldly sober； calmly calculating。 And she realized that it was this person with whom she was about to have the most serious conversation of her life thus far。
The drunkard smiled with a repulsive wiping and smacking of the thin； sensual lips。 ‘‘I suppose you know why I had you brought here this evening？'' said he。
Mildred looked and waited。
‘‘I didn't intend to say anything to…night。 In fact； I didn't expect to find in you what I've been looking for。 I thought that old fool of a stepfather of yours was cracking up his goods beyond their merits。 But he wasn't。 My dear； you suit me from the ground up。 I've been looking you over carefully。 You were made for the place I want to fill。''
Mildred had lowered her eyes。 Her face had become deathly pale。 ‘‘I feel faint；'' she murmured。 ‘‘It is very warm here。''
‘‘You're not sickly？'' inquired the general sharply。 ‘‘You look like a good solid womanthin but wiry。 Ever been sick？ I must look into your health。 That's a point on which I must be satisfied。''
A wave of anger swept through her； restoring her strength。 She was about to speaka rebuke to his colossal impudence that he would not soon forget。 Then she remembered； and bit her lips。
‘‘I don't ask you to decide to…night；'' pursued he； hastening to explain this concession by adding： ‘‘I don't intend to decide； myself。 All I say is that I am willingif the goods are up to the sample。''
Mildred saw her s