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. She said: "No matter what you might do to me, when I'm away from you, it would be less than you'd do with me under your roof. At any rate, it'd seem less." The general reflected, decided to change to another point: "You made a bargain with me. You've broken it. I never let anyone break a bargain with me without making them regret it. I'm giving you a chance to keep your bargain." She was tempted to discuss, but she could not find the words, or the strength. Besides, how futile to discuss with such a man. She sank back in her chair wearily. "I shall never go back," she said.