He flung up his hand. "I can't argue it, Hilda. I can't analyze it.
But it is all wrong. In all the years that you worked for me, while I
laughed at you, I respected you. But I don't respect you now."
She shrugged. "Do you think I care? And a man's respect after all is
rather a cold thing, isn't it? But I am sorry you feel as you do about
it. I should have been glad to have you wish me happiness."
"Happiness--" His anger seemed to die suddenly. "You won't find
happiness, Hilda, if you separate a son from his father."
"Did he tell you that? I had nothing to do with it. His father was
angry at his--interference."
He stood up. "We won't discuss it. But you may tell him this. That I
am glad his son is poor, for my daughter will marry now the man and not
his money."
"Then he will marry her?"
"Yes. On Christmas Day."
She wished that she might tell him the date of her own wedding, but she
did not know it. The General seemed in no hurry. He had carefully
observed the conventions; had hired a housekeeper and a maid, and there
was, of course, the day nurse. Having thus surrounded his betrothed
with a sort of feminine bodyguard, he spoke of the wedding as happening
in the spring. And he was hard to move. As has been said, the General
had once commanded a brigade. He was immensely entertained and
fascinated by the lady who was to be his wife. But he was not to be
managed by her. She found herself, as he grew stronger, quite
strangely deferring to his wishes. She found herself, indeed, rather
unexpectedly dominated.
She came back to the Doctor. "Aren't you going to wish me happiness?"
"No. How can I, Hilda?"
After he had left her, she stood very still in the middle of the room.
She could still see him as he had towered above her--his crinkled hair
waving back from his handsome head. She had always liked the youth of
him and his laughter and his boyish fun.
The rich man upstairs was--old--.
CHAPTER XX
THE VISION OF BRAVE WOMEN
And now the Tin Soldier was to go to the wars!
Derry, swinging downtown, found himself gazing squarely into the eyes
of the khaki-clad men whom he met. He was one of them at last!
He was on his way to meet Jean. The day before they had gone to church
together. They had heard burning words from a fearless pulpit. The
old man who had preached had set no limits on his patriotism. The
cause of the Allies was the cause of humanity, the cause of humanity
was the cause of Christ. He would have had the marching hymn of the
Americans "Onward, Christian Soldiers." His Master was not a shrinking
idealist, but a prophet unafraid. "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto
thee, Bethsaida! . . . It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon
in the day of Judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art
exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to hell . . ."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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