Part 12 (1/2)

”Was I thinking aloud?” said Mildred, as she gave him her hand.

”You said something about 'getting a good deal.'” He inspected her with the freedom of an old friend and with the thoroughness of a connoisseur. Women who took pains with themselves and were satisfied with the results liked Stanley Baird's knowing and appreciative way of noting the best points in their toilets. ”You're looking fine,”

declared he. ”It must be a pleasure to them up in the Rue de la Paix to dress you. That's more than can be said for nine out of ten of the women who go there. Yes, you're looking fine--and in grand health, too. Why, you look younger than I ever saw you. Nothing like marriage to freshen a girl up. Well, I suppose waiting round for a husband who may or may not turn up does wear a woman down.”

”It almost killed me,” laughed Mildred. ”And you were largely responsible.”

”I?” said Baird. ”You didn't want me. I was too old for you.”

”No, I didn't want you,” said Mildred. ”But you spoiled me. I couldn't endure the boys of my own age.”

Stanley was remembering that Mildred had married a man much older than he. With some notion of a careless sort of tact in mind he said, ”I was betwixt and between--neither young enough nor old enough.”

”You've married, too, since we met. By the way, thank you again for that charming remembrance. You always did have such good taste. But why didn't you come to the wedding--you and your wife?”

He laughed. ”We were busy busting up,” said he. ”You hadn't heard?

It's been in the papers. She's gone back to her people. Oh, nothing disgraceful on either side. Simply that we bored each other to death.

She was crazy about horses and dogs, and that set. I think the stable's the place for horses--don't care to have 'em parading through the house all the time, every room, every meal, sleeping and waking.

And dogs--the infernal brutes always have fleas. Fleas only tickled her, but they bite me--raise welts and hills. There's your husband now, isn't it?”

Baird was looking up at the windows of the Continental, across the street. Mildred's glance slowly and carelessly followed his. At one window stood the little general, gazing abstractedly out over the gardens. At another window Mildred saw Harding; at a third, her maid; at a fourth, Harding's a.s.sistant, Drawl; at a fifth, three servants of the retinue. Except the general, all were looking at her.

”You've married a very extraordinary man,” said Baird, in a correct tone of admiration. ”One of the ablest and most interesting men we've got, _I_ think.”

”So you are free again?” said Mildred, looking at him with a queer, cold smile.

”Yes, and no,” replied Stanley. ”I hope to be entirely free. It's her move next. I'm expecting it every day. But I'm thoroughly respectable. Won't you and the general dine with me?”

”Thanks, but I'm sailing for home to-morrow or next day.”

”That's interesting,” said Baird, with enthusiasm. ”So am I. What s.h.i.+p do you go on?”

”I don't know yet. I'm to decide this afternoon, after lunch.” She laughed. ”I'm sitting here waiting for someone to ask me to lunch.

I've not had even coffee yet.”

”Lunch with me!” cried Baird. ”I'll go get the general--I know him slightly.”

”I didn't say anything about the general,” said Mildred.

Stanley smiled apologetically. ”It wouldn't do for you to go about with me--not when my missus is looking for grounds for divorce.”

”Why not?” said Mildred. ”So's my husband.”

”You busted up, too? Now, that's what _I_ call jolly.” And he cast a puzzled glance up at the abstracted general. ”I say, Mildred, this is no place for either of us, is it?”

”I'd rather be where there's food,” confessed she.

”You think it's a joke, but I a.s.sure you-- Oh, you WERE joking--about YOUR bust-up?”

”No, indeed,” she a.s.sured him. ”I walked out a while ago, and I couldn't go back if I would--and I don't think I would if I could.”