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behaved badly to him； and I'd give anything to undo the wrong I let him
do himself； but I'll never go back to him。〃
〃If you went back； on your old salary；〃 the general persisted pitilessly；
〃you would be very fortunate if you brought your earnings up to twenty…
five hundred a year。〃
〃Yes〃
〃And how far do you think that would go in supporting my daughter on the
scale she is used to？ I don't speak of your mother； who has the first
claim upon you。〃
Burnamy sat dumb； and his head which he had lifted indignantly when the
question was of Stoller； began to sink。
The general went on。 〃You ask me to give you my daughter when you
haven't money enough to keep her in gowns； you ask me to give her to a
stranger〃
〃Not quite a stranger； General Triscoe；〃 Burnamy protested。 〃You have
known me for three months at least； and any one who knows me in Chicago
will tell you〃
〃A stranger； and worse than a stranger；〃 the general continued； so
pleased with the logical perfection of his position that he almost
smiled； and certainly softened toward Burnamy。 〃It isn't a question of
liking you； Mr。 Burnamy； but of knowing you； my daughter likes you； so do
the Marches； so does everybody who has met you。 I like you myself。
You've done me personally a thousand kindnesses。 But I know very little
of you； in spite of our three months' acquaintance； and that little is
But you shall judge for yourself！ You were in the confidential employ of
a man who trusted you； and you let him betray himself。〃
〃I did。 I don't excuse it。 The thought of it burns like fire。 But it
wasn't done maliciously； it wasn't done falsely； it was done
inconsiderately； and when it was done； it seemed irrevocable。 But it
wasn't； I could have prevented； I could have stooped the mischief； and I
didn't！ I can never outlive that。〃
〃I know；〃 said the general relentlessly； 〃that you have never attempted
any defence。 That has been to your credit with me。 It inclined me to
overlook your unwarranted course in writing to my daughter； when you told
her you would never see her again。 What did you expect me to think；
after that； of your coming back to see her？ Or didn't you expect me to
know it？〃
〃I expected you to know it； I knew she would tell you。 But I don't
excuse that； either。 It was acting a lie to come back。 All I can say is
that I had to see her again for one last time。〃
〃And to make sure that it was to be the last time； you offered yourself
to her。〃
〃I couldn't help doing that。〃
〃I don't say you could。 I don't judge the facts at all。 I leave them
altogether to you； and you shall say what a man in my position ought to
say to such a man as you have shown yourself。〃
〃No； I will say。〃 The door into the adjoining room was flung open； and
Agatha flashed in from it。
Her father looked coldly at her impassioned face。 〃Have you been
listening？〃 he asked。
〃I have been hearing〃
〃Oh！〃 As nearly as a man could； in bed； General Triscoe shrugged。
〃I suppose I had； a right to be in my own room。 I couldn't help hearing；
and I was perfectly astonished at you； papa； the cruel way you went on；
after all you've said about Mr。 Stoller； and his getting no more than he
deserved。〃
〃That doesn't justify me；〃 Burnamy began； but she cut him short almost as
severely as shehad dealt with her father。
〃Yes； it does！ It justifies you perfectly！ And his wanting you to
falsify the whole thing afterwards； more than justifies you。〃
Neither of the men attempted anything in reply to her casuistry； they
both looked equally posed by it； for different reasons； and Agatha went
on as vehemently as before； addressing herself now to one and now to the
other。
〃And besides； if it didn't justify you； what you have done yourself
would； and your never denying it； or trying to excuse it； makes it the
same as if you hadn't done it； as far as you are concerned； and that is
all I care for。〃 Burnamy started； as if with the sense of having heard
something like this before； and with surprise at hearing it now； and she
flushed a little as she added tremulously； 〃And I should never； never
blame you for it； after that； it's only trying to wriggle out of things
which I despise； and you've never done that。 And he simply had to come
back；〃 she turned to her father； 〃and tell me himself just how it was。
And you said yourself； papaor the same as saidthat he had no right to
suppose I was interested in his affairs unless heunless And I should
never have forgiven him； if he hadn't told me then that he that he had
come back because hefelt the way he did。 I consider that that
exonerated him for breaking his word； completely。 If he hadn't broken
his word I should have thought he had acted very cruelly andand
strangely。 And ever since then； he has behaved so nobly； so honorably；
so delicately； that I don't believe he would ever have said anything
againif I hadn't fairly forced him。 Yes！ Yes； I did！ 〃 she cried at a
movement of remonstrance from Burnamy。 〃And I shall always be proud of
you for it。〃 Her father stared steadfastly at her； and he only lifted
his eyebrows； for change of expression； when she went over to where
Burnamy stood； and put her hand in his with a certain childlike
impetuosity。 〃And as for the rest；〃 she declared； 〃everything I have is
his； just as everything of his would be mine if I had nothing。 Or if he
wishes to take me without anything； then he can have me so； and I sha'n't
be afraid but we can get along somehow。〃 She added； 〃I have managed
without a maid； ever since I left home； and poverty has no terrors for
me！〃
LXVIII。
General Triscoe submitted to defeat with the patience which soldiers
learn。 He did not submit amiably； that would have been out of character；
and perhaps out of reason； but Burnamy and Agatha were both so amiable
that they supplied good…humor for all。 They flaunted their rapture in
her father's face as little as they could； but he may have found their
serene satisfaction； their settled confidence in their fate； as hard to
bear as a more boisterous happiness would have been。
It was agreed among them all that they were to return soon to America；
and Burnamy was to find some sort of literary or journalistic employment
in New York。 She was much surer than he that this could be done with
perfect ease； but they were of an equal mind that General Triscoe was not
to be disturbed in any of his habits； or vexed in the tenor of his
living； and until Burnamy was at least self…supporting there must be no
talk of their being married。
The talk of their being engaged was quite enough for the time。 It
included complete and minute auto…biographies on both sides； reciprocal
analyses of character； a scientifically exhaustive comparison of tastes；
ideas and opinions； a profound study of their respective chins； noses；
eyes； hands； heights； complexions； moles and freckles； with some account
of their several friends。
In this occupation； which was profitably varied by the confession of what
they had each thought and felt and dreamt concerning the other at every
instant since they met； they passed rapidly the days which the persistent
anxiety of General Triscoe interposed before the date of their leaving
Weimar for Paris； where it was arranged that they should spend a month
before sailing for New York。 Burnamy had a notion； which Agatha
approved； of trying for something there on the New York…Paris Chronicle；
and if he got it they might not go home at once。 His gains from that
paper had eked out his copyright from his book； and had almost paid his
expenses in getting the material which he had contributed to it。 They
were not so great； however； but that his gold reserve was reduced to less
than a hundred dollars； counting the silver coinages which had remained
to him in crossing and recrossing frontiers。 He was at times dimly
conscious of his finances； but he buoyantly disregarded the facts； as
incompatible with his status as Agatha's betrothed； if not unworthy of
his character as a lover in the abstract。
The afternoon before they were to leave Weimar； they spent mostly in the
garden before the Grand…Ducal Museum； in a conference so important that
when it came on to rain； at one moment； they put up Burnamy's umbrella；
and continued to sit under it rather than interrupt the proceedings even
to let Agatha go back to the hotel and look after her father's packing。
Her own had been finished before dinner； so as to leave her the whole
afternoon for their conference； and to allow her father to remain in
undisturbed possession of his room as long as possible。
What chiefly remained to be put into the general's trunk were his coats
and trousers； hanging in the closet； and August took these down； and
carefully folded and packed them。 Then； to make sure that nothing had
been forgotten； Agatha put a chair into the closet when she came in； and
stood on it to examine the shelf which stretched above the hooks。
There seemed at first to be nothing on it； and then there seemed to be
something in the further corner； which when it was tiptoed for； proved to
be a bouquet of flowers； not so faded as to seem very old； the blue satin
rib