After a while she began to cry,but it wasn't over Wilfred,it was over Edgerton.When Wilfred went away to be a cowboy she lost interest and sympathy in him because she doesn't understand cowboys;they are not in her imagination.But his brother Edgerton has always been a city man in nice clothes with pleasing manners,and if he had money--But what's the use talking?Seems like that's the worst waste of time there can be,and the most aggravating,to say if so-and-so had money I Because if he hasn't got it,somebody else has,and if you think money's more than the man,there you are.And Mr.Gledware has it.He's not the man but he has the money.
Then I expressed myself.You know what I think.So does Annabel,now.That's how I made me some news,when there wasn't any.The news is,that Annabel will never forgive me,and as I'm here solely as her guest,my guesting-time will be brief--just long enough to find out what Mr.Gledware decides to do.I oughtn't to have told Annabel that she was mercenary,or that Mr.Gledware was as hard as a stone and as old as M--(I'm not sure how to spell him,but you remember:the oldest man).Yes,I know I oughtn't.If a woman can marry a man when she doesn't love him,it won't change her purpose to know what YOU think about it,because her own feelings are the biggest things that could stand in the way.
But I told her,anyway.Seemed like everything in me turned to words and poured out without my having to keep it going.I just stood there and watched myself say things.You see,Annabel is so dainty and pretty,and naturally so sweet--and Mr.Gledware--well,he ISN'T.The more I thought of that,and the better I remembered poor Wilfred pining away for her in the desert,and not coming back to see me because he couldn't get HER out of his brain,and how she changed from him to his brother,and from Mr.Edgerton to Mr.Gledware,I was ashamed of her,and sorry for her,and angry with her.
I wish I hadn't said anything.But I felt glorious at the time,just like a storm sweeping across the prairie,purifying the air and not caring whether the earth wants to be purified or not.I did wrong,because I came to the big world to study people of culture and refinement,not to quarrel with them.You must have money,you MUST have money,you MUST have money,if you're civilized.I don't care if I AM a little storm.Yes,of course,