the titan-第23章

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　either。〃

〃What's　the　matter？〃　he　asked；　cheeringly；　the　rumble　of　the　traffic　destroying　the　carrying…power　of　their　voices。　　He　leaned　toward　her；　very　anxious　to　solve　any　difficulty　which　might　confront　her；　perfectly　willing　to　ensnare　her　by　kindness。　　〃Isn't　there　something　I　can　do？　We're　going　now　for　a　long　ride　to　the　pavilion　in　Jackson　Park；　and　then；　after　dinner；　we'll　come　back　by　moonlight。　　Won't　that　be　nice？　You　must　be　smiling　now　and　like　yourselfhappy。　　You　have　no　reason　to　be　otherwise　that　I　know　of。　　I　will　do　anything　for　you　that　you　want　donethat　can　be　done。　　You　can　have　anything　you　want　that　I　can　give　you。　　What　is　it？　You　know　how　much　I　think　of　you。　　If　you　leave　your　affairs　to　me　you　would　never　have　any　troubles　of　any　kind。〃

〃Oh；　it　isn't　anything　you　can　donot　now；　anyhow。　　My　affairs！　Oh　yes。　　What　are　they？　Very　simple；　all。〃

She　had　that　delicious　atmosphere　of　remoteness　even　from　herself。　He　was　enchanted。

〃But　you　are　not　simple　to　me；　Rita；〃　he　said；　softly；　〃nor　are　your　affairs。　　They　concern　me　very　much。　　You　are　so　important　to　me。　　I　have　told　you　that。　　Don't　you　see　how　true　it　is？　You　are　a　strange　complexity　to　mewonderful。　　I'm　mad　over　you。　　Ever　since　I　saw　you　last　I　have　been　thinking；　thinking。　　If　you　have　troubles　let　me　share　them。　　You　are　so　much　to　memy　only　trouble。　　I　can　fix　your　life。　　Join　it　with　mine。　　I　need　you；　and　you　need　me。〃

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　know。〃　Then　she　paused。　　〃It's　nothing　much；〃　she　went　on〃just　a　quarrel。〃

〃What　over？〃

〃Over　me；　really。〃　The　mouth　was　delicious。　　〃I　can't　swing　the　censer　always；　as　you　say。〃　That　thought　of　his　had　stuck。　　〃It's　all　right　now；　though。　　Isn't　the　day　lovely；　be…yoot…i…ful！〃

Cowperwood　looked　at　her　and　shook　his　head。　　She　was　such　a　treasureso　inconsequential。　　Aileen；　busy　driving　and　talking；　could　not　see　or　hear。　　She　was　interested　in　Sohlberg；　and　the　southward　crush　of　vehicles　on　Michigan　Avenue　was　distracting　her　attention。　　As　they　drove　swiftly　past　budding　trees；　kempt　lawns；　fresh…made　flower…beds；　open　windowsthe　whole　seductive　world　of　springCowperwood　felt　as　though　life　had　once　more　taken　a　fresh　start。　　His　magnetism；　if　it　had　been　visible；　would　have　enveloped　him　like　a　glittering　aura。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　felt　that　this　was　going　to　be　a　wonderful　evening。

The　dinner　was　at　the　Parkan　open…air　chicken　a　la　Maryland　affair；　with　waffles　and　champagne　to　help　out。　　Aileen；　flattered　by　Sohlberg's　gaiety　under　her　spell；　was　having　a　delightful　time；　jesting；　toasting；　laughing；　walking　on　the　grass。　　Sohlberg　was　making　love　to　her　in　a　foolish；　inconsequential　way；　as　many　men　were　inclined　to　do；　but　she　was　putting　him　off　gaily　with　〃silly　boy〃　and　〃hush。〃　She　was　so　sure　of　herself　that　she　was　free　to　tell　Cowperwood　afterward　how　emotional　he　was　and　how　she　had　to　laugh　at　him。　　Cowperwood；　quite　certain　that　she　was　faithful；　took　it　all　in　good　part。　　Sohlberg　was　such　a　dunce　and　such　a　happy　convenience　ready　to　his　hand。　　〃He's　not　a　bad　sort；〃　he　commented。　　〃I　rather　like　him；　though　I　don't　think　he's　so　much　of　a　violinist。〃

After　dinner　they　drove　along　the　lake…shore　and　out　through　an　open　bit　of　tree…blocked　prairie　land；　the　moon　shining　in　a　clear　sky；　filling　the　fields　and　topping　the　lake　with　a　silvery　effulgence。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　was　being　inoculated　with　the　virus　Cowperwood；　and　it　was　taking　deadly　effect。　　The　tendency　of　her　own　disposition；　however　lethargic　it　might　seem；　once　it　was　stirred　emotionally；　was　to　act。　　She　was　essentially　dynamic　and　passionate。　　Cowperwood　was　beginning　to　stand　out　in　her　mind　as　the　force　that　he　was。　　It　would　be　wonderful　to　be　loved　by　such　a　man。　　There　would　be　an　eager；　vivid　life　between　them。　　It　frightened　and　drew　her　like　a　blazing　lamp　in　the　dark。　　To　get　control　of　herself　she　talked　of　art；　people；　of　Paris；　Italy；　and　he　responded　in　like　strain；　but　all　the　while　he　smoothed　her　hand；　and　once；　under　the　shadow　of　some　trees；　he　put　his　hand　to　her　hair；　turned　her　face；　and　put　his　mouth　softly　to　her　cheek。　　She　flushed；　trembled；　turned　pale；　in　the　grip　of　this　strange　storm；　but　drew　herself　together。　　It　was　wonderfulheaven。　　Her　old　life　was　obviously　going　to　pieces。

〃Listen；〃　he　said；　guardedly。　　〃Will　you　meet　me　to…morrow　at　three　just　beyond　the　Rush　Street　bridge？　I　will　pick　you　up　promptly。　　You　won't　have　to　wait　a　moment。〃

She　paused；　meditating；　dreaming；　almost　hypnotized　by　his　strange　world　of　fancy。

〃Will　you？〃　he　asked；　eagerly。

〃Wait；〃　she　said；　softly。　　〃Let　me　think。　　Can　I？〃

She　paused。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　after　a　time；　drawing　in　a　deep　breath。　　〃Yes〃as　if　she　had　arranged　something　in　her　mind。

〃My　sweet；〃　he　whispered；　pressing　her　arm；　while　he　looked　at　her　profile　in　the　moonlight。

〃But　I'm　doing　a　great　deal；〃　she　replied；　softly；　a　little　breathless　and　a　little　pale。




Chapter　XVI



A　Fateful　Interlude

Cowperwood　was　enchanted。　　He　kept　the　proposed　tryst　with　eagerness　and　found　her　all　that　he　had　hoped。　　She　was　sweeter；　more　colorful；　more　elusive　than　anybody　he　had　ever　known。　　In　their　charming　apartment　on　the　North　Side　which　he　at　once　engaged；　and　where　he　sometimes　spent　mornings；　evenings；　afternoons；　as　opportunity　afforded；　he　studied　her　with　the　most　critical　eye　and　found　her　almost　flawless。　　She　had　that　boundless　value　which　youth　and　a　certain　insouciance　of　manner　contribute。　　There　was；　delicious　to　relate；　no　melancholy　in　her　nature；　but　a　kind　of　innate　sufficiency　which　neither　looked　forward　to　nor　back　upon　troublesome　ills。　　She　loved　beautiful　things；　but　was　not　extravagant；　and　what　interested　him　and　commanded　his　respect　was　that　no　urgings　of　his　toward　prodigality；　however　subtly　advanced；　could　affect　her。　　She　knew　what　she　wanted；　spent　carefully；　bought　tastefully；　arrayed　herself　in　ways　which　appealed　to　him　as　the　flowers　did。　His　feeling　for　her　became　at　times　so　great　that　he　wished；　one　might　almost　have　said；　to　destroy　itto　appease　the　urge　and　allay　the　pull　in　himself；　but　it　was　useless。　　The　charm　of　her　endured。　　His　transports　would　leave　her　refreshed　apparently；　prettier；　more　graceful　than　ever；　it　seemed　to　him；　putting　back　her　ruffled　hair　with　her　hand；　mouthing　at　herself　prettily　in　the　glass；　thinking　of　many　remote　delicious　things　at　once。

〃Do　you　remember　that　picture　we　saw　in　the　art　store　the　other　day；　Algernon？〃　she　would　drawl；　calling　him　by　his　second　name；　which　she　had　adopted　for　herself　as　being　more　suited　to　his　moods　when　with　her　and　more　pleasing　to　her。　　Cowperwood　had　protested；　but　she　held　to　it。　　〃Do　you　remember　that　lovely　blue　of　the　old　man's　coat？〃　（It　was　an　〃Adoration　of　the　Magi。〃）　〃Wasn't　that　be…yoot…i…ful？〃

She　drawled　so　sweetly　and　fixed　her　mouth　in　such　an　odd　way　that　he　was　impelled　to　kiss　her。　　〃You　clover　blossom；〃　he　would　say　to　her；　coming　over　and　taking　her　by　the　arms。　　〃You　sprig　of　cherry　bloom。　　You　Dresden　china　dream。〃

〃Now；　are　you　going　to　muss　my　hair；　when　I've　just　managed　to　fix　it？〃

The　voice　was　the　voice　of　careless；　genial　innocenceand　the　eyes。

〃Yes；　I　am；　minx。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　mustn't　smother　me；　you　know。　　Really；　you　know　you　almost　hurt　me　with　your　mouth。　　Aren't　you　going　to　be　nice　to　me？〃

〃Yes；　sweet。　　But　I　want　to　hurt　you；　too。〃

〃Well；　then；　if　you　must。〃

But　for　all　his　transports　the　lure　was　still　there。　　She　was　like　a　butterfly；　he　thought；　yellow　and　white　or　blue　and　gold；　fluttering　over　a　hedge　of　wild　rose。

In　these　intimacies　it　was　that　he　came　quickly　to　understand　how　much　she　knew　of　social　movements　and　tendencies；　though　she　was　just　an　individual　of　the　outer　fringe。　　She　caught　at　once　a　clear　understanding　of　his　social　point　of　view；　his　art　ambition；　his　dreams　of　something　better　for　himself　in　every　way。　　She　seemed　to　see　clearly　that　he　had　not　as　yet　realized　himself；　that　Aileen　was　not　just　the　woman　for　him；　though　she　might　be　one。　　She　talked　of　her　own　husband　after　a　time　in　a　tolerant　wayhis　foibles；　defects；　weaknesses。　　She　was　not　unsympathetic；　he　thought；　just　weary　of　a　state　that　was　not　properly　balanced　either　in　love；　ability；　or　insight。　　Cowperwood　had　suggested　that　she　could　take　a　larger　studio　for　herself　and　Harolddo　away　with　the　petty　economies　that　had　hampered　her　and　himand　explain　it　all　on　the　grounds　of　a　larger　generosity　on　the　part　of　her　family。　　At　first　she　objected；　but　Cowperwood　was　tactful　and　finally　brought　it　about。　　He　again　suggested　a　little　while　later　that　she　should　persuade　Harold　to　go　to　Europe。　　There　would　be　the　same　ostensible　reasonadditional　means　from　her　relatives。　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　thus　urged；　petted；　made　over；　assured；　came　finally　to　accept　his　liberal　ruleto　bow　to　him；　she　became　as　contented　as　a　cat。　　With　caution　she　accepted　of　his　largess；　and　made　the　cleverest　use　of　it　she　could。　　For　something　over　a　year　neither　Sohlberg　nor　Aileen　was　aware　of　the　intimacy　which　had　sprung　up。　Sohlberg；　easily　bamboozled；　went　back　to　Denmark　for　a　visit；　then　to　study　in　Germany。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　followed　Cowperwood　to　Europe　the　following　year。　　At　Aix…les…Bains；　Biarritz；　Paris；　even　London；　Aileen　never　knew　that　there　was　an　additional　figure　in　the　background。　　Cowperwood　was　trained　by　Rita　into　a　really　finer　point　of　view。　　He　came　to　know　better　music；　books；　even　the　facts。　　She　encouraged　him　in　his　idea　of　a　representative　collection　of　the　old　masters；　and　begged　him　to　be　cautious　in　his　selection　of　moderns。　　He　felt　himself　to　be　delightfully　situated　indeed。

The　difficulty　with　this　situation；　as　with　all　such　where　an　individual　ventures　thus　bucaneeringly　on　the　sea　of　sex；　is　the　possibility　of　those　storms　which　result　from　misplaced　confidence；　and　from　our　built…up　system　of　ethics　relating　to　property　in　women。　　To　Cowperwood；　however；　who　was　a　law　unto　himself；　who　knew　no　law　except　such　as　might　be　imposed　upon　him　by　his　lack　of　ability　to　think；　this　possibility　of　entanglement；　wrath；　rage；　pain；　offered　no　particular　obstacle。　　It　was　not　at　all　certain　that　any　such　thing　would　follow。　　Where　the　average　man　might　have　found　one　such　liaison　difficult　to　manage；　Cowperwood；　as　we　have　seen；　had　previously　entered　on　several　such　affairs　almost　simultaneously；　and　now　he　had　ventured　on　yet　another；　in　the　last　instance　with　much　greater　feeling　and　enthusiasm。　　The　previous　affairs　had　been　emotional　makeshifts　at　bestmore　or　less　idle　philanderings　in　which　his　deeper　moods　and　feelings　were　not　concerned。　　In　the　case　of　Mrs。　Sohlberg　all　this　was　changed。　　For　the　present　at　least　she　was　really　all　in　all　to　him。　　But　this　temperamental　characteristic　of　his　relating　to　his　love　of　women；　his　artistic　if　not　emotional　subjection　to　their　beauty；　and　the　mystery　of　their　personalities　led　him　into　still　a　further　affair；　and　this　last　was　not　so　fortunate　in　its　outcome。

Antoinette　Nowak　had　come　to　him　fresh　from　a　West　Side　high　school　and　a　Chicago　business　college；　and　had　been　engaged　as　his　private　stenographer　and　secretary。　　This　girl　had　blossomed　forth　into　something　exceptional；　as　American　children　of　forei