the titan-第57章

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dual　outside　of　Cowperwood　to　whom　she　had　ever　felt　drawn。　　But　now；　here；　in　her　own　roomand　it　was　within　the　range　of　possibilities　that　Cowperwood　might　return　or　the　servants　enter。

〃Oh；　but　think　what　you　are　doing；〃　she　protested；　not　really　disturbed　as　yet　as　to　the　outcome　of　the　contest　with　him；　and　feeling　as　though　he　were　merely　trying　to　make　her　be　sweet　to　him　without　intending　anything　more　at　present〃here　in　my　own　room！　Really；　you're　not　the　man　I　thought　you　were　at　all；　if　you　don't　instantly　let　me　go。　　Mr。　Lynde！　Mr。　Lynde！〃　（He　had　bent　over　and　was　kissing　her）。　　〃Oh；　you　shouldn't　do　this！　Really！　II　said　I　might　come；　but　that　was　far　from　doing　it。　　And　to　have　you　come　here　and　take　advantage　of　me　in　this　way！　I　think　you're　horrid。　　If　I　ever　had　any　interest　in　you；　it　is　quite　dead　now；　I　can　assure　you。　　Unless　you　let　me　go　at　once；　I　give　you　my　word　I　will　never　see　you　any　more。　　I　won't！　Really；　I　won't！　I　mean　it！　Oh；　please　let　me　go！　I'll　scream；　I　tell　you！　I'll　never　see　you　again　after　this　day！　Oh〃　It　was　an　intense　but　useless　struggle。

Coming　home　one　evening　about　a　week　later；　Cowperwood　found　Aileen　humming　cheerfully；　and　yet　also　in　a　seemingly　deep　and　reflective　mood。　　She　was　just　completing　an　evening　toilet；　and　looked　young　and　colorfulquite　her　avid；　seeking　self　of　earlier　days。

〃Well；〃　he　asked；　cheerfully；　〃how　have　things　gone　to…day？〃　Aileen；　feeling　somehow；　as　one　will　on　occasions；　that　if　she　had　done　wrong　she　was　justified　and　that　sometime　because　of　this　she　might　even　win　Cowperwood　back；　felt　somewhat　kindlier　toward　him。　　〃Oh；　very　well；〃　she　replied。　　〃I　stopped　in　at　the　Hoecksemas'　this　afternoon　for　a　little　while。　　They're　going　to　Mexico　in　November。　She　has　the　darlingest　new　basket…carriageif　she　only　looked　like　anything　when　she　rode　in　it。　　Etta　is　getting　ready　to　enter　Bryn　Mawr。　　She　is　all　fussed　up　about　leaving　her　dog　and　cat。　Then　I　went　down　to　one　of　Lane　Cross's　receptions；　and　over　to　Merrill's〃she　was　referring　to　the　great　store〃and　home。　　I　saw　Taylor　Lord　and　Polk　Lynde　together　in　Wabash　Avenue。〃

〃Polk　Lynde？〃　commented　Cowperwood。　　〃Is　he　interesting？〃

〃Yes；　he　is；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃I　never　met　a　man　with　such　perfect　manners。　　He's　so　fascinating。　　He's　just　like　a　boy；　and　yet；　Heaven　knows；　he　seems　to　have　had　enough　worldly　experience。〃

〃So　I've　heard；〃　commented　Cowperwood。　　〃Wasn't　he　the　one　that　was　mixed　up　in　that　Carmen　Torriba　case　here　a　few　years　ago？〃　Cowperwood　was　referring　to　the　matter　of　a　Spanish　dancer　traveling　in　America　with　whom　Lynde　had　been　apparently　desperately　in　love。

〃Oh　yes；〃　replied　Aileen；　maliciously；　〃but　that　oughtn't　to　make　any　difference　to　you。　　He's　charming；　anyhow。　　I　like　him。〃

〃I　didn't　say　it　did；　did　I？　You　don't　object　to　my　mentioning　a　mere　incident？〃

〃Oh；　I　know　about　the　incident；〃　replied　Aileen；　jestingly。　　〃I　know　you。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　he　asked；　studying　her　face。

〃Oh；　I　know　you；〃　she　replied；　sweetly　and　yet　defensively。　　〃You　think　I'll　stay　here　and　be　content　while　you　run　about　with　other　womenplay　the　sweet　and　loving　wife？　Well；　I　won't。　　I　know　why　you　say　this　about　Lynde。　　It's　to　keep　me　from　being　interested　in　him；　possibly。　　Well；　I　will　be　if　I　want　to。　　I　told　you　I　would　be；　and　I　will。　　You　can　do　what　you　please　about　that。　　You　don't　want　me；　so　why　should　you　be　disturbed　as　to　whether　other　men　are　interested　in　me　or　not？〃

The　truth　was　that　Cowperwood　was　not　clearly　thinking　of　any　probable　relation　between　Lynde　and　Aileen　any　more　than　he　was　in　connection　with　her　and　any　other　man；　and　yet　in　a　remote　way　he　was　sensing　some　one。　　It　was　this　that　Aileen　felt　in　him；　and　that　brought　forth　her　seemingly　uncalled…for　comment。　　Cowperwood；　under　the　circumstances；　attempted　to　be　as　suave　as　possible；　having　caught　the　implication　clearly。

〃Aileen；〃　he　cooed；　〃how　you　talk！　Why　do　you　say　that？　You　know　I　care　for　you。　　I　can't　prevent　anything　you　want　to　do；　and　I'm　sure　you　know　I　don't　want　to。　　It's　you　that　I　want　to　see　satisfied。　You　know　that　I　care。〃

〃Yes；　I　know　how　you　care；〃　replied　Aileen；　her　mood　changing　for　the　moment。　　〃Don't　start　that　old　stuff；　please。　　I'm　sick　of　it。　I　know　how　you're　running　around。　　I　know　about　Mrs。　Hand。　　Even　the　newspapers　make　that　plain。　　You've　been　home　just　one　evening　in　the　last　eight　days；　long　enough　for　me　to　get　more　than　a　glimpse　of　you。　　Don't　talk　to　me。　　Don't　try　to　bill　and　coo。　　I've　always　known。　　Don't　think　I　don't　know　who　your　latest　flame　is。　　But　don't　begin　to　whine；　and　don't　quarrel　with　me　if　I　go　about　and　get　interested　in　other　men；　as　I　certainly　will。　　It　will　be　all　your　fault　if　I　do；　and　you　know　it。　　Don't　begin　and　complain。　　It　won't　do　you　any　good。　　I'm　not　going　to　sit　here　and　be　made　a　fool　of。　　I've　told　you　that　over　and　over。　　You　don't　believe　it；　but　I'm　not。　　I　told　you　that　I'd　find　some　one　one　of　these　days；　and　I　will。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　I　have　already。〃

At　this　remark　Cowperwood　surveyed　her　coolly；　critically；　and　yet　not　unsympathetically；　but　she　swung　out　of　the　room　with　a　defiant　air　before　anything　could　be　said；　and　went　down　to　the　music…room；　from　whence　a　few　moments　later　there　rolled　up　to　him　from　the　hall　below　the　strains　of　the　second　Hungarian　Rhapsodie；　feelingly　and　for　once　movingly　played。　　Into　it　Aileen　put　some　of　her　own　wild　woe　and　misery。　　Cowperwood　hated　the　thought　for　the　moment　that　some　one　as　smug　as　Lyndeso　good…looking；　so　suave　a　society　rakeshould　interest　Aileen；　but　if　it　must　be；　it　must　be。　　He　could　have　no　honest　reason　for　complaint。　　At　the　same　time　a　breath　of　real　sorrow　for　the　days　that　had　gone　swept　over　him。　　He　remembered　her　in　Philadelphia　in　her　red　cape　as　a　school…girl　in　his　father's　houseout　horseback…riding；　driving。　　What　a　splendid；　loving　girl　she　had　beensuch　a　sweet　fool　of　love。　Could　she　really　have　decided　not　to　worry　about　him　any　more？　Could　it　be　possible　that　she　might　find　some　one　else　who　would　be　interested　in　her；　and　in　whom　she　would　take　a　keen　interest？　It　was　an　odd　thought　for　him。

He　watched　her　as　she　came　into　the　dining…room　later；　arrayed　in　green　silk　of　the　shade　of　copper　patina；　her　hair　done　in　a　high　coiland　in　spite　of　himself　he　could　not　help　admiring　her。　　She　looked　very　young　in　her　soul；　and　yet　moodyloving　（for　some　one）；　eager；　and　defiant。　　He　reflected　for　a　moment　what　terrible　things　passion　and　love　arehow　they　make　fools　of　us　all。　　〃All　of　us　are　in　the　grip　of　a　great　creative　impulse；〃　he　said　to　himself。　　He　talked　of　other　things　for　a　whilethe　approaching　election；　a　poster…wagon　he　had　seen　bearing　the　question；　〃Shall　Cowperwood　own　the　city？〃　〃Pretty　cheap　politics；　I　call　that；〃　he　commented。　　And　then　he　told　of　stopping　in　a　so…called　Republican　wigwam　at　State　and　Sixteenth　streetsa　great；　cheaply　erected；　unpainted　wooden　shack　with　seats；　and　of　hearing　himself　bitterly　denounced　by　the　reigning　orator。　　〃I　was　tempted　once　to　ask　that　donkey　a　few　questions；〃　he　added；　〃but　I　decided　I　wouldn't。〃

Aileen　had　to　smile。　　In　spite　of　all　his　faults　he　was　such　a　wonderful　manto　set　a　city　thus　by　the　ears。　　〃Yet；　what　care　I　how　fair　he　be；　if　he　be　not　fair　to　me。〃

〃Did　you　meet　any　one　else　besides　Lynde　you　liked？〃　he　finally　asked；　archly；　seeking　to　gather　further　data　without　stirring　up　too　much　feeling。

Aileen；　who　had　been　studying　him；　feeling　sure　the　subject　would　come　up　again；　replied：　〃No；　I　haven't；　but　I　don't　need　to。　　One　is　enough。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　he　asked；　gently。

〃Oh；　just　what　I　say。　　One　will　do。〃

〃You　mean　you　are　in　love　with　Lynde？〃

〃I　meanoh！〃　She　stopped　and　surveyed　him　defiantly。　　〃What　difference　does　it　make　to　you　what　I　mean？　Yes；　I　am。　　But　what　do　you　care？　Why　do　you　sit　there　and　question　me？　It　doesn't　make　any　difference　to　you　what　I　do。　　You　don't　want　me。　　Why　should　you　sit　there　and　try　to　find　out；　or　watch？　It　hasn't　been　any　consideration　for　you　that　has　restrained　me　so　far。　　Suppose　I　am　in　love？　What　difference　would　it　make　to　you？〃

〃Oh；　I　care。　　You　know　I　care。　　Why　do　you　say　that？〃

〃Yes；　you　care；〃　she　flared。　　〃I　know　how　you　care。　　Well；　I'll　just　tell　you　one　thing〃rage　at　his　indifference　was　driving　her　on〃I　am　in　love　with　Lynde；　and　what's　more；　I'm　his　mistress。　And　I'll　continue　to　be。　　But　what　do　you　care？　　Pshaw！〃

Her　eyes　blazed　hotly；　her　color　rose　high　and　strong。　　She　breathed　heavily。

At　this　announcement；　made　in　the　heat　of　spite　and　rage　generated　by　long　indifference；　Cowperwood　sat　up　for　a　moment；　and　his　eyes　hardened　with　quite　that　implacable　glare　with　which　he　sometimes　confronted　an　enemy。　　He　felt　at　once　there　were　many　things　he　could　do　to　make　her　life　miserable；　and　to　take　revenge　on　Lynde；　but　he　decided　after　a　moment　he　would　not。　　It　was　not　weakness；　but　a　sense　of　superior　power　that　was　moving　him。　　Why　should　he　be　jealous？　Had　he　not　been　unkind　enough？　In　a　moment　his　mood　changed　to　one　of　sorrow　for　Aileen；　for　himself；　for　life；　indeed　its　tangles　of　desire　and　necessity。　　He　could　not　blame　Aileen。　Lynde　was　surely　attractive。　　He　had　no　desire　to　part　with　her　or　to　quarrel　with　himmerely　to　temporarily　cease　all　intimate　relations　with　her　and　allow　her　mood　to　clear　itself　up。　　Perhaps　she　would　want　to　leave　him　of　her　own　accord。　　Perhaps；　if　he　ever　found　the　right　woman；　this　might　prove　good　grounds　for　his　leaving　her。　　The　right　womanwhere　was　she？　He　had　never　found　her　yet。

〃Aileen；〃　he　said；　quite　softly；　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　feel　so　bitterly　about　this。　　Why　should　you？　When　did　you　do　this？　Will　you　tell　me　that？〃

〃No；　I'll　not　tell　you　that；〃　she　replied；　bitterly。　　〃It's　none　of　your　affair；　and　I'll　not　tell　you。　　Why　should　you　ask？　You　don't　care。〃

〃But　I　do　care；　I　tell　you；〃　he　returned；　irritably；　almost　roughly。　〃When　did　you？　You　can　tell　me　that；　at　least。〃　His　eyes　had　a　hard；　cold　look　for　the　moment；　dying　away；　though；　into　kindly　inquiry。

〃Oh；　not　long　ago。　　About　a　week；〃　Aileen　answered；　as　though　she　were　compelled。

〃How　long　have　you　known　him？〃　he　asked；　curiously。

〃Oh；　four　or　five　months；　now。　　I　met　him　last　winter。〃

〃And　did　you　do　this　deliberatelybecause　you　were　in　love　with　him；　or　because　you　wanted　to　hurt　me？〃

He　could　not　believe　from　past　scenes　between　them　that　she　had　ceased　to　love　him。

Aileen　stirred　irritably。　　〃I　like　that；〃　she　flared。　　〃I　did　it　because　I　wanted　to；　and　not　because　of　any　love　for　youI　can　tell　you　that。　　I　like　your　nerve　sitting　here　presuming　to　question　me　after　the　way　you　have　neglected　me。〃　She　pushed　back　her　plate；　and　made　as　if　to　get　up。

〃Wait　a　minute；　Aileen；〃　he　said；　simply；　putting　down　his　knife　and　fork　and　looking　across　the　handsome　table　where　Sevres；　silver；　fruit；　and　dainty　dishes　were　spread；　and　where　under　silk…shaded　lights　they　sat　opposite　each　other。　　〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　talk　that　way　to　me。　　You　know　that　I　am　not　a　petty；　fourth…rate　fool。　You　know　that；　whatever　you　do；　I　am　not　going　to　quarrel　with　you。　　I　know　what　the　trouble　is　with　you。　　I　know　why　you　are　acting　this