the titan-第64章

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d　always　with　a　feline　grace　that　was　careless；　superior；　sinuous；　and　yet　the　acme　of　harmony　and　a　rhythmic　flow　of　lines。　One　of　her　mess…hall　tricks；　when　unobserved　by　her　instructors；　was　to　walk　with　six　plates　and　a　water…pitcher　all　gracefully　poised　on　the　top　of　her　head　after　the　fashion　of　the　Asiatic　and　the　African；　her　hips　moving；　her　shoulders；　neck；　and　head　still。　Girls　begged　weeks　on　end　to　have　her　repeat　this　〃stunt；〃　as　they　called　it。　　Another　was　to　put　her　arms　behind　her　and　with　a　rush　imitate　the　Winged　Victory；　a　copy　of　which　graced　the　library　hall。

〃You　know；〃　one　little　rosy…cheeked　satellite　used　to　urge　on　her；　adoringly；　〃she　must　have　been　like　you。　　Her　head　must　have　been　like　yours。　　You　are　lovely　when　you　do　it。〃

For　answer　Berenice's　deep；　almost　black…blue　eyes　turned　on　her　admirer　with　solemn　unflattered　consideration。　　She　awed　always　by　the　something　that　she　did　not　say。

The　school；　for　all　the　noble　dames　who　presided　over　itsolemn；　inexperienced　owl…like　conventionalists　who　insisted　on　the　last　tittle　and　jot　of　order　and　procedurewas　a　joke　to　Berenice。　　She　recognized　the　value　of　its　social　import；　but　even　at　fifteen　and　sixteen　she　was　superior　to　it。　　She　was　superior　to　her　superiors　and　to　the　specimens　of　maidenhoodsupposed　to　be　perfect　sociallywho　gathered　about　to　hear　her　talk；　to　hear　her　sing；　declaim；　or　imitate。　　She　was　deeply；　dramatically；　urgently　conscious　of　the　value　of　her　personality　in　itself；　not　as　connected　with　any　inherited　social　standing；　but　of　its　innate　worth；　and　of　the　artistry　and　wonder　of　her　body。　　One　of　her　chief　delights　was　to　walk　alone　in　her　roomsometimes　at　night；　the　lamp　out；　the　moon　perhaps　faintly　illuminating　her　chamberand　to　pose　and　survey　her　body；　and　dance　in　some　naive；　graceful；　airy　Greek　way　a　dance　that　was　singularly　free　from　sex　consciousnessand　yet　was　it？　She　was　conscious　of　her　bodyof　every　inch　of　itunder　the　ivory…white　clothes　which　she　frequently　wore。　　Once　she　wrote　in　a　secret　diary　which　she　maintainedanother　art　impulse　or　an　affectation；　as　you　will：　〃My　skin　is　so　wonderful。　　It　tingles　so　with　rich　life。　　I　love　it　and　my　strong　muscles　underneath。　　I　love　my　hands　and　my　hair　and　my　eyes。　　My　hands　are　long　and　thin　and　delicate；　my　eyes　are　a　dark；　deep　blue；　my　hair　is　a　brown；　rusty　red；　thick　and　sleepy。　　My　long；　firm；　untired　limbs　can　dance　all　night。　　Oh；　I　love　life！　I　love　life！〃

You　would　not　have　called　Berenice　Fleming　sensuousthough　she　wasbecause　she　was　self…controlled。　　Her　eyes　lied　to　you。　　They　lied　to　all　the　world。　　They　looked　you　through　and　through　with　a　calm　savoir　faire；　a　mocking　defiance；　which　said　with　a　faint　curl　of　the　lips；　barely　suggested　to　help　them　out；　〃You　cannot　read　me；　you　cannot　read　me。〃　She　put　her　head　to　one　side；　smiled；　lied　（by　implication）；　assumed　that　there　was　nothing。　　And　there　was　nothing；　as　yet。　　Yet　there　was　something；　tooher　inmost　convictions；　and　these　she　took　good　care　to　conceal。　　The　world　how　little　it　should　ever；　ever　know！　　How　little　it　ever　could　know　truly！

The　first　time　Cowperwood　encountered　this　Circe　daughter　of　so　unfortunate　a　mother　was　on　the　occasion　of　a　trip　to　New　York；　the　second　spring　following　his　introduction　to　Mrs。　Carter　in　Louisville。　　Berenice　was　taking　some　part　in　the　closing　exercises　of　the　Brewster　School；　and　Mrs。　Carter；　with　Cowperwood　for　an　escort；　decided　to　go　East。　　Cowperwood　having　located　himself　at　the　Netherlands；　and　Mrs。　Carter　at　the　much　humbler　Grenoble；　they　journeyed　together　to　visit　this　paragon　whose　picture　he　had　had　hanging　in　his　rooms　in　Chicago　for　months　past。　　When　they　were　introduced　into　the　somewhat　somber　reception　parlor　of　the　Brewster　School；　Berenice　came　slipping　in　after　a　few　moments；　a　noiseless　figure　of　a　girl；　tall　and　slim；　and　deliciously　sinuous。　Cowperwood　saw　at　first　glance　that　she　fulfilled　all　the　promise　of　her　picture；　and　was　delighted。　　She　had；　he　thought；　a　strange；　shrewd；　intelligent　smile；　which；　however；　was　girlish　and　friendly。　Without　so　much　as　a　glance　in　his　direction　she　came　forward；　extending　her　arms　and　hands　in　an　inimitable　histrionic　manner；　and　exclaimed；　with　a　practised　and　yet　natural　inflection：　〃Mother；　dear！　So　here　you　are　really！　You　know；　I've　been　thinking　of　you　all　morning。　　I　wasn't　sure　whether　you　would　come　to…day；　you　change　about　so。　　I　think　I　even　dreamed　of　you　last　night。〃

Her　skirts；　still　worn　just　below　the　shoe…tops；　had　the　richness　of　scraping　silk　then　fashionable。　　She　was　also　guilty　of　using　a　faint　perfume　of　some　kind。

Cowperwood　could　see　that　Mrs。　Carter；　despite　a　certain　nervousness　due　to　the　girl's　superior　individuality　and　his　presence；　was　very　proud　of　her。　　Berenice；　he　also　saw　quickly；　was　measuring　him　out　of　the　tail　of　her　eyea　single　sweeping　glance　which　she　vouchsafed　from　beneath　her　long　lashes　sufficing；　but　she　gathered　quite　accurately　the　totality　of　Cowperwood's　age；　force；　grace；　wealth；　and　worldly　ability。　　Without　hesitation　she　classed　him　as　a　man　of　power　in　some　field；　possibly　finance；　one　of　the　numerous　able　men　whom　her　mother　seemed　to　know。　　She　always　wondered　about　her　mother。　　His　large　gray　eyes；　that　searched　her　with　lightning　accuracy；　appealed　to　her　as　pleasant；　able　eyes。　　She　knew　on　the　instant；　young　as　she　was；　that　he　liked　women；　and　that　probably　he　would　think　her　charming；　but　as　for　giving　him　additional　attention　it　was　outside　her　code。　　She　preferred　to　be　interested　in　her　dear　mother　exclusively。

〃Berenice；〃　observed　Mrs。　Carter；　airily；　〃let　me　introduce　Mr。　Cowperwood。〃

Berenice　turned；　and　for　the　fraction　of　a　second　leveled　a　frank　and　yet　condescending　glance　from　wells　of　what　Cowperwood　considered　to　be　indigo　blue。

〃Your　mother　has　spoken　of　you　from　time　to　time；〃　he　said；　pleasantly。

She　withdrew　a　cool；　thin　hand　as　limp　and　soft　as　wax；　and　turned　to　her　mother　again　without　comment；　and　yet　without　the　least　embarrassment。　　Cowperwood　seemed　in　no　way　important　to　her。

〃What　would　you　say；　dear；〃　pursued　Mrs。　Carter；　after　a　brief　exchange　of　commonplaces；　〃if　I　were　to　spend　next　winter　in　New　York？〃

〃It　would　be　charming　if　I　could　live　at　home。　　I'm　sick　of　this　silly　boarding…school。〃

〃Why；　Berenice！　I　thought　you　liked　it。〃

〃I　hate　it；　but　only　because　it's　so　dull。　　The　girls　here　are　so　silly。〃

Mrs。　Carter　lifted　her　eyebrows　as　much　as　to　say　to　her　escort；　〃Now　what　do　you　think？〃　Cowperwood　stood　solemnly　by。　　It　was　not　for　him　to　make　a　suggestion　at　present。　　He　could　see　that　for　some　reasonprobably　because　of　her　disordered　lifeMrs。　Carter　was　playing　a　game　of　manners　with　her　daughter；　she　maintained　always　a　lofty；　romantic　air。　　With　Berenice　it　was　naturalthe　expression　of　a　vain；　self…conscious；　superior　disposition。

〃A　rather　charming　garden　here；〃　he　observed；　lifting　a　curtain　and　looking　out　into　a　blooming　plot。

〃Yes；　the　flowers　are　nice；〃　commented　Berenice。

〃Wait；　I'll　get　some　for　you。　　It's　against　the　rules；　but　they　can't　do　more　than　send　me　away；　and　that's　what　I　want。〃

〃Berenice！　Come　back　here！〃

It　was　Mrs。　Carter　calling。

The　daughter　was　gone　in　a　fling　of　graceful　lines　and　flounces。　〃Now　what　do　you　make　of　her？〃　asked　Mrs。　Carter；　turning　to　her　friend。

〃Youth；　individuality；　energya　hundred　things。　　I　see　nothing　wrong　with　her。〃

〃If　I　could　only　see　to　it　that　she　had　her　opportunities　unspoiled。〃

Already　Berenice　was　returning；　a　subject　for　an　artist　in　almost　studied　lines。　　Her　arms　were　full　of　sweet…peas　and　roses　which　she　had　ruthlessly　gathered。

〃You　wilful　girl！〃　scolded　her　mother；　indulgently。　　〃I　shall　have　to　go　and　explain　to　your　superiors。　　Whatever　shall　I　do　with　her；　Mr。　Cowperwood？〃

〃Load　her　with　daisy　chains　and　transport　her　to　Cytherea；〃　commented　Cowperwood；　who　had　once　visited　this　romantic　isle；　and　therefore　knew　its　significance。

Berenice　paused。　　〃What　a　pretty　speech　that　is！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃I　have　a　notion　to　give　you　a　special　flower　for　that。　　I　will；　too。〃　She　presented　him　with　a　rose。

For　a　girl　who　had　slipped　in　shy　and　still；　Cowperwood　commented；　her　mood　had　certainly　changed。　　Still；　this　was　the　privilege　of　the　born　actress；　to　change。　　And　as　he　viewed　Berenice　Fleming　now　he　felt　her　to　be　sucha　born　actress；　lissome；　subtle；　wise；　indifferent；　superior；　taking　the　world　as　she　found　it　and　expecting　it　to　obeyto　sit　up　like　a　pet　dog　and　be　told　to　beg。　　What　a　charming　character！　What　a　pity　it　should　not　be　allowed　to　bloom　undisturbed　in　its　make…believe　garden！　What　a　pity；　indeed！




Chapter　XLII



F。　A。　Cowperwood；　Guardian

It　was　some　time　after　this　first　encounter　before　Cowperwood　saw　Berenice　again；　and　then　only　for　a　few　days　in　that　region　of　the　Pocono　Mountains　where　Mrs。　Carter　had　her　summer　home。　　It　was　an　idyllic　spot　on　a　mountainside；　some　three　miles　from　Stroudsburg；　among　a　peculiar　juxtaposition　of　hills　which；　from　the　comfortable　recesses　of　a　front　veranda；　had　the　appearance；　as　Mrs。　Carter　was　fond　of　explaining；　of　elephants　and　camels　parading　in　the　distance。　　The　humps　of　the　hillssome　of　them　as　high　as　eighteen　hundred　feetrose　stately　and　green。　　Below；　quite　visible　for　a　mile　or　more；　moved　the　dusty；　white　road　descending　to　Stroudsburg。　Out　of　her　Louisville　earnings　Mrs。　Carter　had　managed　to　employ；　for　the　several　summer　seasons　she　had　been　here；　a　gardener；　who　kept　the　sloping　front　lawn　in　seasonable　flowers。　　There　was　a　trig　two…wheeled　trap　with　a　smart　horse　and　harness；　and　both　Rolfe　and　Berenice　were　possessed　of　the　latest　novelty　of　the　daylow…wheeled　bicycles；　which　had　just　then　superseded　the　old；　high…wheel　variety。　　For　Berenice；　also；　was　a　music…rack　full　of　classic　music　and　song　collections；　a　piano；　a　shelf　of　favorite　books；　painting…materials；　various　athletic　implements；　and　several　types　of　Greek　dancing…tunics　which　she　had　designed　herself；　including　sandals　and　fillet　for　her　hair。　　She　was　an　idle；　reflective；　erotic　person　dreaming　strange　dreams　of　a　near　and　yet　far…off　social　supremacy；　at　other　times　busying　herself　with　such　social　opportunities　as　came　to　her。　　A　more　safely　calculating　and　yet　wilful　girl　than　Berenice　Fleming　would　have　been　hard　to　find。　　By　some　trick　of　mental　adjustment　she　had　gained　a　clear　prevision　of　how　necessary　it　was　to　select　the　right　socially；　and　to　conceal　her　true　motives　and　feelings；　and　yet　she　was　by　no　means　a　snob；　mentally；　nor　utterly　calculating。　　Certain　things　in　her　own　and　in　her　mother's　life　troubled　herquarrels　in　her　early　days；　from　her　seventh　to　her　eleventh　year；　between　her　mother　and　her　stepfather；　Mr。　Carter；　the　latter's　drunkenness　verging　upon　delirium　tremens　at　times；　movings　from　one　place　to　anotherall　sorts　of　sordid　and　depressing　happenings。　　Berenice　had　been　an　impressionable　child。　　Some　things　had　gripped　her　memory　mightilyonce；　for　instance；　when　she　had　seen　her　stepfather；　in　the　presence　of　her　governess；　kick　a　table　over；　and；　seizing　the　toppling　lamp　with　demoniac　skill；　hurl　it　through　a　window。　She；　herself；　had　been　tossed　by　him　in　one　of　these