the titan-第65章

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with　demoniac　skill；　hurl　it　through　a　window。　She；　herself；　had　been　tossed　by　him　in　one　of　these　tantrums；　when；　in　answer　to　the　cries　of　terror　of　those　about　her；　he　had　shouted：　〃Let　her　fall！　It　won't　hurt　the　little　devil　to　break　a　few　bones。〃　This　was　her　keenest　memory　of　her　stepfather；　and　it　rather　softened　her　judgment　of　her　mother；　made　her　sympathetic　with　her　when　she　was　inclined　to　be　critical。　　Of　her　own　father　she　only　knew　that　he　had　divorced　her　motherwhy；　she　could　not　say。　　She　liked　her　mother　on　many　counts；　though　she　could　not　feel　that　she　actually　loved　herMrs。　Carter　was　too　fatuous　at　times；　and　at　other　times　too　restrained。　　This　house　at　Pocono；　or　Forest　Edge；　as　Mrs。　Carter　had　named　it；　was　conducted　after　a　peculiar　fashion。　　From　June　to　October　only　it　was　open；　Mrs。　Carter；　in　the　past；　having　returned　to　Louisville　at　that　time；　while　Berenice　and　Rolfe　went　back　to　their　respective　schools。　Rolfe　was　a　cheerful；　pleasant…mannered　youth；　well　bred；　genial；　and　courteous；　but　not　very　brilliant　intellectually。　　Cowperwood's　judgment　of　him　the　first　time　he　saw　him　was　that　under　ordinary　circumstances　he　would　make　a　good　confidential　clerk；　possibly　in　a　bank。　　Berenice；　on　the　other　hand；　the　child　of　the　first　husband；　was　a　creature　of　an　exotic　mind　and　an　opalescent　heart。　After　his　first　contact　with　her　in　the　reception…room　of　the　Brewster　School　Cowperwood　was　deeply　conscious　of　the　import　of　this　budding　character。　　He　was　by　now　so　familiar　with　types　and　kinds　of　women　that　an　exceptional　typequite　like　an　exceptional　horse　to　a　judge　of　horse…fleshstood　out　in　his　mind　with　singular　vividness。　　Quite　as　in　some　great　racing…stable　an　ambitious　horseman　might　imagine　that　he　detected　in　some　likely　filly　the　signs　and　lineaments　of　the　future　winner　of　a　Derby；　so　in　Berenice　Fleming；　in　the　quiet　precincts　of　the　Brewster　School；　Cowperwood　previsioned　the　central　figure　of　a　Newport　lawn　fete　or　a　London　drawing…room。　　Why？　She　had　the　air；　the　grace；　the　lineage；　the　bloodthat　was　why；　and　on　that　score　she　appealed　to　him　intensely；　quite　as　no　other　woman　before　had　ever　done。

It　was　on　the　lawn　of　Forest　Edge　that　Cowperwood　now　saw　Berenice。　The　latter　had　had　the　gardener　set　up　a　tall　pole；　to　which　was　attached　a　tennis…ball　by　a　cord；　and　she　and　Rolfe　were　hard　at　work　on　a　game　of　tether…ball。　　Cowperwood；　after　a　telegram　to　Mrs。　Carter；　had　been　met　at　the　station　in　Pocono　by　her　and　rapidly　driven　out　to　the　house。　　The　green　hills　pleased　him；　the　up…winding；　yellow　road；　the　silver…gray　cottage　with　the　brown…shingle　roof　in　the　distance。　　It　was　three　in　the　afternoon；　and　bright　for　a　sinking　sun。

〃There　they　are　now；〃　observed　Mrs。　Carter；　cheerful　and　smiling；　as　they　came　out　from　under　a　low　ledge　that　skirted　the　road　a　little　way　from　the　cottage。　　Berenice；　executing　a　tripping；　running　step　to　one　side；　was　striking　the　tethered　ball　with　her　racquet。　　〃They　are　hard　at　it；　as　usual。　　Two　such　romps！〃

She　surveyed　them　with　pleased　motherly　interest；　which　Cowperwood　considered　did　her　much　credit。　　He　was　thinking　that　it　would　be　too　bad　if　her　hopes　for　her　children　should　not　be　realized。　　Yet　possibly　they　might　not　be。　　Life　was　very　grim。　　How　strange；　he　thought；　was　this　type　of　womanat　once　a　sympathetic；　affectionate　mother　and　a　panderer　to　the　vices　of　men。　　How　strange　that　she　should　have　these　children　at　all。　　Berenice　had　on　a　white　skirt；　white　tennis…shoes；　a　pale…cream　silk　waist　or　blouse；　which　fitted　her　very　loosely。　　Because　of　exercise　her　color　was　highquite　pinkand　her　dusty；　reddish　hair　was　blowy。　　Though　they　turned　into　the　hedge　gate　and　drove　to　the　west　entrance；　which　was　at　one　side　of　the　house；　there　was　no　cessation　of　the　game；　not　even　a　glance　from　Berenice；　so　busy　was　she。

He　was　merely　her　mother's　friend　to　her。　　Cowperwood　noted；　with　singular　vividness　of　feeling；　that　the　lines　of　her　movementsthe　fleeting；　momentary　positions　she　assumedwere　full　of　a　wondrous　natural　charm。　　He　wanted　to　say　so　to　Mrs。　Carter；　but　restrained　himself。

〃It's　a　brisk　game；〃　he　commented；　with　a　pleased　glance。　　〃You　play；　do　you？〃

〃Oh；　I　did。　　I　don't　much　any　more。　　Sometimes　I　try　a　set　with　Rolfe　or　Bevy；　but　they　both　beat　me　so　badly。〃

〃Bevy？　Who　is　Bevy？〃

〃Oh；　that's　short　of　Berenice。　　It's　what　Rolfe　called　her　when　he　was　a　baby。〃

〃Bevy！　I　think　that　rather　nice。〃

〃I　always　like　it；　too。　　Somehow　it　seems　to　suit　her；　and　yet　I　don't　know　why。〃

Before　dinner　Berenice　made　her　appearance；　freshened　by　a　bath　and　clad　in　a　light　summer　dress　that　appeared　to　Cowperwood　to　be　all　flounces；　and　the　more　graceful　in　its　lines　for　the　problematic　absence　of　a　corset。　　Her　face　and　hands；　howevera　face　thin；　long；　and　sweetly　hollow；　and　hands　that　were　slim　and　sinewygripped　and　held　his　fancy。　　He　was　reminded　in　the　least　degree　of　Stephanie；　but　this　girl's　chin　was　firmer　and　more　delicately；　though　more　aggressively；　rounded。　　Her　eyes；　too；　were　shrewder　and　less　evasive；　though　subtle　enough。

〃So　I　meet　you　again；〃　he　observed；　with　a　somewhat　aloof　air；　as　she　came　out　on　the　porch　and　sank　listlessly　into　a　wicker　chair。　　〃The　last　time　I　met　you　you　were　hard　at　work　in　New　York。〃

〃Breaking　the　rules。　　No；　I　forget；　that　was　my　easiest　work。　　Oh；　Rolfe；〃　she　called　over　her　shoulder；　indifferently；　〃I　see　your　pocket…knife　out　on　the　grass。〃

Cowperwood；　properly　suppressed；　waited　a　brief　space。　　〃Who　won　that　exciting　game？〃

〃I　did；　of　course。　　I　always　win　at　tether…ball。〃

〃Oh；　do　you？〃　commented　Cowperwood。

〃I　mean　with　brother；　of　course。　　He　plays　so　poorly。〃　She　turned　to　the　westthe　house　faced　southand　studied　the　road　which　came　up　from　Stroudsburg。　　〃I　do　believe　that's　Harry　Kemp；〃　she　added；　quite　to　herself。　　〃If　so；　he'll　have　my　mail；　if　there　is　any。〃

She　got　up　again　and　disappeared　into　the　house；　coming　out　a　few　moments　later　to　saunter　down　to　the　gate；　which　was　over　a　hundred　feet　away。　　To　Cowperwood　she　seemed　to　float；　so　hale　and　graceful　was　she。　　A　smart　youth　in　blue　serge　coat；　white　trousers；　and　white　shoes　drove　by　in　a　high…seated　trap。

〃Two　letters　for　you；〃　he　called；　in　a　high；　almost　falsetto　voice。　〃I　thought　you　would　have　eight　or　nine。　　Blessed　hot；　isn't　it？〃　He　had　a　smart　though　somewhat　effeminate　manner；　and　Cowperwood　at　once　wrote　him　down　as　an　ass。　　Berenice　took　the　mail　with　an　engaging　smile。　　She　sauntered　past　him　reading；　without　so　much　as　a　glance。　　Presently　he　heard　her　voice　within。

〃Mother；　the　Haggertys　have　invited　me　for　the　last　week　in　August。　I　have　half　a　mind　to　cut　Tuxedo　and　go。　　I　like　Bess　Haggerty。〃

〃Well；　you'll　have　to　decide　that；　dearest。　　Are　they　going　to　be　at　Tarrytown　or　Loon　Lake？〃

〃Loon　Lake；　of　course；〃　came　Berenice's　voice。

What　a　world　of　social　doings　she　was　involved　in；　thought　Cowperwood。　She　had　begun　well。　　The　Haggertys　were　rich　coal…mine　operators　in　Pennsylvania。　　Harris　Haggerty；　to　whose　family　she　was　probably　referring；　was　worth　at　least　six　or　eight　million。　　The　social　world　they　moved　in　was　high。

They　drove　after　dinner　to　The　Saddler；　at　Saddler's　Run；　where　a　dance　and　〃moonlight　promenade〃　was　to　be　given。　　On　the　way　over；　owing　to　the　remoteness　of　Berenice；　Cowperwood　for　the　first　time　in　his　life　felt　himself　to　be　getting　old。　　In　spite　of　the　vigor　of　his　mind　and　body；　he　realized　constantly　that　he　was　over　fifty…two；　while　she　was　only　seventeen。　　Why　should　this　lure　of　youth　continue　to　possess　him？　She　wore　a　white　concoction　of　lace　and　silk　which　showed　a　pair　of　smooth　young　shoulders　and　a　slender；　queenly；　inimitably　modeled　neck。　　He　could　tell　by　the　sleek　lines　of　her　arms　how　strong　she　was。

〃It　is　perhaps　too　late；〃　he　said　to　himself；　in　comment。　　〃I　am　getting　old。〃

The　freshness　of　the　hills　in　the　pale　night　was　sad。

Saddler's；　when　they　reached　there　after　ten；　was　crowded　with　the　youth　and　beauty　of　the　vicinity。　　Mrs。　Carter；　who　was　prepossessing　in　a　ball　costume　of　silver　and　old　rose；　expected　that　Cowperwood　would　dance　with　her。　　And　he　did；　but　all　the　time　his　eyes　were　on　Berenice；　who　was　caught　up　by　one　youth　and　another　of　dapper　mien　during　the　progress　of　the　evening　and　carried　rhythmically　by　in　the　mazes　of　the　waltz　or　schottische。　　There　was　a　new　dance　in　vogue　that　involved　a　gay；　running　stepkicking　first　one　foot　and　then　the　other　forward；　turning　and　running　backward　and　kicking　again；　and　then　swinging　with　a　smart　air；　back　to　back；　with　one's　partner。　　Berenice；　in　her　lithe；　rhythmic　way；　seemed　to　him　the　soul　of　spirited　and　gracious　easeunconscious　of　everybody　and　everything　save　the　spirit　of　the　dance　itself　as　a　medium　of　sweet　emotion；　of　some　far…off；　dreamlike　spirit　of　gaiety。　　He　wondered。　He　was　deeply　impressed。

〃Berenice；〃　observed　Mrs。　Carter；　when　in　an　intermission　she　came　forward　to　where　Cowperwood　and　she　were　sitting　in　the　moonlight　discussing　New　York　and　Kentucky　social　life；　〃haven't　you　saved　one　dance　for　Mr。　Cowperwood？〃

Cowperwood；　with　a　momentary　feeling　of　resentment；　protested　that　he　did　not　care　to　dance　any　more。　　Mrs。　Carter；　he　observed　to　himself；　was　a　fool。

〃I　believe；〃　said　her　daughter；　with　a　languid　air；　〃that　I　am　full　up。　　I　could　break　one　engagement；　though；　somewhere。〃

〃Not　for　me；　though；　please；〃　pleaded　Cowperwood。　　〃I　don't　care　to　dance　any　more；　thank　you。〃

He　almost　hated　her　at　the　moment　for　a　chilly　cat。　　And　yet　he　did　not。

〃Why；　Bevy；　how　you　talk！　I　think　you　are　acting　very　badly　this　evening。〃

〃Please；　please；〃　pleaded　Cowperwood；　quite　sharply。　　〃Not　any　more。　　I　don't　care　to　dance　any　more。〃

Bevy　looked　at　him　oddly　for　a　momenta　single　thoughtful　glance。

〃But　I　have　a　dance；　though；〃　she　pleaded；　softly。　　〃I　was　just　teasing。　　Won't　you　dance　it　with　me？

〃I　can't　refuse；　of　course；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　coldly。

〃It's　the　next　one；〃　she　replied。

They　danced；　but　he　scarcely　softened　to　her　at　first；　so　angry　was　he。　　Somehow；　because　of　all　that　had　gone　before；　he　felt　stiff　and　ungainly。　　She　had　managed　to　break　in　upon　his　natural　savoir　fairethis　chit　of　a　girl。　　But　as　they　went　on　through　a　second　half　the　spirit　of　her　dancing　soul　caught　him；　and　he　felt　more　at　ease；　quite　rhythmic。　　She　drew　close　and　swept　him　into　a　strange　unison　with　herself。

〃You　dance　beautifully；〃　he　said。

〃I　love　it；〃　she　replied。　　She　was　already　of　an　agreeable　height　for　him。

It　was　soon　over。　　〃I　wish　you　would　take　me　where　the　ices　are；〃　she　said　to　Cowperwood。

He　led　her；　half　amused；　half　disturbed　at　her　attitude　toward　him。

〃You　are　having　a　pleasant　time　teasing　me；　aren't　you？〃　he　asked。

〃I　am　only　tired；〃　she　replied。　　〃The　evening　bores　me。　　Really　it　does。　　I　wish　we　were　all　home。〃

〃We　can　go　when　you　say；　no　doubt。〃

As　they　reached　the　ices；　and　she　took　one　from　his　hand；　she　surveyed　him　with　those　cool；　dull　blue　eyes　of　herseyes　that　had　the　flat　quality　of　unglazed　Dutch　tiles。

〃I　wish　you　would　forgive　me；〃　she　said。　　〃I　was　rude。　　I　couldn't　help　it。　　I　am　all　out　of　sorts　with　myself。〃

〃I　hadn't　felt　you　were　rude；〃　h