the financier-第26部分

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〃I　like　Norah；　too；〃　added　Mrs。　Cowperwood。　　〃She's　really　very　sweet；　and　to　me　she's　prettier。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；　I　think　so；　too。〃

It　was　curious；　though；　that　it　was　Aileen　who　commanded　nearly　all　their　attention　and　fixed　their　minds　on　her　so…called　idiosyncrasies。　　All　they　said　was　in　its　peculiar　way　true；　but　in　addition　the　girl　was　really　beautiful　and　much　above　the　average　intelligence　and　force。　　She　was　running　deep　with　ambition；　and　she　was　all　the　more　conspicuous；　and　in　a　way　irritating　to　some；　because　she　reflected　in　her　own　consciousness　her　social　defects；　against　which　she　was　inwardly　fighting。　　She　resented　the　fact　that　people　could　justly　consider　her　parents　ineligible；　and　for　that　reason　her　also。　　She　was　intrinsically　as　worth　while　as　any　one。　　Cowperwood；　so　able；　and　rapidly　becoming　so　distinguished；　seemed　to　realize　it。　　The　days　that　had　been　passing　had　brought　them　somewhat　closer　together　in　spirit。　　He　was　nice　to　her　and　liked　to　talk　to　her。　　Whenever　he　was　at　her　home　now；　or　she　was　at　his　and　he　was　present；　he　managed　somehow　to　say　a　word。　　He　would　come　over　quite　near　and　look　at　her　in　a　warm　friendly　fashion。

〃Well；　Aileen〃she　could　see　his　genial　eyes〃how　is　it　with　you？　How　are　your　father　and　mother？　Been　out　driving？　That's　fine。　　I　saw　you　to…day。　　You　looked　beautiful。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Cowperwood！〃

〃You　did。　　You　looked　stunning。　　A　black　riding…habit　becomes　you。　I　can　tell　your　gold　hair　a　long　way　off。〃

〃Oh；　now；　you　mustn't　say　that　to　me。　　You'll　make　me　vain。　　My　mother　and　father　tell　me　I'm　too　vain　as　it　is。〃

〃Never　mind　your　mother　and　father。　　I　say　you　looked　stunning；　and　you　did。　　You　always　do。〃

〃Oh！〃

She　gave　a　little　gasp　of　delight。　　The　color　mounted　to　her　cheeks　and　temples。　　Mr。　Cowperwood　knew　of　course。　　He　was　so　informed　and　intensely　forceful。　　And　already　he　was　so　much　admired　by　so　many；　her　own　father　and　mother　included；　and　by　Mr。　Mollenhauer　and　Mr。　Simpson；　so　she　heard。　　And　his　own　home　and　office　were　so　beautiful。　　Besides；　his　quiet　intensity　matched　her　restless　force。

Aileen　and　her　sister　were　accordingly　invited　to　the　reception　but　the　Butlers　mere　and　pere　were　given　to　understand；　in　as　tactful　a　manner　as　possible；　that　the　dance　afterward　was　principally　for　young　people。

The　reception　brought　a　throng　of　people。　　There　were　many；　very　many；　introductions。　　There　were　tactful　descriptions　of　little　effects　Mr。　Ellsworth　had　achieved　under　rather　trying　circumstances；　walks　under　the　pergola；　viewings　of　both　homes　in　detail。　　Many　of　the　guests　were　old　friends。　　They　gathered　in　the　libraries　and　dining…rooms　and　talked。　　There　was　much　jesting；　some　slappings　of　shoulders；　some　good　story…telling；　and　so　the　afternoon　waned　into　evening；　and　they　went　away。

Aileen　had　created　an　impression　in　a　street　costume　of　dark　blue　silk　with　velvet　pelisse　to　match；　and　trimmed　with　elaborate　pleatings　and　shirrings　of　the　same　materials。　　A　toque　of　blue　velvet；　with　high　crown　and　one　large　dark…red　imitation　orchid；　had　given　her　a　jaunty；　dashing　air。　　Beneath　the　toque　her　red…gold　hair　was　arranged　in　an　enormous　chignon；　with　one　long　curl　escaping　over　her　collar。　　She　was　not　exactly　as　daring　as　she　seemed；　but　she　loved　to　give　that　impression。

〃You　look　wonderful；〃　Cowperwood　said　as　she　passed　him。

〃I'll　look　different　to…night；〃　was　her　answer。

She　had　swung　herself　with　a　slight；　swaggering　stride　into　the　dining…room　and　disappeared。　　Norah　and　her　mother　stayed　to　chat　with　Mrs。　Cowperwood。

〃Well；　it's　lovely　now；　isn't　it？〃　breathed　Mrs。　Butler。　　〃Sure　you'll　be　happy　here。　　Sure　you　will。　　When　Eddie　fixed　the　house　we're　in　now；　says　I：　'Eddie；　it's　almost　too　fine　for　us　altogether　surely　it　is；'　and　he　says；　says　'e；　'Norah；　nothin'　this　side　o'　heavin　or　beyond　is　too　good　for　ye'and　he　kissed　me。　　Now　what　d'ye　think　of　that　fer　a　big；　hulkin'　gossoon？〃

〃It's　perfectly　lovely；　I　think；　Mrs。　Butler；〃　commented　Mrs。　Cowperwood；　a　little　bit　nervous　because　of　others。

〃Mama　does　love　to　talk　so。　　Come　on；　mama。　　Let's　look　at　the　dining…room。〃　　It　was　Norah　talking。

〃Well；　may　ye　always　be　happy　in　it。　　I　wish　ye　that。　　I've　always　been　happy　in　mine。　　May　ye　always　be　happy。〃　　And　she　waddled　good…naturedly　along。

The　Cowperwood　family　dined　hastily　alone　between　seven　and　eight。　At　nine　the　evening　guests　began　to　arrive；　and　now　the　throng　was　of　a　different　complexiongirls　in　mauve　and　cream…white　and　salmon…pink　and　silver…gray；　laying　aside　lace　shawls　and　loose　dolmans；　and　the　men　in　smooth　black　helping　them。　　Outside　in　the　cold；　the　carriage　doors　were　slamming；　and　new　guests　were　arriving　constantly。　　Mrs。　Cowperwood　stood　with　her　husband　and　Anna　in　the　main　entrance　to　the　reception　room；　while　Joseph　and　Edward　Cowperwood　and　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Henry　W。　Cowperwood　lingered　in　the　background。　　Lillian　looked　charming　in　a　train　gown　of　old　rose；　with　a　low；　square　neck　showing　a　delicate　chemisette　of　fine　lace。　Her　face　and　figure　were　still　notable；　though　her　face　was　not　as　smoothly　sweet　as　it　had　been　years　before　when　Cowperwood　had　first　met　her。　　Anna　Cowperwood　was　not　pretty；　though　she　could　not　be　said　to　be　homely。　　She　was　small　and　dark；　with　a　turned…up　nose；　snapping　black　eyes；　a　pert；　inquisitive；　intelligent；　and　alas；　somewhat　critical；　air。　　She　had　considerable　tact　in　the　matter　of　dressing。　　Black；　in　spite　of　her　darkness；　with　shining　beads　of　sequins　on　it；　helped　her　complexion　greatly；　as　did　a　red　rose　in　her　hair。　　She　had　smooth；　white　well…rounded　arms　and　shoulders。　　Bright　eyes；　a　pert　manner；　clever　remarksthese　assisted　to　create　an　illusion　of　charm；　though；　as　she　often　said；　it　was　of　little　use。　　〃Men　want　the　dolly　things。〃

In　the　evening　inpour　of　young　men　and　women　came　Aileen　and　Norah；　the　former　throwing　off　a　thin　net　veil　of　black　lace　and　a　dolman　of　black　silk；　which　her　brother　Owen　took　from　her。　　Norah　was　with　Callum；　a　straight；　erect；　smiling　young　Irishman；　who　looked　as　though　he　might　carve　a　notable　career　for　himself。　　She　wore　a　short；　girlish　dress　that　came　to　a　little　below　her　shoe…tops；　a　pale…figured　lavender　and　white　silk；　with　a　fluffy　hoop…skirt　of　dainty　laced…edged　ruffles；　against　which　tiny　bows　of　lavender　stood　out　in　odd　places。　　There　was　a　great　sash　of　lavender　about　her　waist；　and　in　her　hair　a　rosette　of　the　same　color。　　She　looked　exceedingly　winsomeeager　and　bright…eyed。

But　behind　her　was　her　sister　in　ravishing　black　satin；　scaled　as　a　fish　with　glistening　crimsoned…silver　sequins；　her　round；　smooth　arms　bare　to　the　shoulders；　her　corsage　cut　as　low　in　the　front　and　back　as　her　daring；　in　relation　to　her　sense　of　the　proprieties；　permitted。　　She　was　naturally　of　exquisite　figure；　erect；　full…breasted；　with　somewhat　more　than　gently　swelling　hips；　which；　nevertheless；　melted　into　lovely；　harmonious　lines；　and　this　low…cut　corsage；　receding　back　and　front　into　a　deep　V；　above　a　short；　gracefully　draped　overskirt　of　black　tulle　and　silver　tissue；　set　her　off　to　perfection。　　Her　full；　smooth；　roundly　modeled　neck　was　enhanced　in　its　cream…pink　whiteness　by　an　inch…wide　necklet　of　black　jet　cut　in　many　faceted　black　squares。　Her　complexion；　naturally　high　in　tone　because　of　the　pink　of　health；　was　enhanced　by　the　tiniest　speck　of　black　court…plaster　laid　upon　her　cheekbone；　and　her　hair；　heightened　in　its　reddish…gold　by　her　dress；　was　fluffed　loosely　and　adroitly　about　her　eyes。　The　main　mass　of　this　treasure　was　done　in　two　loose　braids　caught　up　in　a　black　spangled　net　at　the　back　of　her　neck；　and　her　eyebrows　had　been　emphasized　by　a　pencil　into　something　almost　as　significant　as　her　hair。　　She　was；　for　the　occasion；　a　little　too　emphatic；　perhaps；　and　yet　more　because　of　her　burning　vitality　than　of　her　costume。　　Art　for　her　should　have　meant　subduing　her　physical　and　spiritual　significance。　　Life　for　her　meant　emphasizing　them。

〃Lillian！〃　Anna　nudged　her　sister…in…law。　　She　was　grieved　to　think　that　Aileen　was　wearing　black　and　looked　so　much　better　than　either　of　them。

〃I　see；〃　Lillian　replied；　in　a　subdued　tone。

〃So　you're　back　again。〃　　She　was　addressing　Aileen。　　〃It's　chilly　out；　isn't　it？〃

〃I　don't　mind。　　Don't　the　rooms　look　lovely？〃

She　was　gazing　at　the　softly　lighted　chambers　and　the　throng　before　her。

Norah　began　to　babble　to　Anna。　　〃You　know；　I　just　thought　I　never　would　get　this　old　thing　on。〃　　She　was　speaking　of　her　dress。　〃Aileen　wouldn't　help　methe　mean　thing！〃

Aileen　had　swept　on　to　Cowperwood　and　his　mother；　who　was　near　him。　　She　had　removed　from　her　arm　the　black　satin　ribbon　which　held　her　train　and　kicked　the　skirts　loose　and　free。　　Her　eyes　gleamed　almost　pleadingly　for　all　her　hauteur；　like　a　spirited　collie's；　and　her　even　teeth　showed　beautifully。

Cowperwood　understood　her　precisely；　as　he　did　any　fine；　spirited　animal。

〃I　can't　tell　you　how　nice　you　look；〃　he　whispered　to　her；　familiarly；　as　though　there　was　an　old　understanding　between　them。　〃You're　like　fire　and　song。〃

He　did　not　know　why　he　said　this。　　He　was　not　especially　poetic。　He　had　not　formulated　the　phrase　beforehand。　　Since　his　first　glimpse　of　her　in　the　hall；　his　feelings　and　ideas　had　been　leaping　and　plunging　like　spirited　horses。　　This　girl　made　him　set　his　teeth　and　narrow　his　eyes。　　Involuntarily　he　squared　his　jaw；　looking　more　defiant；　forceful；　efficient；　as　she　drew　near；

But　Aileen　and　her　sister　were　almost　instantly　surrounded　by　young　men　seeking　to　be　introduced　and　to　write　their　names　on　dance…cards；　and　for　the　time　being　she　was　lost　to　view。





Chapter　XVIII




The　seeds　of　changesubtle；　metaphysicalare　rooted　deeply。　From　the　first　mention　of　the　dance　by　Mrs。　Cowperwood　and　Anna；　Aileen　had　been　conscious　of　a　desire　toward　a　more　effective　presentation　of　herself　than　as　yet；　for　all　her　father's　money；　she　had　been　able　to　achieve。　　The　company　which　she　was　to　encounter；　as　she　well　knew；　was　to　be　so　much　more　impressive；　distinguished　than　anything　she　had　heretofore　known　socially。　Then；　too；　Cowperwood　appeared　as　something　more　definite　in　her　mind　than　he　had　been　before；　and　to　save　herself　she