the financier-第67部分

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〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Aileen；　to…day？〃　Mamie　asked。　　〃You　look　so〃　She　stopped　to　give　her　a　second　glance。

〃How　do　I　look？〃　asked　Aileen。

〃Well；　as　if　you　were　uncertain　or　troubled　about　something。　　I　never　saw　you　look　that　way　before。　　What's　the　matter？〃

〃Oh；　nothing；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃I　was　just　thinking。〃　　She　went　to　one　of　the　windows　which　looked　into　the　little　yard；　meditating　on　whether　she　could　endure　living　here　for　any　length　of　time。　The　house　was　so　small；　the　furnishings　so　very　simple。

〃There　is　something　the　matter　with　you　to…day；　Aileen；〃　observed　Mamie；　coming　over　to　her　and　looking　in　her　face。　　〃You're　not　like　yourself　at　all。〃

〃I've　got　something　on　my　mind；〃　replied　Aileen〃something　that's　worrying　me。　　I　don't　know　just　what　to　dothat's　what's　the　matter。〃

〃Well；　whatever　can　it　be？〃　commented　Mamie。　　〃I　never　saw　you　act　this　way　before。　　Can't　you　tell　me？　What　is　it？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　cannot　now；　anyhow。〃　　Aileen　paused。　　〃Do　you　suppose　your　mother　would　object；〃　she　asked；　suddenly；　〃if　I　came　here　and　stayed　a　little　while？　I　want　to　get　away　from　home　for　a　time　for　a　certain　reason。〃

〃Why；　Aileen　Butler；　how　you　talk！〃　exclaimed　her　friend。　　〃Object！　You　know　she'd　be　delighted；　and　so　would　I。　　Oh；　dearcan　you　come？　But　what　makes　you　want　to　leave　home？〃

〃That's　just　what　I　can't　tell　younot　now；　anyhow。　　Not　you；　so　much；　but　your　mother。　　You　know；　I'm　afraid　of　what　she'd　think；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃But；　you　mustn't　ask　me　yet；　anyhow。　　I　want　to　think。　　Oh；　dear！　But　I　want　to　come；　if　you'll　let　me。　　Will　you　speak　to　your　mother；　or　shall　I？〃

〃Why；　I　will；〃　said　Mamie；　struck　with　wonder　at　this　remarkable　development；　〃but　it's　silly　to　do　it。　　I　know　what　she'll　say　before　I　tell　her；　and　so　do　you。　　You　can　just　bring　your　things　and　come。　　That's　all。　　She'd　never　say　anything　or　ask　anything；　either；　and　you　know　thatif　you　didn't　want　her　to。〃　　Mamie　was　all　agog　and　aglow　at　the　idea。　　She　wanted　the　companionship　of　Aileen　so　much。

Aileen　looked　at　her　solemnly；　and　understood　well　enough　why　she　was　so　enthusiasticboth　she　and　her　mother。　　Both　wanted　her　presence　to　brighten　their　world。　　〃But　neither　of　you　must　tell　anybody　that　I'm　here；　do　you　hear？　I　don't　want　any　one　to　know　particularly　no　one　of　my　family。　　I've　a　reason；　and　a　good　one；　but　I　can't　tell　you　what　it　isnot　now；　anyhow。　　You'll　promise　not　to　tell　any　one。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　replied　Mamie　eagerly。　　〃But　you're　not　going　to　run　away　for　good；　are　you；　Aileen？〃　she　concluded　curiously　and　gravely。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　I　don't　know　what　I'll　do　yet。　　I　only　know　that　I　want　to　get　away　for　a　while；　just　nowthat's　all。〃　　She　paused；　while　Mamie　stood　before　her；　agape。

〃Well；　of　all　things；〃　replied　her　friend。　　〃Wonders　never　cease；　do　they；　Aileen？　But　it　will　be　so　lovely　to　have　you　here。　　Mama　will　be　so　pleased。　　Of　course；　we　won't　tell　anybody　if　you　don't　want　us　to。　　Hardly　any　one　ever　comes　here；　and　if　they　do；　you　needn't　see　them。　　You　could　have　this　big　room　next　to　me。　　Oh；　wouldn't　that　be　nice？　I'm　perfectly　delighted。〃　　The　young　school…teacher's　spirits　rose　to　a　decided　height。　　〃Come　on；　why　not　tell　mama　right　now？〃

Aileen　hesitated　because　even　now　she　was　not　positive　whether　she　should　do　this；　but　finally　they　went　down　the　stairs　together；　Aileen　lingering　behind　a　little　as　they　neared　the　bottom。　　Mamie　burst　in　upon　her　mother　with：　〃Oh；　mama；　isn't　it　lovely？　Aileen's　coming　to　stay　with　us　for　a　while。　　She　doesn't　want　any　one　to　know；　and　she's　coming　right　away。〃　　Mrs。　Calligan；　who　was　holding　a　sugarbowl　in　her　hand；　turned　to　survey　her　with　a　surprised　but　smiling　face。　　She　was　immediately　curious　as　to　why　Aileen　should　want　to　comewhy　leave　home。　　On　the　other　hand；　her　feeling　for　Aileen　was　so　deep　that　she　was　greatly　and　joyously　intrigued　by　the　idea。　　And　why　not？　Was　not　the　celebrated　Edward　Butler's　daughter　a　woman　grown；　capable　of　regulating　her　own　affairs；　and　welcome；　of　course；　as　the　honored　member　of　so　important　a　family。　It　was　very　flattering　to　the　Calligans　to　think　that　she　would　want　to　come　under　any　circumstances。

〃I　don't　see　how　your　parents　can　let　you　go；　Aileen；　but　you're　certainly　welcome　here　as　long　as　you　want　to　stay；　and　that's　forever；　if　you　want　to。〃　　And　Mrs。　Calligan　beamed　on　her　welcomingly。　The　idea　of　Aileen　Butler　asking　to　be　permitted　to　come　here！　And　the　hearty；　comprehending　manner　in　which　she　said　this；　and　Mamie's　enthusiasm；　caused　Aileen　to　breathe　a　sigh　of　relief。　　The　matter　of　the　expense　of　her　presence　to　the　Calligans　came　into　her　mind。

〃I　want　to　pay　you；　of　course；〃　she　said　to　Mrs。　Calligan；　〃if　I　come。〃

〃The　very　idea；　Aileen　Butler！〃　exclaimed　Mamie。　　〃You'll　do　nothing　of　the　sort。　　You'll　come　here　and　live　with　me　as　my　guest。〃

〃No；　I　won't！　If　I　can't　pay　I　won't　come；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃You'll　have　to　let　me　do　that。〃　　She　knew　that　the　Calligans　could　not　afford　to　keep　her。

〃Well；　we'll　not　talk　about　that　now；　anyhow；〃　replied　Mrs。　Calligan。　〃You　can　come　when　you　like　and　stay　as　long　as　you　like。　　Reach　me　some　clean　napkins；　Mamie。〃　　Aileen　remained　for　luncheon；　and　left　soon　afterward　to　keep　her　suggested　appointment　with　Cowperwood；　feeling　satisfied　that　her　main　problem　had　been　solved。　　Now　her　way　was　clear。　　She　could　come　here　if　she　wanted　to。　　It　was　simply　a　matter　of　collecting　a　few　necessary　things　or　coming　without　bringing　anything。　　Perhaps　Frank　would　have　something　to　suggest。

In　the　meantime　Cowperwood　made　no　effort　to　communicate　with　Aileen　since　the　unfortunate　discovery　of　their　meeting　place；　but　had　awaited　a　letter　from　her；　which　was　not　long　in　coming。　　And；　as　usual；　it　was　a　long；　optimistic；　affectionate；　and　defiant　screed　in　which　she　related　all　that　had　occurred　to　her　and　her　present　plan　of　leaving　home。　　This　last　puzzled　and　troubled　him　not　a　little。

Aileen　in　the　bosom　of　her　family；　smart　and　well…cared　for；　was　one　thing。　　Aileen　out　in　the　world　dependent　on　him　was　another。　He　had　never　imagined　that　she　would　be　compelled　to　leave　before　he　was　prepared　to　take　her；　and　if　she　did　now；　it　might　stir　up　complications　which　would　be　anything　but　pleasant　to　contemplate。　Still　he　was　fond　of　her；　very；　and　would　do　anything　to　make　her　happy。　　He　could　support　her　in　a　very　respectable　way　even　now；　if　he　did　not　eventually　go　to　prison；　and　even　there　he　might　manage　to　make　some　shift　for　her。　　It　would　be　so　much　better；　though；　if　he　could　persuade　her　to　remain　at　home　until　he　knew　exactly　what　his　fate　was　to　be。　　He　never　doubted　but　that　some　day；　whatever　happened；　within　a　reasonable　length　of　time；　he　would　be　rid　of　all　these　complications　and　well…to…do　again；　in　which　case；　if　he　could　get　a　divorce；　he　wanted　to　marry　Aileen。　If　not；　he　would　take　her　with　him　anyhow；　and　from　this　point　of　view　it　might　be　just　as　well　as　if　she　broke　away　from　her　family　now。　　But　from　the　point　of　view　of　present　complicationsthe　search　Butler　would　makeit　might　be　dangerous。　　He　might　even　publicly　charge　him　with　abduction。　　He　therefore　decided　to　persuade　Aileen　to　stay　at　home；　drop　meetings　and　communications　for　the　time　being；　and　even　go　abroad。　　He　would　be　all　right　until　she　came　back　and　so　would　shecommon　sense　ought　to　rule　in　this　case。

With　all　this　in　mind　he　set　out　to　keep　the　appointment　she　suggested　in　her　letter；　nevertheless　feeling　it　a　little　dangerous　to　do　so。

〃Are　you　sure；〃　he　asked；　after　he　had　listened　to　her　description　of　the　Calligan　homestead；　〃that　you　would　like　it　there？　It　sounds　rather　poor　to　me。〃

〃Yes；　but　I　like　them　so　much；〃　replied　Aileen。

〃And　you're　sure　they　won't　tell　on　you？〃

〃Oh；　no；　never；　never！〃

〃Very　well；〃　he　concluded。　　〃You　know　what　you're　doing。　　I　don't　want　to　advise　you　against　your　will。　　If　I　were　you；　though；　I'd　take　your　father's　advice　and　go　away　for　a　while。　　He'll　get　over　this　then；　and　I'll　still　be　here。　　I　can　write　you　occasionally；　and　you　can　write　me。〃

The　moment　Cowperwood　said　this　Aileen's　brow　clouded。　　Her　love　for　him　was　so　great　that　there　was　something　like　a　knife　thrust　in　the　merest　hint　at　an　extended　separation。　　Her　Frank　here　and　in　troubleon　trial　maybe　and　she　away！　Never！　What　could　he　mean　by　suggesting　such　a　thing？　Could　it　be　that　he　didn't　care　for　her　as　much　as　she　did　for　him？　Did　he　really　love　her？　she　asked　herself。　　Was　he　going　to　desert　her　just　when　she　was　going　to　do　the　thing　which　would　bring　them　nearer　together？　Her　eyes　clouded；　for　she　was　terribly　hurt。

〃Why；　how　you　talk！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃You　know　I　won't　leave　Philadelphia　now。　　You　certainly　don't　expect　me　to　leave　you。〃

Cowperwood　saw　it　all　very　clearly。　　He　was　too　shrewd　not　to。　He　was　immensely　fond　of　her。　　Good　heaven；　he　thought；　he　would　not　hurt　her　feelings　for　the　world！

〃Honey；〃　he　said；　quickly；　when　he　saw　her　eyes；　〃you　don't　understand。　　I　want　you　to　do　what　you　want　to　do。　　You've　planned　this　out　in　order　to　be　with　me；　so　now　you　do　it。　　Don't　think　any　more　about　me　or　anything　I've　said。　　I　was　merely　thinking　that　it　might　make　matters　worse　for　both　of　us；　but　I　don't　believe　it　will。　　You　think　your　father　loves　you　so　much　that　after　you're　gone　he'll　change　his　mind。　　Very　good；　go。　　But　we　must　be　very　careful；　sweetyou　and　Ireally　we　must。　　This　thing　is　getting　serious。　　If　you　should　go　and　your　father　should　charge　me　with　abductiontake　the　public　into　his　confidence　and　tell　all　about　this；　it　would　be　serious　for　both　of　usas　much　for　you　as　for　me；　for　I'd　be　convicted　sure　then；　just　on　that　account；　if　nothing　else。　　And　then　what？　You'd　better　not　try　to　see　me　often　for　the　presentnot　any　oftener　than　we　can　possibly　help。　　If　we　had　used　common　sense　and　stopped　when　your　father　got　that　letter；　this　wouldn't　have　happened。　　But　now　that　it　has　happened；　we　must　be　as　wise　as　we　can；　don't　you　see？　So；　think　it　over；　and　do　what　you　think　best　and　then　write　me　and　whatever　you　do　will　be　all　right　with　medo　you　hear？〃　He　drew　her　to　him　and　kissed　her。　　〃You　haven't　any　money；　have　you？〃　he　concluded　wisely。

Aileen；