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dds　there　was　only　one　other　couple　the　Stanislau　Hoecksemas；　for　whom　the　Cowperwoods　did　not　particularly　care。　　It　was　a　dull　evening。　　Aileen　complained　of　a　headache；　and　they　went　home。

Very　shortly　afterward；　at　a　reception　given　by　their　neighbors；　the　Haatstaedts；　to　which　they　had　long　since　been　invited；　there　was　an　evident　shyness　in　regard　to　them；　quite　new　in　its　aspect；　although　the　hosts　themselves　were　still　friendly　enough。　　Previous　to　this；　when　strangers　of　prominence　had　been　present　at　an　affair　of　this　kind　they　were　glad　to　be　brought　over　to　the　Cowperwoods；　who　were　always　conspicuous　because　of　Aileen's　beauty。　　On　this　day；　for　no　reason　obvious　to　Aileen　or　Cowperwood　（although　both　suspected）；　introductions　were　almost　uniformly　refused。　　There　were　a　number　who　knew　them；　and　who　talked　casually；　but　the　general　tendency　on　the　part　of　all　was　to　steer　clear　of　them。　Cowperwood　sensed　the　difficulty　at　once。　　〃I　think　we'd　better　leave　early；〃　he　remarked　to　Aileen；　after　a　little　while。　　〃This　isn't　very　interesting。〃

They　returned　to　their　own　home；　and　Cowperwood　to　avoid　discussion　went　down…town。　　He　did　not　care　to　say　what　he　thought　of　this　as　yet。

It　was　previous　to　a　reception　given　by　the　Union　League　that　the　first　real　blow　was　struck　at　him　personally；　and　that　in　a　roundabout　way。　　Addison；　talking　to　him　at　the　Lake　National　Bank　one　morning；　had　said　quite　confidentially；　and　out　of　a　clear　sky：

〃I　want　to　tell　you　something；　Cowperwood。　　You　know　by　now　something　about　Chicago　society。　　You　also　know　where　I　stand　in　regard　to　some　things　you　told　me　about　your　past　when　I　first　met　you。　Well；　there's　a　lot　of　talk　going　around　about　you　now　in　regard　to　all　that；　and　these　two　clubs　to　which　you　and　I　belong　are　filled　with　a　lot　of　two…faced；　double…breasted　hypocrites　who've　been　stirred　up　by　this　talk　of　conspiracy　in　the　papers。　　There　are　four　or　five　stockholders　of　the　old　companies　who　are　members；　and　they　are　trying　to　drive　you　out。　　They've　looked　up　that　story　you　told　me；　and　they're　talking　about　filing　charges　with　the　house　committees　at　both　places。　　Now；　nothing　can　come　of　it　in　either　casethey've　been　talking　to　me；　but　when　this　next　reception　comes　along　you'll　know　what　to　do。　　They'll　have　to　extend　you　an　invitation；　but　they　won't　mean　it。〃　（Cowperwood　understood。）　〃This　whole　thing　is　certain　to　blow　over；　in　my　judgment；　it　will　if　I　have　anything　to　do　with　it；　but　for　the　present〃

He　stared　at　Cowperwood　in　a　friendly　way。

The　latter　smiled。　　〃I　expected　something　like　this；　Judah；　to　tell　you　the　truth；〃　he　said；　easily。　　〃I've　expected　it　all　along。　You　needn't　worry　about　me。　　I　know　all　about　this。　　I've　seen　which　way　the　wind　is　blowing；　and　I　know　how　to　trim　my　sails。〃

Addison　reached　out　and　took　his　hand。　　〃But　don't　resign；　whatever　you　do；〃　he　said；　cautiously。　　〃That　would　be　a　confession　of　weakness；　and　they　don't　expect　you　to。　　I　wouldn't　want　you　to。　Stand　your　ground。　　This　whole　thing　will　blow　over。　　They're　jealous；　I　think。〃

〃I　never　intended　to；〃　replied　Cowperwood。　　〃There's　no　legitimate　charge　against　me。　　I　know　it　will　all　blow　over　if　I'm　given　time　enough。〃　Nevertheless　he　was　chagrined　to　think　that　he　should　be　subjected　to　such　a　conversation　as　this　with　any　one。

Similarly　in　other　ways　〃society〃so　calledwas　quite　able　to　enforce　its　mandates　and　conclusions。

The　one　thing　that　Cowperwood　most　resented；　when　he　learned　of　it　much　later；　was　a　snub　direct　given　to　Aileen　at　the　door　of　the　Norrie　Simmses'；　she　called　there　only　to　be　told　that　Mrs。　Simms　was　not　at　home；　although　the　carriages　of　others　were　in　the　street。　　A　few　days　afterward　Aileen；　much　to　his　regret　and　astonishmentfor　he　did　not　then　know　the　causeactually　became　ill。

If　it　had　not　been　for　Cowperwood's　eventual　financial　triumph　over　all　oppositionthe　complete　routing　of　the　enemyin　the　struggle　for　control　in　the　gas　situationthe　situation　would　have　been　hard；　indeed。　　As　it　was；　Aileen　suffered　bitterly；　she　felt　that　the　slight　was　principally　directed　at　her；　and　would　remain　in　force。　　In　the　privacy　of　their　own　home　they　were　compelled　eventually　to　admit；　the　one　to　the　other；　that　their　house　of　cards；　resplendent　and　forceful　looking　as　it　was；　had　fallen　to　the　ground。　　Personal　confidences　between　people　so　closely　united　are　really　the　most　trying　of　all。　　Human　souls　are　constantly　trying　to　find　each　other；　and　rarely　succeeding。

〃You　know；〃　he　finally　said　to　her　once；　when　he　came　in　rather　unexpectedly　and　found　her　sick　in　bed；　her　eyes　wet；　and　her　maid　dismissed　for　the　day；　〃I　understand　what　this　is　all　about。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　Aileen；　I　rather　expected　it。　　We　have　been　going　too　fast；　you　and　I。　　We　have　been　pushing　this　matter　too　hard。　　Now；　I　don't　like　to　see　you　taking　it　this　way；　dear。　　This　battle　isn't　lost。　　Why；　I　thought　you　had　more　courage　than　this。　　Let　me　tell　you　something　which　you　don't　seem　to　remember。　Money　will　solve　all　this　sometime。　　I'm　winning　in　this　fight　right　now；　and　I'll　win　in　others。　　They　are　coming　to　me。　　Why；　dearie；　you　oughtn't　to　despair。　　You're　too　young。　　I　never　do。　You'll　win　yet。　　We　can　adjust　this　matter　right　here　in　Chicago；　and　when　we　do　we　will　pay　up　a　lot　of　scores　at　the　same　time。　We're　rich；　and　we're　going　to　be　richer。　　That　will　settle　it。　Now　put　on　a　good　face　and　look　pleased；　there　are　plenty　of　things　to　live　for　in　this　world　besides　society。　　Get　up　now　and　dress；　and　we'll　go　for　a　drive　and　dinner　down…town。　　You　have　me　yet。　Isn't　that　something？〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　sighed　Aileen；　heavily；　but　she　sank　back　again。　　She　put　her　arms　about　his　neck　and　cried；　as　much　out　of　joy　over　the　consolation　he　offered　as　over　the　loss　she　had　endured。　　〃It　was　as　much　for　you　as　for　me；〃　she　sighed。

〃I　know　that；〃　he　soothed；　〃but　don't　worry　about　it　now。　　You　will　come　out　all　right。　　We　both　will。　　Come；　get　up。〃　Nevertheless；　he　was　sorry　to　see　her　yield　so　weakly。　　It　did　not　please　him。　　He　resolved　some　day　to　have　a　grim　adjustment　with　society　on　this　score。　　Meanwhile　Aileen　was　recovering　her　spirits。　　She　was　ashamed　of　her　weakness　when　she　saw　how　forcefully　he　faced　it　all。

〃Oh；　Frank；〃　she　exclaimed；　finally；　〃you're　always　so　wonderful。　You're　such　a　darling。〃

〃Never　mind；〃　he　said；　cheerfully。　　〃If　we　don't　win　this　game　here　in　Chicago；　we　will　somewhere。〃

He　was　thinking　of　the　brilliant　manner　in　which　he　had　adjusted　his　affairs　with　the　old　gas　companies　and　Mr。　Schryhart；　and　how　thoroughly　he　would　handle　some　other　matters　when　the　time　came。




Chapter　XIV



Undercurrents

It　was　during　the　year　that　followed　their　social　repudiation；　and　the　next　and　the　next；　that　Cowperwood　achieved　a　keen　realization　of　what　it　would　mean　to　spend　the　rest　of　his　days　in　social　isolation；　or　at　least　confined　in　his　sources　of　entertainment　to　a　circle　or　element　which　constantly　reminded　him　of　the　fact　that　he　was　not　identified　with　the　best；　or；　at　least；　not　the　most　significant；　however　dull　that　might　be。　　When　he　had　first　attempted　to　introduce　Aileen　into　society　it　was　his　idea　that；　however　tame　they　might　chance　to　find　it　to　begin　with；　they　themselves；　once　admitted；　could　make　it　into　something　very　interesting　and　even　brilliant。　　Since　the　time　the　Cowperwoods　had　been　repudiated；　however；　they　had　found　it　necessary；　if　they　wished　any　social　diversion　at　all；　to　fall　back　upon　such　various　minor　elements　as　they　could　scrape　an　acquaintance　withpassing　actors　and　actresses；　to　whom　occasionally　they　could　give　a　dinner；　artists　and　singers　whom　they　could　invite　to　the　house　upon　gaining　an　introduction；　and；　of　course；　a　number　of　the　socially　unimportant；　such　as　the　Haatstaedts；　Hoecksemas；　Videras；　Baileys；　and　others　still　friendly　and　willing　to　come　in　a　casual　way。　　Cowperwood　found　it　interesting　from　time　to　time　to　invite　a　business　friend；　a　lover　of　pictures；　or　some　young　artist　to　the　house　to　dinner　or　for　the　evening；　and　on　these　occasions　Aileen　was　always　present。　　The　Addisons　called　or　invited　them　occasionally。　　But　it　was　a　dull　game；　the　more　so　since　their　complete　defeat　was　thus　all　the　more　plainly　indicated。

This　defeat；　as　Cowperwood　kept　reflecting；　was　really　not　his　fault　at　all。　　He　had　been　getting　along　well　enough　personally。　　If　Aileen　had　only　been　a　somewhat　different　type　of　woman！　Nevertheless；　he　was　in　no　way　prepared　to　desert　or　reproach　her。　She　had　clung　to　him　through　his　stormy　prison　days。　　She　had　encouraged　him　when　he　needed　encouragement。　　He　would　stand　by　her　and　see　what　could　be　done　a　little　later；　but　this　ostracism　was　a　rather　dreary　thing　to　endure。　　Besides；　personally；　he　appeared　to　be　becoming　more　and　more　interesting　to　men　and　to　women。　　The　men　friends　he　had　made　he　retainedAddison；　Bailey；　Videra；　McKibben；　Rambaud；　and　others。　　There　were　women　in　society；　a　number　of　them；　who　regretted　his　disappearance　if　not　that　of　Aileen。　　Occasionally　the　experiment　would　be　tried　of　inviting　him　without　his　wife。　　At　first　he　refused　invariably；　later　he　went　alone　occasionally　to　a　dinner…party　without　her　knowledge。

It　was　during　this　interregnum　that　Cowperwood　for　the　first　time　clearly　began　to　get　the　idea　that　there　was　a　marked　difference　between　him　and　Aileen　intellectually　and　spiritually；　and　that　while　he　might　be　in　accord　withher　in　many　waysemotionally；　physically；　idylliclythere　were；　nevertheless；　many　things　which　he　could　do　alone　which　she　could　not　doheights　to　which　he　could　rise　where　she　could　not　possibly　follow。　　Chicago　society　might　be　a　negligible　quantity；　but　he　was　now　to　contrast　her　sharply　with　the　best　of　what　the　Old　World　had　to　offer　in　the　matter　of　femininity；　for　following　their　social　expulsion　in　Chicago　and　his　financial　victory；　he　once　more　decided　to　go　abroad。　　In　Rome；　at　the　Japanese　and　Brazilian　embassies　（where；　because　of　his　wealth；　he　gained　introduction）；　and　at　the　newly　established　Italian　Court；　he　encountered　at　a　distance　charming　social　figures　of　considerable　significanceItalian　countesses；　English　ladies　of　high　degree；　talented　Am