the titan-第31部分

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nefit　of　the　doctor　and　the　servants；　he　must　look　after　Rita；　and　offer　some　sort　of　passing　explanation　to　Sohlherg。

〃Here；〃　he　called　to　a　passing　servant；　〃shut　that　door　and　watch　it。　　If　Mrs。　Cowperwood　comes　out　call　me　instantly。〃




Chapter　XIX



〃Hell　Hath　No　Fury〃

Rita　was　not　dead　by　any　meansonly　seriously　bruised；　scratched；　and　choked。　　Her　scalp　was　cut　in　one　place。　　Aileen　had　repeatedly　beaten　her　head　on　the　floor；　and　this　might　have　resulted　seriously　if　Cowperwood　had　not　entered　as　quickly　as　he　had。　　Sohlberg　for　the　momentfor　some　little　time；　in　factwas　under　the　impression　that　Aileen　had　truly　lost　her　mind；　had　suddenly　gone　crazy；　and　that　those　shameless　charges　he　had　heard　her　making　were　the　emanations　of　a　disordered　brain。　　Nevertheless　the　things　she　had　said　haunted　him。　　He　was　in　a　bad　state　himselfalmost　a　subject　for　the　doctor。　　His　lips　were　bluish；　his　cheeks　blanched。　　Rita　had　been　carried　into　an　adjoining　bedroom　and　laid　upon　a　bed；　cold　water；　ointments；　a　bottle　of　arnica　had　been　procured；　and　when　Cowperwood　appeared　she　was　conscious　and　somewhat　better。　　But　she　was　still　very　weak　and　smarting　from　her　wounds；　both　mental　and　physical。　　When　the　doctor　arrived　he　had　been　told　that　a　lady；　a　guest；　had　fallen　down…stairs；　when　Cowperwood　came　in　the　physician　was　dressing　her　wounds。

As　soon　as　he　had　gone　Cowperwood　said　to　the　maid　in　attendance；　〃Go　get　me　some　hot　water。〃　As　the　latter　disappeared　he　bent　over　and　kissed　Rita's　bruised　lips；　putting　his　finger　to　his　own　in　warning　sign。

Rita；〃　he　asked；　softly；　〃are　you　fully　conscious？〃

She　nodded　weakly。

〃Listen；　then；〃　he　said；　bending　over　and　speaking　slowly。　　〃Listen　carefully。　　Pay　strict　attention　to　what　I'm　saying。　　You　must　understand　every　word；　and　do　as　I　tell　you。　　You　are　not　seriously　injured。　　You　will　be　all　right。　　This　will　blow　over。　　I　have　sent　for　another　doctor　to　call　on　you　at　your　studio。　　Your　husband　has　gone　for　some　fresh　clothes。　　He　will　come　back　in　a　little　while。　　My　carriage　will　take　you　home　when　you　are　a　little　stronger。　　You　mustn't　worry。　　Everything　will　be　all　right；　but　you　must　deny　everything；　do　you　hear？　Everything！　In　so　far　as　you　know；　Mrs。　Cowperwood　is　insane。　　I　will　talk　to　your　husband　to…morrow。　　I　will　send　you　a　trained　nurse。　　Meantime　you　must　be　careful　of　what　you　say　and　how　you　say　it。　　Be　perfectly　calm。　Don't　worry。　　You　are　perfectly　safe　here；　and　you　will　be　there。　Mrs。　Cowperwood　will　not　trouble　you　any　more。　　I　will　see　to　that。　I　am　so　sorry；　but　I　love　you。　　I　am　near　you　all　the　while。　　You　must　not　let　this　make　any　difference。　　You　will　not　see　her　any　more。〃

Still　he　knew　that　it　would　make　a　difference。

Reassured　as　to　Rita's　condition；　he　went　back　to　Aileen's　room　to　plead　with　her　againto　soothe　her　if　he　could。　　He　found　her　up　and　dressing；　a　new　thought　and　determination　in　her　mind。　　Since　she　had　thrown　herself　on　the　bed　sobbing　and　groaning；　her　mood　had　gradually　changed；　she　began　to　reason　that　if　she　could　not　dominate　him；　could　not　make　him　properly　sorry；　she　had　better　leave。　　It　was　evident；　she　thought；　that　he　did　not　love　her　any　more；　seeing　that　his　anxiety　to　protect　Rita　had　been　so　great；　his　brutality　in　restraining　her　so　marked；　and　yet　she　did　not　want　to　believe　that　this　was　so。　　He　had　been　so　wonderful　to　her　in　times　past。　　She　had　not　given　up　all　hope　of　winning　a　victory　over　him；　and　these　other　womenshe　loved　him　too　muchbut　only　a　separation　would　do　it。　　That　might　bring　him　to　his　senses。　　She　would　get　up；　dress；　and　go　down…town　to　a　hotel。　　He　should　not　see　her　any　more　unless　he　followed　her。　　She　was　satisfied　that　she　had　broken　up　the　liaison　with　Rita　Sohlberg；　anyway　for　the　present；　and　as　for　Antoinette　Nowak；　she　would　attend　to　her　later。　　Her　brain　and　her　heart　ached。　　She　was　so　full　of　woe　and　rage；　alternating；　that　she　could　not　cry　any　more　now。　　She　stood　before　her　mirror　trying　with　trembling　fingers　to　do　over　her　toilet　and　adjust　a　street…costume。　　Cowperwood　was　disturbed；　nonplussed　at　this　unexpected　sight。

〃Aileen；〃　he　said；　finally；　coming　up　behind　her；　〃can't　you　and　I　talk　this　thing　over　peacefully　now？　You　don't　want　to　do　anything　that　you'll　be　sorry　for。　　I　don't　want　you　to。　　I'm　sorry。　　You　don't　really　believe　that　I've　ceased　to　love　you；　do　you？　I　haven't；　you　know。　　This　thing　isn't　as　bad　as　it　looks。　　I　should　think　you　would　have　a　little　more　sympathy　with　me　after　all　we　have　been　through　together。　　You　haven't　any　real　evidence　of　wrong…doing　on　which　to　base　any　such　outburst　as　this。〃

〃Oh；　haven't　I？〃　she　exclaimed；　turning　from　the　mirror；　where；　sorrowfully　and　bitterly；　she　was　smoothing　her　red…gold　hair。　　Her　cheeks　were　flushed；　her　eyes　red。　　Just　now　she　seemed　as　remarkable　to　him　as　she　had　seemed　that　first　day；　years　ago；　when　in　a　red　cape　he　had　seen　her；　a　girl　of　sixteen；　running　up　the　steps　of　her　father's　house　in　Philadelphia。　　She　was　so　wonderful　then。　　It　mellowed　his　mood　toward　her。

〃That's　all　you　know　about　it；　you　liar！〃　she　declared。　　〃It's　little　you　know　what　I　know。　　I　haven't　had　detectives　on　your　trail　for　weeks　for　nothing。　　You　sneak！　You'd　like　to　smooth　around　now　and　find　out　what　I　know。　　Well；　I　know　enough；　let　me　tell　you　that。　　You　won't　fool　me　any　longer　with　your　Rita　Sohlbergs　and　your　Antoinette　Nowaks　and　your　apartments　and　your　houses　of　assignation。　　I　know　what　you　are；　you　brute！　And　after　all　your　protestations　of　love　for　me！　Ugh！〃

She　turned　fiercely　to　her　task　while　Cowperwood　stared　at　her；　touched　by　her　passion；　moved　by　her　force。　　It　was　fine　to　see　what　a　dramatic　animal　she　wasreally　worthy　of　him　in　many　ways。

〃Aileen；〃　he　said；　softly；　hoping　still　to　ingratiate　himself　by　degrees；〃　please　don't　be　so　bitter　toward　me。　　Haven't　you　any　understanding　of　how　life　worksany　sympathy　with　it？　I　thought　you　were　more　generous；　more　tender。　　I'm　not　so　bad。〃

He　eyed　her　thoughtfully；　tenderly；　hoping　to　move　her　through　her　love　for　him。

〃Sympathy！　Sympathy！〃　She　turned　on　him　blazing。　　〃A　lot　you　know　about　sympathy！　I　suppose　I　didn't　give　you　any　sympathy　when　you　were　in　the　penitentiary　in　Philadelphia；　did　I？　A　lot　of　good　it　did　medidn't　it？　Sympathy！　Bah！　To　have　you　come　out　here　to　Chicago　and　take　up　with　a　lot　of　prostitutescheap　stenographers　and　wives　of　musicians！　You　have　given　me　a　lot　of　sympathy；　haven't　you？with　that　woman　lying　in　the　next　room　to　prove　it！〃

She　smoothed　her　lithe　waist　and　shook　her　shoulders　preparatory　to　putting　on　a　hat　and　adjusting　her　wrap。　　She　proposed　to　go　just　as　she　was；　and　send　Fadette　back　for　all　her　belongings。

〃Aileen；〃　he　pleaded；　determined　to　have　his　way；　〃I　think　you're　very　foolish。　　Really　I　do。　　There　is　no　occasion　for　all　thisnone　in　the　world。　　Here　you　are　talking　at　the　top　of　your　voice；　scandalizing　the　whole　neighborhood；　fighting；　leaving　the　house。　It's　abominable。　　I　don't　want　you　to　do　it。　　You　love　me　yet；　don't　you？　You　know　you　do。　　I　know　you　don't　mean　all　you　say。　　You　can't。　　You　really　don't　believe　that　I　have　ceased　to　love　you；　do　you；　Aileen？〃

〃Love！〃　fired　Aileen。　　〃A　lot　you　know　about　love！　A　lot　you　have　ever　loved　anybody；　you　brute！　I　know　how　you　love。　　I　thought　you　loved　me　once。　　Humph！　I　see　how　you　loved　mejust　as　you've　loved　fifty　other　women；　as　you　love　that　snippy　little　Rita　Sohlberg　in　the　next　roomthe　cat！the　dirty　little　beast！the　way　you　love　Antoinette　Nowaka　cheap　stenographer！　Bah！　You　don't　know　what　the　word　means。〃　And　yet　her　voice　trailed　off　into　a　kind　of　sob　and　her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　hot；　angry；　aching。　　Cowperwood　saw　them　and　came　over；　hoping　in　some　way　to　take　advantage　of　them。　　He　was　truly　sorry　nowanxious　to　make　her　feel　tender　toward　him　once　more。

〃Aileen；〃　he　pleaded；　〃please　don't　be　so　bitter。　　You　shouldn't　be　so　hard　on　me。　　I'm　not　so　bad。　　Aren't　you　going　to　be　reasonable？〃　He　put　out　a　smoothing　hand；　but　she　jumped　away。

〃Don't　you　touch　me；　you　brute！〃　she　exclaimed；　angrily。　　〃Don't　you　lay　a　hand　on　me。　　I　don't　want　you　to　come　near　me。　　I'll　not　live　with　you。　　I'll　not　stay　in　the　same　house　with　you　and　your　mistresses。　　Go　and　live　with　your　dear；　darling　Rita　on　the　North　Side　if　you　want　to。　　I　don't　care。　　I　suppose　you've　been　in　the　next　room　comforting　herthe　beast！　I　wish　I　had　killed　herOh；　God！〃　She　tore　at　her　throat　in　a　violent　rage；　trying　to　adjust　a　button。

Cowperwood　was　literally　astonished。　　Never　had　he　seen　such　an　outburst　as　this。　　He　had　not　believed　Aileen　to　be　capable　of　it。　He　could　not　help　admiring　her。　　Nevertheless　he　resented　the　brutality　of　her　assault　on　Rita　and　on　his　own　promiscuous　tendency；　and　this　feeling　vented　itself　in　one　last　unfortunate　remark。

〃I　wouldn't　be　so　hard　on　mistresses　if　I　were　you；　Aileen；〃　he　ventured；　pleadingly。　　〃I　should　have　thought　your　own　experience　would　have〃

He　paused；　for　he　saw　on　the　instant　that　he　was　making　a　grave　mistake。　　This　reference　to　her　past　as　a　mistress　was　crucial。　　On　the　instant　she　straightened　up；　and　her　eyes　filled　with　a　great　pain。　　〃So　that's　the　way　you　talk　to　me；　is　it？〃　she　asked。　〃I　knew　it！　I　knew　it！　I　knew　it　would　come！〃

She　turned　to　a　tall　chest　of　drawers　as　high　as　her　breasts；　laden　with　silverware；　jewel…boxes；　brushes　and　combs；　and；　putting　her　arms　down；　she　laid　her　head　upon　them　and　began　to　cry。　　This　was　the　last　straw。　　He　was　throwing　up　her　lawless　girlhood　love　to　her　as　an　offense。

〃Oh！〃　she　sobbed；　and　shook　in　a　hopeless；　wretched　paroxysm。　Cowperwood　came　over　quickly。　　He　was　distressed；　pained。　　〃I　didn't　mean　that；　Aileen；〃　he　explained。　　〃I　didn't　mean　it　in　that　waynot　at　all。　　You　rather　drew　that　out　of　me；　but　I　didn't　mean　it　as　a　reproach。　　You　were　my　mistress；　but　good　Lord；　I　never　loved　you　any　the　less　for　thatrather　more。　　You　know　I　did。　　I　want　you　to　believe　that；　it's　true。　　These　other　matters　haven't　been　so　important　to　methey　really　haven't〃

He　looked　at　her　helplessly　as　she　moved　away　to　avoid　him；　he　was　distressed；　nonplussed；　immensely　sorry。　　As　he　walked　to　the　center　of　the　room　again