the titan-第49部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　Cowperwood　number　one；　though　she　could　scarcely　believe　that；　for　Mrs。　Lillian　Cowperwood　was　so　unsuited　to　himbut　this　repayment！　If　she　had　been　at　all　superstitious　or　religious；　and　had　known　her　Bible；　which　she　didn't；　she　might　have　quoted　to　herself　that　very　fatalistic　statement　of　the　New　Testament；　〃With　what　measure　ye　mete　it　shall　be　measured　unto　you　again。〃

The　truth　was　that　Cowperwood's　continued　propensity　to　rove　at　liberty　among　the　fair　sex　could　not　in　the　long　run　fail　of　some　results　of　an　unsatisfactory　character。　　Coincident　with　the　disappearance　of　Stephanie　Platow；　he　launched　upon　a　variety　of　episodes；　the　charming　daughter　of　so　worthy　a　man　as　Editor　Haguenin；　his　sincerest　and　most　sympathetic　journalistic　supporter；　and　the　daughter　of　Aymar　Cochrane；　falling　victims；　among　others；　to　what　many　would　have　called　his　wiles。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　in　most　cases　he　was　as　much　sinned　against　as　sinning；　since　the　provocation　was　as　much　offered　as　given。

The　manner　in　which　he　came　to　get　in　with　Cecily　Haguenin　was　simple　enough。　　Being　an　old　friend　of　the　family；　and　a　frequent　visitor　at　her　father's　house；　he　found　this　particular　daughter　of　desire　an　easy　victim。　　She　was　a　vigorous　blonde　creature　of　twenty　at　this　time；　very　full　and　plump；　with　large；　violet　eyes；　and　with　considerable　alertness　of　minda　sort　of　doll　girl　with　whom　Cowperwood　found　it　pleasant　to　amuse　himself。　　A　playful　gamboling　relationship　had　existed　between　them　when　she　was　a　mere　child　attending　school；　and　had　continued　through　her　college　years　whenever　she　happened　to　be　at　home　on　a　vacation。　　In　these　very　latest　days　when　Cowperwood　on　occasion　sat　in　the　Haguenin　library　consulting　with　the　journalist…publisher　concerning　certain　moves　which　he　wished　to　have　put　right　before　the　public　he　saw　considerably　more　of　Cecily。　　One　night；　when　her　father　had　gone　out　to　look　up　the　previous　action　of　the　city　council　in　connection　with　some　matter　of　franchises；　a　series　of　more　or　less　sympathetic　and　understanding　glances　suddenly　culminated　in　Cecily's　playfully　waving　a　new　novel；　which　she　happened　to　have　in　her　hand；　in　Cowperwood's　face；　and　he；　in　reply；　laid　hold　caressingly　of　her　arms。

〃You　can't　stop　me　so　easily；〃　she　observed；　banteringly。

〃Oh　yes；　I　can；〃　he　replied。

A　slight　struggle　ensued；　in　which　he；　with　her　semiwilful　connivance；　managed　to　manoeuver　her　into　his　arms；　her　head　backward　against　his　shoulder。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　looking　up　at　him　with　a　semi…nervous；　semi…provocative　glance；　〃now　what？　You'll　just　have　to　let　me　go。〃

〃Not　very　soon；　though。〃

〃Oh　yes；　you　will。　　My　father　will　be　here　in　a　moment。〃

〃Well；　not　until　then；　anyhow。　　You're　getting　to　be　the　sweetest　girl。〃

She　did　not　resist；　but　remained　gazing　half　nervously；　half　dreamily　at　him；　whereupon　he　smoothed　her　cheek；　and　then　kissed　her。　　Her　father's　returning　step　put　an　end　to　this；　but　from　this　point　on　ascent　or　descent　to　a　perfect　understanding　was　easily　made。

In　the　matter　of　Florence　Cochrane；　the　daughter　of　Aymar　Cochrane；　the　president　of　the　Chicago　West　Division　Companya　second　affair　of　the　periodthe　approach　was　only　slightly　different；　the　result　the　same。　　This　girl；　to　furnish　only　a　brief　impression；　was　a　blonde　of　a　different　type　from　Cecilydelicate；　picturesque；　dreamy。　　She　was　mildly　intellectual　at　this　time；　engaged　in　reading　Marlowe　and　Jonson；　and　Cowperwood；　busy　in　the　matter　of　the　West　Chicago　Street　Railway；　and　conferring　with　her　father；　was　conceived　by　her　as　a　great　personage　of　the　Elizabethan　order。　In　a　tentative　way　she　was　in　revolt　against　an　apple…pie　order　of　existence　which　was　being　forced　upon　her。　　Cowperwood　recognized　the　mood；　trifled　with　her　spiritedly；　looked　into　her　eyes；　and　found　the　response　he　wanted。　　Neither　old　Aymar　Cochrane　nor　his　impeccably　respectable　wife　ever　discovered。

Subsequently　Aileen；　reflecting　upon　these　latest　developments；　was　from　one　point　of　view　actually　pleased　or　eased。　　There　is　always　safety　in　numbers；　and　she　felt　that　if　Cowperwood　were　going　to　go　on　like　this　it　would　not　be　possible　for　him　in　the　long　run　to　take　a　definite　interest　in　any　one；　and　so；　all　things　considered；　and　other　things　being　equal；　he　would　probably　just　as　leave　remain　married　to　her　as　not。

But　what　a　comment；　she　could　not　help　reflecting；　on　her　own　charms！　What　an　end　to　an　ideal　union　that　had　seemed　destined　to　last　all　their　days！　She；　Aileen　Butler；　who　in　her　youth　had　deemed　herself　the　peer　of　any　girl　in　charm；　force；　beauty；　to　be　shoved　aside　thus　early　in　her　lifeshe　was　only　fortyby　the　younger　generation。　　And　such　silly　snips　as　they　wereStephanie　Platow！　and　Cecily　Haguenin！　and　Florence　Cochrane；　in　all　likelihood　another　pasty…faced　beginner！　And　here　she　wasvigorous；　resplendent；　smooth　of　face　and　body；　her　forehead；　chin；　neck；　eyes　without　a　wrinkle；　her　hair　a　rich　golden　reddish　glow；　her　step　springing；　her　weight　no　more　than　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　for　her　very　normal　height；　with　all　the　advantages　of　a　complete　toilet　cabinet；　jewels；　clothing；　taste；　and　skill　in　material　selectionbeing　elbowed　out　by　these　upstarts。　　It　was　almost　unbelievable。　　It　was　so　unfair。　　Life　was　so　cruel；　Cowperwood　so　temperamentally　unbalanced。　　Dear　God！　to　think　that　this　should　be　true！　Why　should　he　not　love　her？　She　studied　her　beauty　in　the　mirror　from　time　to　time；　and　raged　and　raged。　　Why　was　her　body　not　sufficient　for　him？　Why　should　he　deem　any　one　more　beautiful？　Why　should　he　not　be　true　to　his　reiterated　protestations　that　he　cared　for　her？　Other　men　were　true　to　other　women。　　Her　father　had　been　faithful　to　her　mother。　　At　the　thought　of　her　own　father　and　his　opinion　of　her　conduct　she　winced；　but　it　did　not　change　her　point　of　view　as　to　her　present　rights。　　See　her　hair！　See　her　eyes！　See　her　smooth；　resplendent　arms！　Why　should　Cowperwood　not　love　her？　Why；　indeed？

One　night；　shortly　afterward；　she　was　sitting　in　her　boudoir　reading；　waiting　for　him　to　come　home；　when　the　telephone…bell　sounded　and　he　informed　her　that　he　was　compelled　to　remain　at　the　office　late。　　Afterward　he　said　he　might　be　obliged　to　run　on　to　Pittsburg　for　thirty…six　hours　or　thereabouts；　but　he　would　surely　be　back　on　the　third　day；　counting　the　present　as　one。　　Aileen　was　chagrined。　　Her　voice　showed　it。　　They　had　been　scheduled　to　go　to　dinner　with　the　Hoecksemas；　and　afterward　to　the　theater。　Cowperwood　suggested　that　she　should　go　alone；　but　Aileen　declined　rather　sharply；　she　hung　up　the　receiver　without　even　the　pretense　of　a　good…by。　　And　then　at　ten　o'clock　he　telephoned　again；　saying　that　he　had　changed　his　mind；　and　that　if　she　were　interested　to　go　anywherea　later　supper；　or　the　likeshe　should　dress；　otherwise　he　would　come　home　expecting　to　remain。

Aileen　immediately　concluded　that　some　scheme　he　had　had　to　amuse　himself　had　fallen　through。　　Having　spoiled　her　evening；　he　was　coming　home　to　make　as　much　hay　as　possible　out　of　this　bit　of　sunshine。　　This　infuriated　her。　　The　whole　business　of　uncertainty　in　the　matter　of　his　affections　was　telling　on　her　nerves。　　A　storm　was　in　order；　and　it　had　come。　　He　came　bustling　in　a　little　later；　slipped　his　arms　around　her　as　she　came　forward　and　kissed　her　on　the　mouth。　　He　smoothed　her　arms　in　a　make…believe　and　yet　tender　way；　and　patted　her　shoulders。　　Seeing　her　frown；　he　inquired；　〃What's　troubling　Babykins？〃

〃Oh；　nothing　more　than　usual；〃　replied　Aileen；　irritably。　　〃Let's　not　talk　about　that。　　Have　you　had　your　dinner？〃

〃Yes；　we　had　it　brought　in。〃　He　was　referring　to　McKenty；　Addison；　and　himself；　and　the　statement　was　true。　　Being　in　an　honest　position　for　once；　he　felt　called　upon　to　justify　himself　a　little。　〃It　couldn't　be　avoided　to…night。　　I'm　sorry　that　this　business　takes　up　so　much　of　my　time；　but　I'll　get　out　of　it　some　day　soon。　Things　are　bound　to　ease　up。〃

Aileen　withdrew　from　his　embrace　and　went　to　her　dressing…table。　　A　glance　showed　her　that　her　hair　was　slightly　awry；　and　she　smoothed　it　into　place。　　She　looked　at　her　chin；　and　then　went　back　to　her　bookrather　sulkily；　he　thought。

〃Now；　Aileen；　what's　the　trouble？〃　he　inquired。　　〃Aren't　you　glad　to　have　me　up　here？　I　know　you　have　had　a　pretty　rough　road　of　it　of　late；　but　aren't　you　willing　to　let　bygones　be　bygones　and　trust　to　the　future　a　little？〃

〃The　future！　The　future！　Don't　talk　to　me　about　the　future。　　It's　little　enough　it　holds　in　store　for　me；〃　she　replied。

Cowperwood　saw　that　she　was　verging　on　an　emotional　storm；　but　he　trusted　to　his　powers　of　persuasion；　and　her　basic　affection　for　him；　to　soothe　and　quell　her。

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　act　this　way；　pet；〃　he　went　on。　　〃You　know　I　have　always　cared　for　you。　　You　know　I　always　shall。　　I'll　admit　that　there　are　a　lot　of　little　things　which　interfere　with　my　being　at　home　as　much　as　I　would　like　at　present；　but　that　doesn't　alter　the　fact　that　my　feeling　is　the　same。　　I　should　think　you　could　see　that。〃

〃Feeling！　Feeling！〃　taunted　Aileen；　suddenly。　　〃Yes；　I　know　how　much　feeling　you　have。　　You　have　feeling　enough　to　give　other　women　sets　of　jade　and　jewels；　and　to　run　around　with　every　silly　little　snip　you　meet。　　You　needn't　come　home　here　at　ten　o'clock；　when　you　can't　go　anywhere　else；　and　talk　about　feeling　for　me。　　I　know　how　much　feeling　you　have。　　Pshaw！〃

She　flung　herself　irritably　back　in　her　chair　and　opened　her　book。　Cowperwood　gazed　at　her　solemnly；　for　this　thrust　in　regard　to　Stephanie　was　a　revelation。　　This　woman　business　could　grow　peculiarly　exasperating　at　times。

〃What　do　you　mean；　anyhow？〃　he　observed；　cautiously　and　with　much　seeming　candor。　　〃I　haven't　given　any　jade　or　jewels　to　any　one；　nor　have　I　been　running　around　with　any　'little　snips；'　as　you　call　them。　　I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about；　Aileen。〃

〃Oh；　Frank；〃　commented　Aileen；　wearily　and　incredulously；　〃you　lie　so！　Why　do　you　stand　there　and　lie？　I'm　so　tired　of　it；　I'm　so　sick　of　it　all。　　How　should　the　servants　know　of　so　many　things　to　talk　of　here　if　they　weren't　true？　I　didn't　invite　Mrs。　Platow　to　come　and　ask　me　why　you　had　given　her　daughter　a　set　of　jade。　　I　know　why　you　lie；　y