the financier-第30节

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d　she　chided　her　maid；　Kathleen　Kelly。　　She　studied　how　to　arrange　her　hair；　and　there　was　much　ado　about　that　before　it　was　finally　adjusted。　　She　penciled　her　eyebrows　and　plucked　at　the　hair　about　her　forehead　to　make　it　loose　and　shadowy。　　She　cut　black　court…plaster　with　her　nail…shears　and　tried　different…sized　pieces　in　different　places。　　Finally；　she　found　one　size　and　one　place　that　suited　her。　　She　turned　her　head　from　side　to　side；　looking　at　the　combined　effect　of　her　hair；　her　penciled　brows；　her　dimpled　shoulder；　and　the　black　beauty…spot。　　If　some　one　man　could　see　her　as　she　was　now；　some　time！　Which　man？　That　thought　scurried　back　like　a　frightened　rat　into　its　hole。　　She　was；　for　all　her　strength；　afraid　of　the　thought　of　the　onethe　very　deadlythe　man。

And　then　she　came　to　the　matter　of　a　train…gown。　　Kathleen　laid　out　five；　for　Aileen　had　come　into　the　joy　and　honor　of　these　things　recently；　and　she　had；　with　the　permission　of　her　mother　and　father；　indulged　herself　to　the　full。　　She　studied　a　golden…yellow　silk；　with　cream…lace　shoulder…straps；　and　some　gussets　of　garnet　beads　in　the　train　that　shimmered　delightfully；　but　set　it　aside。　She　considered　favorably　a　black…and…white　striped　silk　of　odd　gray　effect；　and；　though　she　was　sorely　tempted　to　wear　it；　finally　let　it　go。　　There　was　a　maroon　dress；　with　basque　and　overskirt　over　white　silk；　a　rich　cream…colored　satin；　and　then　this　black　sequined　gown；　which　she　finally　chose。　　She　tried　on　the　cream…colored　satin　first；　however；　being　in　much　doubt　about　it；　but　her　penciled　eyes　and　beauty…spot　did　not　seem　to　harmonize　with　it。　　Then　she　put　on　the　black　silk　with　its　glistening　crimsoned…silver　sequins；　and；　lo；　it　touched　her。　She　liked　its　coquettish　drapery　of　tulle　and　silver　about　the　hips。　　The　〃overskirt；〃　which　was　at　that　time　just　coming　into　fashion；　though　avoided　by　the　more　conservative；　had　been　adopted　by　Aileen　with　enthusiasm。　　She　thrilled　a　little　at　the　rustle　of　this　black　dress；　and　thrust　her　chin　and　nose　forward　to　make　it　set　right。　　Then　after　having　Kathleen　tighten　her　corsets　a　little　more；　she　gathered　the　train　over　her　arm　by　its　train…band　and　looked　again。　　Something　was　wanting。　　Oh；　yes；　her　neck！　What　to　wearred　coral？　It　did　not　look　right。　　A　string　of　pearls？　That　would　not　do　either。　　There　was　a　necklace　made　of　small　cameos　set　in　silver　which　her　mother　had　purchased；　and　another　of　diamonds　which　belonged　to　her　mother；　but　they　were　not　right。　　Finally；　her　jet　necklet；　which　she　did　not　value　very　highly；　came　into　her　mind；　and；　oh；　how　lovely　it　looked！　How　soft　and　smooth　and　glistening　her　chin　looked　above　it。　　She　caressed　her　neck　affectionately；　called　for　her　black　lace　mantilla；　her　long；　black　silk　dolman　lined　with　red；　and　she　was　ready。

The　ball…room；　as　she　entered；　was　lovely　enough。　　The　young　men　and　young　women　she　saw　there　were　interesting；　and　she　was　not　wanting　for　admirers。　　The　most　aggressive　of　these　youthsthe　most　forcefulrecognized　in　this　maiden　a　fillip　to　life；　a　sting　to　existence。　　She　was　as　a　honey…jar　surrounded　by　too　hungry　flies。

But　it　occurred　to　her；　as　her　dance…list　was　filling　up；　that　there　was　not　much　left　for　Mr。　Cowperwood；　if　he　should　care　to　dance　with　her。

Cowperwood　was　meditating；　as　he　received　the　last　of　the　guests；　on　the　subtlety　of　this　matter　of　the　sex　arrangement　of　life。　Two　sexes。　　He　was　not　at　all　sure　that　there　was　any　law　governing　them。　　By　comparison　now　with　Aileen　Butler；　his　wife　looked　rather　dull；　quite　too　old；　and　when　he　was　ten　years　older　she　would　look　very　much　older。

〃Oh；　yes；　Ellsworth　had　made　quite　an　attractive　arrangement　out　of　these　two　housesbetter　than　we　ever　thought　he　could　do。〃　He　was　talking　to　Henry　Hale　Sanderson；　a　young　banker。　　〃He　had　the　advantage　of　combining　two　into　one；　and　I　think　he's　done　more　with　my　little　one；　considering　the　limitations　of　space；　than　he　has　with　this　big　one。　　Father's　has　the　advantage　of　size。　I　tell　the　old　gentleman　he's　simply　built　a　lean…to　for　me。〃

His　father　and　a　number　of　his　cronies　were　over　in　the　dining…room　of　his　grand　home；　glad　to　get　away　from　the　crowd。　　He　would　have　to　stay；　and；　besides；　he　wanted　to。　　Had　he　better　dance　with　Aileen？　His　wife　cared　little　for　dancing；　but　he　would　have　to　dance　with　her　at　least　once。　　There　was　Mrs。　Seneca　Davis　smiling　at　him；　and　Aileen。　　By　George；　how　wonderful！　What　a　girl！

〃I　suppose　your　dance…list　is　full　to　overflowing。　　Let　me　see。〃　He　was　standing　before　her　and　she　was　holding　out　the　little　blue…bordered；　gold…monogrammed　booklet。　　An　orchestra　was　playing　in　the　music　room。　　The　dance　would　begin　shortly。　　There　were　delicately　constructed；　gold…tinted　chairs　about　the　walls　and　behind　palms。

He　looked　down　into　her　eyesthose　excited；　life…loving；　eager　eyes。

〃You're　quite　full　up。　　Let　me　see。　　Nine；　ten；　eleven。　　Well；　that　will　be　enough。　　I　don't　suppose　I　shall　want　to　dance　very　much。　　It's　nice　to　be　popular。〃

〃I'm　not　sure　about　number　three。　　I　think　that's　a　mistake。　　You　might　have　that　if　you　wish。〃

She　was　falsifying。

〃It　doesn't　matter　so　much　about　him；　does　it？〃

His　cheeks　flushed　a　little　as　he　said　this。

〃No。〃

Her　own　flamed。

〃Well；　I'll　see　where　you　are　when　it's　called。　　You're　darling。　I'm　afraid　of　you。〃　　He　shot　a　level；　interpretive　glance　into　her　eyes；　then　left。　　Aileen's　bosom　heaved。　　It　was　hard　to　breathe　sometimes　in　this　warm　air。

While　he　was　dancing　first　with　Mrs。　Cowperwood　and　later　with　Mrs。　Seneca　Davis；　and　still　later　with　Mrs。　Martyn　Walker；　Cowperwood　had　occasion　to　look　at　Aileen　often；　and　each　time　that　he　did　so　there　swept　over　him　a　sense　of　great　vigor　there；　of　beautiful　if　raw；　dynamic　energy　that　to　him　was　irresistible　and　especially　so　to…night。　　She　was　so　young。　　She　was　beautiful；　this　girl；　and　in　spite　of　his　wife's　repeated　derogatory　comments　he　felt　that　she　was　nearer　to　his　clear；　aggressive；　unblinking　attitude　than　any　one　whom　he　had　yet　seen　in　the　form　of　woman。　She　was　unsophisticated；　in　a　way；　that　was　plain；　and　yet　in　another　way　it　would　take　so　little　to　make　her　understand　so　much。　Largeness　was　the　sense　he　had　of　hernot　physically；　though　she　was　nearly　as　tall　as　himselfbut　emotionally。　　She　seemed　so　intensely　alive。　　She　passed　close　to　him　a　number　of　times；　her　eyes　wide　and　smiling；　her　lips　parted；　her　teeth　agleam；　and　he　felt　a　stirring　of　sympathy　and　companionship　for　her　which　he　had　not　previously　experienced。　　She　was　lovely；　all　of　her　delightful。

〃I'm　wondering　if　that　dance　is　open　now；〃　he　said　to　her　as　he　drew　near　toward　the　beginning　of　the　third　set。　　She　was　seated　with　her　latest　admirer　in　a　far　corner　of　the　general　living…room；　a　clear　floor　now　waxed　to　perfection。　　A　few　palms　here　and　there　made　embrasured　parapets　of　green。　　〃I　hope　you'll　excuse　me；〃　he　added；　deferentially；　to　her　companion。

〃Surely；〃　the　latter　replied；　rising。

〃Yes；　indeed；〃　she　replied。　　〃And　you'd　better　stay　here　with　me。　It's　going　to　begin　soon。　　You　won't　mind？〃　she　added；　giving　her　companion　a　radiant　smile。

〃Not　at　all。　　I've　had　a　lovely　waltz。〃　　He　strolled　off。

Cowperwood　sat　down。　　〃That's　young　Ledoux；　isn't　it？　I　thought　so。　　I　saw　you　dancing。　　You　like　it；　don't　you？〃

〃I'm　crazy　about　it。〃

〃Well；　I　can't　say　that　myself。　　It's　fascinating；　though。　　Your　partner　makes　such　a　difference。　　Mrs。　Cowperwood　doesn't　like　it　as　much　as　I　do。〃

His　mention　of　Lillian　made　Aileen　think　of　her　in　a　faintly　derogative　way　for　a　moment。

〃I　think　you　dance　very　well。　　I　watched　you；　too。〃　　She　questioned　afterwards　whether　she　should　have　said　this。　　It　sounded　most　forward　nowalmost　brazen。

〃Oh；　did　you？〃

〃Yes。〃

He　was　a　little　keyed　up　because　of　herslightly　cloudy　in　his　thoughtsbecause　she　was　generating　a　problem　in　his　life；　or　would　if　he　let　her；　and　so　his　talk　was　a　little　tame。　　He　was　thinking　of　something　to　saysome　words　which　would　bring　them　a　little　nearer　together。　　But　for　the　moment　he　could　not。　　Truth　to　tell；　he　wanted　to　say　a　great　deal。

〃Well；　that　was　nice　of　you；〃　he　added；　after　a　moment。　　〃What　made　you　do　it？〃

He　turned　with　a　mock　air　of　inquiry。　　The　music　was　beginning　again。　　The　dancers　were　rising。　　He　arose。

He　had　not　intended　to　give　this　particular　remark　a　serious　turn；　but；　now　that　she　was　so　near　him；　he　looked　into　her　eyes　steadily　but　with　a　soft　appeal　and　said；　〃Yes；　why？〃

They　had　come　out　from　behind　the　palms。　　He　had　put　his　hand　to　her　waist。　　His　right　arm　held　her　left　extended　arm　to　arm；　palm　to　palm。　　Her　right　hand　was　on　his　shoulder；　and　she　was　close　to　him；　looking　into　his　eyes。　　As　they　began　the　gay　undulations　of　the　waltz　she　looked　away　and　then　down　without　answering。　　Her　movements　were　as　light　and　airy　as　those　of　a　butterfly。　　He　felt　a　sudden　lightness　himself；　communicated　as　by　an　invisible　current。　　He　wanted　to　match　the　suppleness　of　her　body　with　his　own；　and　did。　　Her　arms；　the　flash　and　glint　of　the　crimson　sequins　against　the　smooth；　black　silk　of　her　closely　fitting　dress；　her　neck；　her　glowing；　radiant　hair；　all　combined　to　provoke　a　s