the financier-第72节

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gh　ye　had　gone　out　of　yer　mind。〃

〃Oh；　don't　talk　nonsense；　father；〃　flared　Aileen；　angrily；　thinking　how　hopeless　it　was　to　talk　to　her　father　about　such　things　anyhow。　〃I'm　not　a　child　any　more。　　I'm　twenty…four　years　of　age。　　You　just　don't　understand。　　Mr。　Cowperwood　doesn't　like　his　wife。　　He's　going　to　get　a　divorce　when　he　can；　and　will　marry　me。　　I　love　him；　and　he　loves　me；　and　that's　all　there　is　to　it。〃

〃Is　it；　though？〃　asked　Butler；　grimly　determined　by　hook　or　by　crook；　to　bring　this　girl　to　her　senses。　　〃Ye'll　be　takin'　no　thought　of　his　wife　and　children　then？　The　fact　that　he's　goin'　to　jail；　besides；　is　nawthin'　to　ye；　I　suppose。　　Ye'd　love　him　just　as　much　in　convict　stripes；　I　supposemore；　maybe。〃　　（The　old　man　was　at　his　best；　humanly　speaking；　when　he　was　a　little　sarcastic。）　　〃Ye'll　have　him　that　way；　likely；　if　at　all。〃

Aileen　blazed　at　once　to　a　furious　heat。　　〃Yes；　I　know；〃　she　sneered。　〃That's　what　you　would　like。　　I　know　what　you've　been　doing。　　Frank　does；　too。　　You're　trying　to　railroad　him　to　prison　for　something　he　didn't　doand　all　on　account　of　me。　　Oh；　I　know。　　But　you　won't　hurt　him。　　You　can't！　He's　bigger　and　finer　than　you　think　he　is　and　you　won't　hurt　him　in　the　long　run。　　He'll　get　out　again。　　You　want　to　punish　him　on　my　account；　but　he　doesn't　care。　　I'll　marry　him　anyhow。　　I　love　him；　and　I'll　wait　for　him　and　marry　him；　and　you　can　do　what　you　please。　　So　there！〃

〃Ye'll　marry　him；　will　you？〃　asked　Butler；　nonplussed　and　further　astounded。　　〃So　ye'll　wait　for　him　and　marry　him？　　Ye'll　take　him　away　from　his　wife　and　children；　where；　if　he　were　half　a　man；　he'd　be　stayin'　this　minute　instead　of　gallivantin'　around　with　you。　And　marry　him？　Ye'd　disgrace　your　father　and　yer　mother　and　yer　family？　Ye'll　stand　here　and　say　this　to　me；　I　that　have　raised　ye；　cared　for　ye；　and　made　somethin'　of　ye？　Where　would　you　be　if　it　weren't　for　me　and　your　poor；　hard…workin'　mother；　schemin'　and　plannin'　for　you　year　in　and　year　out？　Ye're　smarter　than　I　am；　I　suppose。　　Ye　know　more　about　the　world　than　I　do；　or　any　one　else　that　might　want　to　say　anythin'　to　ye。　　I've　raised　ye　to　be　a　fine　lady；　and　this　is　what　I　get。　　Talk　about　me　not　bein'　able　to　understand；　and　ye　lovin'　a　convict…to…be；　a　robber；　an　embezzler；　a　bankrupt；　a　lyin'；　thavin'〃

〃Father！〃　exclaimed　Aileen；　determinedly。　　〃I'll　not　listen　to　you　talking　that　way。　　He's　not　any　of　the　things　that　you　say。　　I'll　not　stay　here。〃　　She　moved　toward　the　door；　but　Butler　jumped　up　now　and　stopped　her。　　His　face　for　the　moment　was　flushed　and　swollen　with　anger。　

〃But　I'm　not　through　with　him　yet；〃　he　went　on；　ignoring　her　desire　to　leave；　and　addressing　her　directconfident　now　that　she　was　as　capable　as　another　of　understanding　him。　　〃I'll　get　him　as　sure　as　I　have　a　name。　　There's　law　in　this　land；　and　I'll　have　it　on　him。　　I'll　show　him　whether　he'll　come　sneakin'　into　dacent　homes　and　robbin'　parents　of　their　children。〃

He　paused　after　a　time　for　want　of　breath　and　Aileen　stared；　her　face　tense　and　white。　　Her　father　could　be　so　ridiculous。　　He　was；　contrasted　with　Cowperwood　and　his　views；　so　old…fashioned。　　To　think　he　could　be　talking　of　some　one　coming　into　their　home　and　stealing　her　away　from　him；　when　she　had　been　so　willing　to　go。　What　silliness！　And　yet；　why　argue？　What　good　could　be　accomplished；　arguing　with　him　here　in　this　way？　And　so　for　the　moment；　she　said　nothing　moremerely　looked。　　But　Butler　was　by　no　means　done。　His　mood　was　too　stormy　even　though　he　was　doing　his　best　now　to　subdue　himself。　

〃It's　too　bad；　daughter；〃　he　resumed　quietly；　once　he　was　satisfied　that　she　was　going　to　have　little；　if　anything；　to　say。　　〃I'm　lettin'　my　anger　get　the　best　of　me。　　It　wasn't　that　I　intended　talkin'　to　ye　about　when　I　ast　ye　to　come　in。　　It's　somethin'　else　I　have　on　me　mind。　　I　was　thinkin'；　perhaps；　ye'd　like　to　go　to　Europe　for　the　time　bein'　to　study　music。　　Ye're　not　quite　yourself　just　at　present。　　Ye're　needin'　a　rest。　　It　would　be　good　for　ye　to　go　away　for　a　while。　　Ye　could　have　a　nice　time　over　there。　　Norah　could　go　along　with　ye；　if　you　would；　and　Sister　Constantia　that　taught　you。　　Ye　wouldn't　object　to　havin'　her；　I　suppose？〃

At　the　mention　of　this　idea　of　a　trip　of　Europe　again；　with　Sister　Constantia　and　music　thrown　in　to　give　it　a　slightly　new　form；　Aileen　bridled；　and　yet　half…smiled　to　herself　now。　　It　was　so　ridiculousso　tactless；　really；　for　her　father　to　bring　up　this　now；　and　especially　after　denouncing　Cowperwood　and　her；　and　threatening　all　the　things　he　had。　　Had　he　no　diplomacy　at　all　where　she　was　concerned？　It　was　really　too　funny！　But　she　restrained　herself　here　again；　because　she　felt　as　well　as　saw；　that　argument　of　this　kind　was　all　futile　now。

〃I　wish　you　wouldn't　talk　about　that；　father；〃　she　began；　having　softened　under　his　explanation。　　〃I　don't　want　to　go　to　Europe　now。　I　don't　want　to　leave　Philadelphia。　　I　know　you　want　me　to　go；　but　I　don't　want　to　think　of　going　now。　　I　can't。〃

Butler's　brow　darkened　again。　　What　was　the　use　of　all　this　opposition　on　her　part？　Did　she　really　imagine　that　she　was　going　to　master　himher　father；　and　in　connection　with　such　an　issue　as　this？　How　impossible！　But　tempering　his　voice　as　much　as　possible；　he　went　on；　quite　softly；　in　fact。　　〃But　it　would　be　so　fine　for　ye；　Aileen。　Ye　surely　can't　expect　to　stay　here　after〃　He　paused；　for　he　was　going　to　say　〃what　has　happened。〃　　He　knew　she　was　very　sensitive　on　that　point。　　His　own　conduct　in　hunting　her　down　had　been　such　a　breach　of　fatherly　courtesy　that　he　knew　she　felt　resentful；　and　in　a　way　properly　so。　　Still；　what　could　be　greater　than　her　own　crime？　〃After；〃　he　concluded；　〃ye　have　made　such　a　mistake　ye　surely　wouldn't　want　to　stay　here。　　Ye　won't　be　wantin'　to　keep　up　thatcommittin'　a　mortal　sin。　　It's　against　the　laws　of　God　and　man。〃

He　did　so　hope　the　thought　of　sin　would　come　to　Aileenthe　enormity　of　her　crime　from　a　spiritual　point　of　viewbut　Aileen　did　not　see　it　at　all。　

〃You　don't　understand　me；　father；〃　she　exclaimed；　hopelessly　toward　the　end。　　〃You　can't。　　I　have　one　idea；　and　you　have　another。　　But　I　don't　seem　to　be　able　to　make　you　understand　now。　　The　fact　is；　if　you　want　to　know　it；　I　don't　believe　in　the　Catholic　Church　any　more；　so　there。〃

The　moment　Aileen　had　said　this　she　wished　she　had　not。　　It　was　a　slip　of　the　tongue。　　Butler's　face　took　on　an　inexpressibly　sad；　despairing　look。　

〃Ye　don't　believe　in　the　Church？〃　he　asked。

〃No；　not　exactlynot　like　you　do。〃

He　shook　his　head。　

〃The　harm　that　has　come　to　yer　soul！〃　he　replied。　　〃It's　plain　to　me；　daughter；　that　somethin'　terrible　has　happened　to　ye。　　This　man　has　ruined　ye；　body　and　soul。　　Somethin'　must　be　done。　　I　don't　want　to　be　hard　on　ye；　but　ye　must　leave　Philadelphy。　　Ye　can't　stay　here。　　I　can't　permit　ye。　　Ye　can　go　to　Europe；　or　ye　can　go　to　yer　aunt's　in　New　Orleans；　but　ye　must　go　somewhere。　　I　can't　have　ye　stayin'　hereit's　too　dangerous。　　It's　sure　to　be　comin'　out。　　The　papers'll　be　havin'　it　next。　　Ye're　young　yet。　　Yer　life　is　before　you。　　I　tremble　for　yer　soul；　but　so　long　as　ye're　young　and　alive　ye　may　come　to　yer　senses。　　It's　me　duty　to　be　hard。　It's　my　obligation　to　you　and　the　Church。　　Ye　must　quit　this　life。　Ye　must　lave　this　man。　　Ye　must　never　see　him　any　more。　　I　can't　permit　ye。　　He's　no　good。　　He　has　no　intintion　of　marrying　ye；　and　it　would　be　a　crime　against　God　and　man　if　he　did。　　No；　no！　Never　that！　The　man's　a　bankrupt；　a　scoundrel；　a　thafe。　　If　ye　had　him；　ye'd　soon　be　the　unhappiest　woman　in　the　world。　　He　wouldn't　be　faithful　to　ye。　　No；　he　couldn't。　　He's　not　that　kind。〃　　He　paused；　sick　to　the　depths　of　his　soul。　　〃Ye　must　go　away。　　I　say　it　once　and　for　all。　　I　mane　it　kindly；　but　I　want　it。　　I　have　yer　best　interests　at　heart。　　I　love　ye；　but　ye　must。　　I'm　sorry　to　see　ye　goI'd　rather　have　ye　here。　　No　one　will　be　sorrier；　but　ye　must。　Ye　must　make　it　all　seem　natcheral　and　ordinary　to　yer　mother；　but　ye　must　god'ye　hear？　Ye　must。〃

He　paused；　looking　sadly　but　firmly　at　Aileen　under　his　shaggy　eyebrows。　　She　knew　he　meant　this。　　It　was　his　most　solemn；　his　most　religious　expression。　　But　she　did　not　answer。　　She　could　not。　What　was　the　use？　　Only　she　was　not　going。　　She　knew　thatand　so　she　stood　there　white　and　tense。　

〃Now　get　all　the　clothes　ye　want；〃　went　on　Butler；　by　no　means　grasping　her　true　mood。　　〃Fix　yourself　up　in　any　way　you　plase。　Say　where　ye　want　to　go；　but　get　ready。〃

〃But　I　won't；　father；〃　finally　replied　Aileen；　equally　solemnly；　equally　determinedly。　　〃I　won't　go！　I　won't　leave　Philadelphia。〃

〃Ye　don't　mane　to　say　ye　will　deliberately　disobey　me　when　I'm　asking　ye　to　do　somethin'　that's　intended　for　yer　own　good；　will　ye　daughter？〃

〃Yes；　I　will；〃　replied　Aileen；　determinedly。　　〃I　won't　go！　I'm　sorry；　but　I　won't！〃

〃Ye　really　mane　that；　do　ye？〃　asked　Butler；　sadly　but　grimly。　

〃Yes；　I　do；〃　replied　Aileen；　grimly；　in　return。　

〃Then　I'll　have　to　see　what　I　can　do；　daughter；〃　replied　the　old　man。　　〃Ye're　still　my　daughter；　whatever　ye　are；　and　I'll　not　see　ye　come　to　wreck　and　ruin　for　want　of　doin'　what　I　know　to　be　my　solemn　duty。　　I'll　give　ye　a　few　more　days　to　think　this　over；　but　go　ye　must。　　The