the financier-第74节

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eave　her　so　much　money　in　a　legally　involved　way　that　a　failure　of　a　husband　could　not　possibly　affect　her。　　〃You're　the　charming　lady　this　evenin'；　I'm　thinkin'；〃　was　one　of　his　pet　remarks；　and　also；　〃My；　but　we're　that　fine！〃　At　table　almost　invariably　she　sat　beside　him　and　looked　out　for　him。　　That　was　what　he　wanted。　　He　had　put　her　there　beside　him　at　his　meals　years　before　when　she　was　a　child。

Her　mother；　too；　was　inordinately　fond　of　her；　and　Callum　and　Owen　appropriately　brotherly。　　So　Aileen　had　thus　far　at　least　paid　back　with　beauty　and　interest　quite　as　much　as　she　received；　and　all　the　family　felt　it　to　be　so。　　When　she　was　away　for　a　day　or　two　the　house　seemed　glumthe　meals　less　appetizing。　　When　she　returned；　all　were　happy　and　gay　again。

Aileen　understood　this　clearly　enough　in　a　way。　　Now；　when　it　came　to　thinking　of　leaving　and　shifting　for　herself；　in　order　to　avoid　a　trip　which　she　did　not　care　to　be　forced　into；　her　courage　was　based　largely　on　this　keen　sense　of　her　own　significance　to　the　family。　　She　thought　over　what　her　father　had　said；　and　decided　she　must　act　at　once。　　She　dressed　for　the　street　the　next　morning；　after　her　father　had　gone；　and　decided　to　step　in　at　the　Calligans'　about　noon；　when　Mamie　would　be　at　home　for　luncheon。　　Then　she　would　take　up　the　matter　casually。　　If　they　had　no　objection；　she　would　go　there。　　She　sometimes　wondered　why　Cowperwood　did　not　suggest；　in　his　great　stress；　that　they　leave　for　some　parts　unknown；　but　she　also　felt　that　he　must　know　best　what　he　could　do。　　His　increasing　troubles　depressed　her。

Mrs。　Calligan　was　alone　when　she　arrived　and　was　delighted　to　see　her。　　After　exchanging　the　gossip　of　the　day；　and　not　knowing　quite　how　to　proceed　in　connection　with　the　errand　which　had　brought　her；　she　went　to　the　piano　and　played　a　melancholy　air。

〃Sure；　it's　lovely　the　way　you　play；　Aileen；〃　observed　Mrs。　Calligan　who　was　unduly　sentimental　herself。　　〃I　love　to　hear　you。　　I　wish　you'd　come　oftener　to　see　us。　　You're　so　rarely　here　nowadays。〃

〃Oh；　I've　been　so　busy；　Mrs。　Calligan；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃I've　had　so　much　to　do　this　fall；　I　just　couldn't。　　They　wanted　me　to　go　to　Europe；　but　I　didn't　care　to。　　Oh；　dear！〃　she　sighed；　and　in　her　playing　swept　off　with　a　movement　of　sad；　romantic　significance。　The　door　opened　and　Mamie　came　in。　　Her　commonplace　face　brightened　at　the　sight　of　Aileen。

〃Well；　Aileen　Butler！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Where　did　you　come　from？　Where　have　you　been　keeping　yourself　so　long？〃

Aileen　rose　to　exchange　kisses。　　〃Oh；　I've　been　very　busy；　Mamie。　I've　just　been　telling　your　mother。　　How　are　you；　anyway？　How　are　you　getting　along　in　your　work？〃

Mamie　recounted　at　once　some　school　difficulties　which　were　puzzling　herthe　growing　size　of　classes　and　the　amount　of　work　expected。　While　Mrs。　Calligan　was　setting　the　table　Mamie　went　to　her　room　and　Aileen　followed　her。

As　she　stood　before　her　mirror　arranging　her　hair　Aileen　looked　at　her　meditatively。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Aileen；　to…day？〃　Mamie　asked。　　〃You　look　so〃　She　stopped　to　give　her　a　second　glance。

〃How　do　I　look？〃　asked　Aileen。

〃Well；　as　if　you　were　uncertain　or　troubled　about　something。　　I　never　saw　you　look　that　way　before。　　What's　the　matter？〃

〃Oh；　nothing；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃I　was　just　thinking。〃　　She　went　to　one　of　the　windows　which　looked　into　the　little　yard；　meditating　on　whether　she　could　endure　living　here　for　any　length　of　time。　The　house　was　so　small；　the　furnishings　so　very　simple。

〃There　is　something　the　matter　with　you　to…day；　Aileen；〃　observed　Mamie；　coming　over　to　her　and　looking　in　her　face。　　〃You're　not　like　yourself　at　all。〃

〃I've　got　something　on　my　mind；〃　replied　Aileen〃something　that's　worrying　me。　　I　don't　know　just　what　to　dothat's　what's　the　matter。〃

〃Well；　whatever　can　it　be？〃　commented　Mamie。　　〃I　never　saw　you　act　this　way　before。　　Can't　you　tell　me？　What　is　it？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　cannot　now；　anyhow。〃　　Aileen　paused。　　〃Do　you　suppose　your　mother　would　object；〃　she　asked；　suddenly；　〃if　I　came　here　and　stayed　a　little　while？　I　want　to　get　away　from　home　for　a　time　for　a　certain　reason。〃

〃Why；　Aileen　Butler；　how　you　talk！〃　exclaimed　her　friend。　　〃Object！　You　know　she'd　be　delighted；　and　so　would　I。　　Oh；　dearcan　you　come？　But　what　makes　you　want　to　leave　home？〃

〃That's　just　what　I　can't　tell　younot　now；　anyhow。　　Not　you；　so　much；　but　your　mother。　　You　know；　I'm　afraid　of　what　she'd　think；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃But；　you　mustn't　ask　me　yet；　anyhow。　　I　want　to　think。　　Oh；　dear！　But　I　want　to　come；　if　you'll　let　me。　　Will　you　speak　to　your　mother；　or　shall　I？〃

〃Why；　I　will；〃　said　Mamie；　struck　with　wonder　at　this　remarkable　development；　〃but　it's　silly　to　do　it。　　I　know　what　she'll　say　before　I　tell　her；　and　so　do　you。　　You　can　just　bring　your　things　and　come。　　That's　all。　　She'd　never　say　anything　or　ask　anything；　either；　and　you　know　thatif　you　didn't　want　her　to。〃　　Mamie　was　all　agog　and　aglow　at　the　idea。　　She　wanted　the　companionship　of　Aileen　so　much。

Aileen　looked　at　her　solemnly；　and　understood　well　enough　why　she　was　so　enthusiasticboth　she　and　her　mother。　　Both　wanted　her　presence　to　brighten　their　world。　　〃But　neither　of　you　must　tell　anybody　that　I'm　here；　do　you　hear？　I　don't　want　any　one　to　know　particularly　no　one　of　my　family。　　I've　a　reason；　and　a　good　one；　but　I　can't　tell　you　what　it　isnot　now；　anyhow。　　You'll　promise　not　to　tell　any　one。〃

〃Oh；　of　course；〃　replied　Mamie　eagerly。　　〃But　you're　not　going　to　run　away　for　good；　are　you；　Aileen？〃　she　concluded　curiously　and　gravely。

〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　I　don't　know　what　I'll　do　yet。　　I　only　know　that　I　want　to　get　away　for　a　while；　just　nowthat's　all。〃　　She　paused；　while　Mamie　stood　before　her；　agape。

〃Well；　of　all　things；〃　replied　her　friend。　　〃Wonders　never　cease；　do　they；　Aileen？　But　it　will　be　so　lovely　to　have　you　here。　　Mama　will　be　so　pleased。　　Of　course；　we　won't　tell　anybody　if　you　don't　want　us　to。　　Hardly　any　one　ever　comes　here；　and　if　they　do；　you　needn't　see　them。　　You　could　have　this　big　room　next　to　me。　　Oh；　wouldn't　that　be　nice？　I'm　perfectly　delighted。〃　　The　young　school…teacher's　spirits　rose　to　a　decided　height。　　〃Come　on；　why　not　tell　mama　right　now？〃

Aileen　hesitated　because　even　now　she　was　not　positive　whether　she　should　do　this；　but　finally　they　went　down　the　stairs　together；　Aileen　lingering　behind　a　little　as　they　neared　the　bottom。　　Mamie　burst　in　upon　her　mother　with：　〃Oh；　mama；　isn't　it　lovely？　Aileen's　coming　to　stay　with　us　for　a　while。　　She　doesn't　want　any　one　to　know；　and　she's　coming　right　away。〃　　Mrs。　Calligan；　who　was　holding　a　sugarbowl　in　her　hand；　turned　to　survey　her　with　a　surprised　but　smiling　face。　　She　was　immediately　curious　as　to　why　Aileen　should　want　to　comewhy　leave　home。　　On　the　other　hand；　her　feeling　for　Aileen　was　so　deep　that　she　was　greatly　and　joyously　intrigued　by　the　idea。　　And　why　not？　Was　not　the　celebrated　Edward　Butler's　daughter　a　woman　grown；　capable　of　regulating　her　own　affairs；　and　welcome；　of　course；　as　the　honored　member　of　so　important　a　family。　It　was　very　flattering　to　the　Calligans　to　think　that　she　would　want　to　come　under　any　circumstances。

〃I　don't　see　how　your　parents　can　let　you　go；　Aileen；　but　you're　certainly　welcome　here　as　long　as　you　want　to　stay；　and　that's　forever；　if　you　want　to。〃　　And　Mrs。　Calligan　beamed　on　her　welcomingly。　The　idea　of　Aileen　Butler　asking　to　be　permitted　to　come　here！　And　the　hearty；　comprehending　manner　in　which　she　said　this；　and　Mamie's　enthusiasm；　caused　Aileen　to　breathe　a　sigh　of　relief。　　The　matter　of　the　expense　of　her　presence　to　the　Calligans　came　into　her　mind。

〃I　want　to　pay　you；　of　course；〃　she　said　to　Mrs。　Calligan；　〃if　I　come。〃

〃The　very　idea；　Aileen　Butler！〃　exclaimed　Mamie。　　〃You'll　do　nothing　of　the　sort。　　You'll　come　here　and　live　with　me　as　my　guest。〃

〃No；　I　won't！　If　I　can't　pay　I　won't　come；〃　replied　Aileen。　　〃You'll　have　to　let　me　do　that。〃　　She　knew　that　the　Calligans　could　not　afford　to　keep　her。

〃Well；　we'll　not　talk　about　that　now；　anyhow；〃　replied　Mrs。　Calligan。　〃You　can　come　when　you　like　and　stay　as　long　as　you　like。　　Reach　me　some　clean　napkins；　Mamie。〃　　Aileen　remained　for　luncheon；　and　left　soon　afterward　to　keep　her　suggested　appointment　with　Cowperwood；　feeling　satisfied　that　her　main　problem　had　been　solved。　　Now　her　way　was　clear。　　She　could　come　here　if　she　wanted　to。　　It　was　simply　a　matter　of　collecting　a　few　necessary　things　or　coming　without　bringing　anything。　　Perhaps　Frank　would　have　something　to　suggest。

In　the　meantime　Cowperwood　made　no　effort　to　communicate　with　Aileen　since　the　unfortunate　discovery　of　their　meeting　place；　but　had　awaited　a　letter　from　her；　which　was　not　long　in　coming。　　And；　as　usual；　it　was　a　long；　optimistic；　affectionate；　and　defiant　screed　in　which　she　related　all　that　had　occurred　to　her　and　her　present　plan　of　leaving　home。　　This　last　puzzled　and　troubled　him　not　a　little。

Aileen　in　the　bosom　of　her　family；　smart　and　well…cared　for；　was　one　thing。　　Aileen　out　in　the　world　dependent　on　him　was　another。　He　had　never　imagined　that　she　would　be　compelled　to　leave　before　he　was　prepared　to　take　her；　and　if　she　did　now；　it　might　stir　up　compli