the titan-第26节

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him　to　all　others。　　That　was　the　fly　in　the　ointment。　　It　was　an　affront　to　her　beauty；　and　she　was　still　beautiful。　　She　was　unctuously　full…bodied；　not　quite　so　tall　as　Aileen；　not　really　as　large；　but　rounder　and　plumper；　softer　and　more　seductive。　　Physically　she　was　not　well　set　up；　so　vigorous；　but　her　eyes　and　mouth　and　the　roving　character　of　her　mind　held　a　strange　lure。　　Mentally　she　was　much　more　aware　than　Aileen；　much　more　precise　in　her　knowledge　of　art；　music；　literature；　and　current　events；　and　in　the　field　of　romance　she　was　much　more　vague　and　alluring。　　She　knew　many　things　about　flowers；　precious　stones；　insects；　birds；　characters　in　fiction；　and　poetic　prose　and　verse　generally。

At　the　time　the　Cowperwoods　first　met　the　Sohlbergs　the　latter　still　had　their　studio　in　the　New　Arts　Building；　and　all　was　seemingly　as　serene　as　a　May　morning；　only　Harold　was　not　getting　along　very　well。　　He　was　drifting。　　The　meeting　was　at　a　tea　given　by　the　Haatstaedts；　with　whom　the　Cowperwoods　were　still　friendly；　and　Harold　played。　　Aileen；　who　was　there　alone；　seeing　a　chance　to　brighten　her　own　life　a　little；　invited　the　Sohlbergs；　who　seemed　rather　above　the　average；　to　her　house　to　a　musical　evening。　　They　came。

On　this　occasion　Cowperwood　took　one　look　at　Sohlberg　and　placed　him　exactly。　　〃An　erratic；　emotional　temperament；〃　he　thought。　　〃Probably　not　able　to　place　himself　for　want　of　consistency　and　application。〃　But　he　liked　him　after　a　fashion。　　Sohlberg　was　interesting　as　an　artistic　type　or　figurequite　like　a　character　in　a　Japanese　print　might　be。　　He　greeted　him　pleasantly。

〃And　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　I　suppose；〃　he　remarked；　feelingly；　catching　a　quick　suggestion　of　the　rhythm　and　sufficiency　and　naive　taste　that　went　with　her。　　She　was　in　simple　white　and　bluesmall　blue　ribbons　threaded　above　lacy　flounces　in　the　skin。　　Her　arms　and　throat　were　deliciously　soft　and　bare。　　Her　eyes　were　quick；　and　yet　soft　and　babyishpetted　eyes。

〃You　know；〃　she　said　to　him；　with　a　peculiar　rounded　formation　of　the　mouth；　which　was　a　characteristic　of　her　when　she　talkeda　pretty；　pouty　mouth；　〃I　thought　we　would　never　get　heah　at　all。　　There　was　a　fire〃she　pronounced　it　fy…yah〃at　Twelfth　Street〃　（the　Twelfth　was　Twalfth　in　her　mouth）　〃and　the　engines　were　all　about　there。　　Oh；　such　sparks　and　smoke！　And　the　flames　coming　out　of　the　windows！　The　flames　were　a　very　dark　redalmost　orange　and　black。　　They're　pretty　when　they're　that　waydon't　you　think　so？〃

Cowperwood　was　charmed。　　〃Indeed；　I　do；〃　he　said；　genially；　using　a　kind　of　superior　and　yet　sympathetic　air　which　he　could　easily　assume　on　occasion。　　He　felt　as　though　Mrs。　Sohlberg　might　be　a　charming　daughter　to　himshe　was　so　cuddling　and　shyand　yet　he　could　see　that　she　was　definite　and　individual。　　Her　arms　and　face；　he　told　himself；　were　lovely。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　only　saw　before　her　a　smart；　cold；　exact　mancapable；　very；　she　presumedwith　brilliant；　incisive　eyes。　　How　different　from　Harold；　she　thought；　who　would　never　be　anything　muchnot　even　famous。

〃I'm　so　glad　you　brought　your　violin；〃　Aileen　was　saying　to　Harold；　who　was　in　another　corner。　　〃I've　been　looking　forward　to　your　coming　to　play　for　us。〃

〃Very　nize　ov　you；　I'm　sure；〃　Sohlberg　replied；　with　his　sweety　drawl。　　〃Such　a　nize　plaze　you　have　hereall　these　loafly　books；　and　jade；　and　glass。〃

He　had　an　unctuous；　yielding　way　which　was　charming；　Aileen　thought。　He　should　have　a　strong；　rich　woman　to　take　care　of　him。　　He　was　like　a　stormy；　erratic　boy。

After　refreshments　were　served　Sohlberg　played。　　Cowperwood　was　interested　by　his　standing　figurehis　eyes；　his　hairbut　he　was　much　more　interested　in　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　to　whom　his　look　constantly　strayed。　　He　watched　her　hands　on　the　keys；　her　fingers；　the　dimples　at　her　elbows。　　What　an　adorable　mouth；　he　thought；　and　what　light；　fluffy　hair！　But；　more　than　that；　there　was　a　mood　that　invested　it　alla　bit　of　tinted　color　of　the　mind　that　reached　him　and　made　him　sympathetic　and　even　passionate　toward　her。　　She　was　the　kind　of　woman　he　would　like。　　She　was　somewhat　like　Aileen　when　she　was　six　years　younger　（Aileen　was　now　thirty…three；　and　Mrs。　Sohlberg　twenty…seven）；　only　Aileen　had　always　been　more　robust；　more　vigorous；　less　nebulous。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　（he　finally　thought　it　out　for　himself）　was　like　the　rich　tinted　interior　of　a　South　Sea　oyster…shellwarm；　colorful；　delicate。　　But　there　was　something　firm　there；　too。　　Nowhere　in　society　had　he　seen　any　one　like　her。　She　was　rapt；　sensuous；　beautiful。　　He　kept　his　eyes　on　her　until　finally　she　became　aware　that　he　was　gazing　at　her；　and　then　she　looked　back　at　him　in　an　arch；　smiling　way；　fixing　her　mouth　in　a　potent　line。　　Cowperwood　was　captivated。　　Was　she　vulnerable？　was　his　one　thought。　　Did　that　faint　smile　mean　anything　more　than　mere　social　complaisance？　Probably　not；　but　could　not　a　temperament　so　rich　and　full　be　awakened　to　feeling　by　his　own？　When　she　was　through　playing　he　took　occasion　to　say：　〃Wouldn't　you　like　to　stroll　into　the　gallery？　Are　you　fond　of　pictures？〃　He　gave　her　his　arm。

〃Now；　you　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　quaintlyvery　captivatingly；　he　thought；　because　she　was　so　pretty〃at　one　time　I　thought　I　was　going　to　be　a　great　artist。　　Isn't　that　funny！　I　sent　my　father　one　of　my　drawings　inscribed　'to　whom　I　owe　it　all。'　You　would　have　to　see　the　drawing　to　see　how　funny　that　is。〃

She　laughed　softly。

Cowperwood　responded　with　a　refreshed　interest　in　life。　　Her　laugh　was　as　grateful　to　him　as　a　summer　wind。　　〃See；〃　he　said；　gently；　as　they　entered　the　room　aglow　with　the　soft　light　produced　by　guttered　jets；　〃here　is　a　Luini　bought　last　winter。〃　It　was　〃The　Mystic　Marriage　of　St。　Catharine。〃　He　paused　while　she　surveyed　the　rapt　expression　of　the　attenuated　saint。　　〃And　here；〃　he　went　on；　〃is　my　greatest　find　so　far。〃　They　were　before　the　crafty　countenance　of　Caesar　Borgia　painted　by　Pinturrichio。

〃What　a　strange　face！〃　commented　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　naively。　　〃I　didn't　know　any　one　had　ever　painted　him。　　He　looks　somewhat　like　an　artist　himself；　doesn't　he？〃　She　had　never　read　the　involved　and　quite　Satanic　history　of　this　man；　and　only　knew　the　rumor　of　his　crimes　and　machinations。

〃He　was；　in　his　way；〃　smiled　Cowperwood；　who　had　had　an　outline　of　his　life；　and　that　of　his　father；　Pope　Alexander　VI。；　furnished　him　at　the　time　of　the　purchase。　　Only　so　recently　had　his　interest　in　Caesar　Borgia　begun。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg　scarcely　gathered　the　sly　humor　of　it。

〃Oh　yes；　and　here　is　Mrs。　Cowperwood；〃　she　commented；　turning　to　the　painting　by　Van　Beers。　　〃It's　high　in　key；　isn't　it？〃　she　said；　loftily；　but　with　an　innocent　loftiness　that　appealed　to　him。　　He　liked　spirit　and　some　presumption　in　a　woman。　　〃What　brilliant　colors！　I　like　the　idea　of　the　garden　and　the　clouds。〃

She　stepped　back；　and　Cowperwood；　interested　only　in　her；　surveyed　the　line　of　her　back　and　the　profile　of　her　face。　　Such　co…ordinated　perfection　of　line　and　color！

〃Where　every　motion　weaves　and　sings；〃　he　might　have　commented。　　Instead　he　said：　〃That　was　in　Brussels。　　The　clouds　were　an　afterthought；　and　that　vase　on　the　wall；　too。〃

〃It's　very　good；　I　think；〃　commented　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　and　moved　away。

〃How　do　you　like　this　Israels？〃　he　asked。　　It　was　the　painting　called　〃The　Frugal　Meal。〃

〃I　like　it；〃　she　said；　〃and　also　your　Bastien　Le…Page；〃　referring　to　〃The　Forge。〃　〃But　I　think　your　old　masters　are　much　more　interesting。　　If　you　get　many　more　you　ought　to　put　them　together　in　a　room。　　Don't　you　think　so？　I　don't　care　for　your　Gerome　very　much。〃　She　had　a　cute　drawl　which　he　considered　infinitely　alluring。

〃Why　not？〃　asked　Cowperwood。

〃Oh；　it's　rather　artificial；　don't　you　think　so？　I　like　the　color；　but　the　women's　bodies　are　too　perfect；　I　should　say。　　It's　very　pretty；　though。〃

He　had　little　faith　in　the　ability　of　women　aside　from　their　value　as　objects　of　art；　and　yet　now　and　then；　as　in　this　instance；　they　revealed　a　sweet　insight　which　sharpened　his　own。　　Aileen；　he　reflected；　would　not　be　capable　of　making　a　remark　such　as　this。　　She　was　not　as　beautiful　now　as　this　womannot　as　alluringly　simple；　naive；　delicious；　nor　yet　as　wise。　　Mrs。　Sohlberg；　he　reflected　shrewdly；　had　a　kind　of　fool　for　a　husband。　　Would　she　take　an　interest　in　him；　Frank　Cowperwood？　Would　a　woman　like　this　surrender　on　any　basis　outside　of　divorce　and　marriage？　He　wondered。　On　her　part；　Mrs。　Sohlberg　was　thinking　what　a　forceful　man　Cowperwood　was；　and　how　close　he　had　stayed　by　her。　　She　felt　his　interest；　for　she　had　often　seen　these　symptoms　in　other　men　and　knew　what　they　meant。　　She　knew　the　pull　of　her　own　beauty；　and；　while　she　heightened　it　as　artfully　as　she　dared；　yet　she　kept　aloof；　too；　feeling　that　she　had　never　met　any　one　as　yet　for　whom　it　was　worth　while　to　be　different。　　But　Cowperwoodhe　needed　someone　more　soulful　than　Aileen；　she　thought。




Chapter　XV



A　New　Affection

The　growth　of　a　relationship　between　Cowperwood　and　Rita　Sohlberg　was　fostered　quite　accidentally　by　Aileen；　who　took　a　foolishly　sentimental　interest　in　Harold　which　yet　was　not　based　on　anything　of　real　meaning。　　She　liked　him　because　he　was　a　superlatively　gracious；　flattering；　emotional　man　where　womenpretty