the titan-第69节
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to show him the remainder of the rooms。 Lynde； who was used； of course； to houses of all degrees of material splendorthat of his own family being one of the bestpretended an interest he did not feel。 He commented as he went on the taste of the decorations and wood…carving； the charm of the arrangement that permitted neat brief vistas； and the like。
〃Just wait a moment；〃 said Aileen； as they neared the door of her own boudoir。 〃I've forgotten whether mine is in order。 I want you to see that。〃
She opened it and stepped in。
〃Yes； you may come；〃 she called。
He followed。 〃Oh yes； indeed。 Very charming。 Very gracefulthose little lacy dancing figuresaren't they？ A delightful color scheme。 It harmonizes with you exactly。 It is quite like you。〃
He paused； looking at the spacious rug； which was of warm blues and creams； and at the gilt ormolu bed。 〃Well done；〃 he said； and then； suddenly changing his mood and dropping his talk of decoration （Aileen was to his right； and he was between her and the door）； he added： 〃Tell me now why won't you come to the barn…dance to…night？ It would be charming。 You will enjoy it。〃
Aileen saw the sudden change in his mood。 She recognized that by showing him the rooms she had led herself into an easily made disturbing position。 His dark engaging eyes told their own story。
〃Oh； I don't feel in the mood to。 I haven't for a number of things for some time。 I〃
She began to move unconcernedly about him toward the door； but he detained her with his hand。 〃Don't go just yet；〃 he said。 〃Let me talk to you。 You always evade me in such a nervous way。 Don't you like me at all？〃
〃Oh yes； I like you； but can't we talk just as well down in the music…room as here？ Can't I tell you why I evade you down there just as well as I can here？〃 She smiled a winning and now fearless smile。
Lynde showed his even white teeth in two gleaming rows。 His eyes filled with a gay maliciousness。 〃Surely； surely；〃 he replied； 〃but you're so nice in your own room here。 I hate to leave it。〃
〃Just the same；〃 replied Aileen； still gay； but now slightly disturbed also； 〃I think we might as well。 You will find me just as entertaining downstairs。〃
She moved； but his strength； quite as Cowperwood's； was much too great for her。 He was a strong man。
〃Really； you know；〃 she said； 〃you mustn't act this way here。 Some one might come in。 What cause have I given you to make you think you could do like this with me？〃
〃What cause？〃 he asked； bending over her and smoothing her plump arms with his brown hands。 〃Oh； no definite cause； perhaps。 You are a cause in yourself。 I told you how sweet I thought you were； the night we were at the Alcott。 Didn't you understand then？ I thought you did。〃
〃Oh； I understood that you liked me； and all that； perhaps。 Any one might do that。 But as for anything likewelltaking such liberties with meI never dreamed of it。 But listen。 I think I hear some one coming。〃 Aileen； making a sudden vigorous effort to free herself and failing； added： 〃Please let me go； Mr。 Lynde。 It isn't very gallant of you； I must say； restraining a woman against her will。 If I had given you any real causeI shall be angry in a moment。〃
Again the even smiling teeth and dark； wrinkling； malicious eyes。
〃Really！ How you go on！ You would think I was a perfect stranger。 Don't you remember what you said to me at lunch？ You didn't keep your promise。 You practically gave me to understand that you would come。 Why didn't you？ Are you afraid of me； or don't you like me； or both？ I think you're delicious； splendid； and I want to know。〃
He shifted his position； putting one arm about her waist； pulling her close to him； looking into her eyes。 With the other he held her free arm。 Suddenly he covered her mouth with his and then kissed her cheeks。 〃You care for me； don't you？ What did you mean by saying you might come； if you didn't？〃
He held her quite firm； while Aileen struggled。 It was a new sensation thisthat of the other man； and this was Polk Lynde； the first individual outside of Cowperwood to whom she had ever felt drawn。 But now； here； in her own roomand it was within the range of possibilities that Cowperwood might return or the servants enter。
〃Oh； but think what you are doing；〃 she protested； not really disturbed as yet as to the outcome of the contest with him； and feeling as though he were merely trying to make her be sweet to him without intending anything more at present〃here in my own room！ Really； you're not the man I thought you were at all； if you don't instantly let me go。 Mr。 Lynde！ Mr。 Lynde！〃 （He had bent over and was kissing her）。 〃Oh； you shouldn't do this！ Really！ II said I might come； but that was far from doing it。 And to have you come here and take advantage of me in this way！ I think you're horrid。 If I ever had any interest in you； it is quite dead now； I can assure you。 Unless you let me go at once； I give you my word I will never see you any more。 I won't！ Really； I won't！ I mean it！ Oh； please let me go！ I'll scream； I tell you！ I'll never see you again after this day！ Oh〃 It was an intense but useless struggle。
Coming home one evening about a week later； Cowperwood found Aileen humming cheerfully； and yet also in a seemingly deep and reflective mood。 She was just completing an evening toilet； and looked young and colorfulquite her avid； seeking self of earlier days。
〃Well；〃 he asked； cheerfully； 〃how have things gone to…day？〃 Aileen； feeling somehow； as one will on occasions； that if she had done wrong she was justified and that sometime because of this she might even win Cowperwood back； felt somewhat kindlier toward him。 〃Oh； very well；〃 she replied。 〃I stopped in at the Hoecksemas' this afternoon for a little while。 They're going to Mexico in November。 She has the darlingest new basket…carriageif she only looked like anything when she rode in it。 Etta is getting ready to enter Bryn Mawr。 She is all fussed up about leaving her dog and cat。 Then I went down to one of Lane Cross's receptions； and over to Merrill's〃she was referring to the great store〃and home。 I saw Taylor Lord and Polk Lynde together in Wabash Avenue。〃
〃Polk Lynde？〃 commented Cowperwood。 〃Is he interesting？〃
〃Yes； he is；〃 replied Aileen。 〃I never met a man with such perfect manners。 He's so fascinating。 He's just like a boy； and yet； Heaven knows； he seems to have had enough worldly experience。〃
〃So I've heard；〃 commented Cowperwood。 〃Wasn't he the one that was mixed up in that Carmen Torriba case here a few years ago？〃 Cowperwood was referring to the matter of a Spanish dancer traveling in America with whom Lynde had been apparently desperately in love。
〃Oh yes；〃 replied Aileen； maliciously； 〃but that oughtn't to make any difference to you。 He's charming； anyhow。 I like him。〃
〃I didn't say it did； did I？ You don't object to my mentioning a mere incident？〃
〃Oh； I know about the incident；〃 replied Aileen； jestingly。 〃I know you。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 he asked； studying her face。
〃Oh； I know you；〃 she replied； sweetly and yet defensively。 〃You think I'll stay here and be content while you run about with other womenplay the sweet and loving wife？ Well； I won't。 I know why you say this about Lynde。 It's to keep me from being interested in him； possibly。 Well； I will be if I want to。 I told you I would be； and I will。 You can do what you please about that。 You don't want me； so why should you be disturbed as to whether other men are interested in me or not？〃
The truth was that Cowperwood was not clearly thinking of any probable relation between Lynde and Aileen any more than he was in connection with her and any other man； and yet in a remote way he was sensing some one。 It was this that Aileen felt in him； and that brought forth her seemingly uncalled…for comment。 Cowperwood； under the circumstances； attempted to be as suave as possible； having caught the implication clearly。
〃Aileen；〃 he cooed； 〃how you talk！ Why do you say that？ You know I care for you。 I can't prevent anything you want to do； and I'm sure you know I don't want to。 It's you that I want to see satisfied。 You know that I care。〃
〃Yes； I know how you care；〃 replied Aileen； her mood changing for the moment。 〃Don't start that old stuff； please。 I'm sick of it。 I know how you're running around。 I know about Mrs。 Hand。 Even the newspapers make that plain。 You've been home just one evening in the last eight days； long enough for me to get more than a glimpse of you。 Don't talk to me。 Don't try to bill and coo。 I've always known。 Don't think I don't know who your latest flame is。 But don't begin to whine； and don't quarrel with me if I go about and get interested in other men； as I certainly will。 It will be all your fault if I do； and you know it。 Don't begin and complain。 It won't do you any good。 I'm not going to sit here and be made a fool of。 I've told you that over and over。 You don't believe it； but I'm not。 I told you that I'd find some one one of these days； and I will。 As a matter of fact； I have already。〃
At this remark Cowperwood surveyed her coolly； critically； and yet not unsympathetically； but she swung out of the r
