the titan-第85节

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g　to　feel　that　she　had　made　a　serious　mistake。　　Lynde　was　delightful；　after　his　fashion。　　He　could　amuse　her　with　a　different　type　of　experience　from　any　that　Cowperwood　had　to　relate。　　Once　they　were　intimate　he　had；　with　an　easy；　genial　air；　confessed　to　all　sorts　of　liaisons　in　Europe　and　America。　　He　was　utterly　pagana　faun　and　at　the　same　time　he　was　truly　of　the　smart　world。　　His　open　contempt　of　all　but　one　or　two　of　the　people　in　Chicago　whom　Aileen　had　secretly　admired　and　wished　to　associate　with；　and　his　easy　references　to　figures　of　importance　in　the　East　and　in　Paris　and　London；　raised　him　amazingly　in　her　estimation；　it　made　her　feel；　sad　to　relate；　that　she　had　by　no　means　lowered　herself　in　succumbing　so　readily　to　his　forceful　charms。

Nevertheless；　because　he　was　what　he　wasgenial；　complimentary；　affectionate；　but　a　playboy；　merely；　and　a　soldier　of　fortune；　with　no　desire　to　make　over　her　life　for　her　on　any　new　basisshe　was　now　grieving　over　the　futility　of　this　romance　which　had　got　her　nowhere；　and　which；　in　all　probability；　had　alienated　Cowperwood　for　good。　　He　was　still　outwardly　genial　and　friendly；　but　their　relationship　was　now　colored　by　a　sense　of　mistake　and　uncertainty　which　existed　on　both　sides；　but　which；　in　Aileen's　case；　amounted　to　a　subtle　species　of　soul…torture。　　Hitherto　she　had　been　the　aggrieved　one；　the　one　whose　loyalty　had　never　been　in　question；　and　whose　persistent　affection　and　faith　had　been　greatly　sinned　against。　　Now　all　this　was　changed。　　The　manner　in　which　he　had　sinned　against　her　was　plain　enough；　but　the　way　in　which；　out　of　pique；　she　had　forsaken　him　was　in　the　other　balance。　　Say　what　one　will；　the　loyalty　of　woman；　whether　a　condition　in　nature　or　an　evolved　accident　of　sociology；　persists　as　a　dominating　thought　in　at　least　a　section　of　the　race；　and　women　themselves；　be　it　said；　are　the　ones　who　most　loudly　and　openly　subscribe　to　it。　　Cowperwood　himself　was　fully　aware　that　Aileen　had　deserted　him；　not　because　she　loved　him　less　or　Lynde　more；　but　because　she　was　hurtand　deeply　so。　　Aileen　knew　that　he　knew　this。　　From　one　point　of　view　it　enraged　her　and　made　her　defiant；　from　another　it　grieved　her　to　think　she　had　uselessly　sinned　against　his　faith　in　her。　　Now　he　had　ample　excuse　to　do　anything　he　chose。　　Her　best　claim　on　himher　woundsshe　had　thrown　away　as　one　throws　away　a　weapon。　　Her　pride　would　not　let　her　talk　to　him　about　this；　and　at　the　same　time　she　could　not　endure　the　easy；　tolerant　manner　with　which　he　took　it。　　His　smiles；　his　forgiveness；　his　sometimes　pleasant　jesting　were　all　a　horrible　offense。

To　complete　her　mental　quandary；　she　was　already　beginning　to　quarrel　with　Lynde　over　this　matter　of　her　unbreakable　regard　for　Cowperwood。　　With　the　sufficiency　of　a　man　of　the　world　Lynde　intended　that　she　should　succumb　to　him　completely　and　forget　her　wonderful　husband。　　When　with　him　she　was　apparently　charmed　and　interested；　yielding　herself　freely；　but　this　was　more　out　of　pique　at　Cowperwood's　neglect　than　from　any　genuine　passion　for　Lynde。　　In　spite　of　her　pretensions　of　anger；　her　sneers；　and　criticisms　whenever　Cowperwood's　name　came　up；　she　was；　nevertheless；　hopelessly　fond　of　him　and　identified　with　him　spiritually；　and　it　was　not　long　before　Lynde　began　to　suspect　this。　　Such　a　discovery　is　a　sad　one　for　any　master　of　women　to　make。　　It　jolted　his　pride　severely。

〃You　care　for　him　still；　don't　you？〃　he　asked；　with　a　wry　smile；　upon　one　occasion。　　They　were　sitting　at　dinner　in　a　private　room　at　Kinsley's；　and　Aileen；　whose　color　was　high；　and　who　was　becomingly　garbed　in　metallic…green　silk；　was　looking　especially　handsome。　　Lynde　had　been　proposing　that　she　should　make　special　arrangements　to　depart　with　him　for　a　three…months'　stay　in　Europe；　but　she　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　the　project。　　She　did　not　dare。　　Such　a　move　would　make　Cowperwood　feel　that　she　was　alienating　herself　forever；　it　would　give　him　an　excellent　excuse　to　leave　her。

〃Oh；　it　isn't　that；〃　she　had　declared；　in　reply　to　Lynde's　query。　〃I　just　don't　want　to　go。　　I　can't。　　I'm　not　prepared。　　It's　nothing　but　a　notion　of　yours；　anyhow。　　You're　tired　of　Chicago　because　it's　getting　near　spring。　　You　go　and　I'll　be　here　when　you　come　back；　or　I　may　decide　to　come　over　later。〃　She　smiled。

Lynde　pulled　a　dark　face。

〃Hell！〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　how　it　is　with　you。　　You　still　stick　to　him；　even　when　he　treats　you　like　a　dog。　　You　pretend　not　to　love　him　when　as　a　matter　of　fact　you're　mad　about　him。　　I've　seen　it　all　along。　　You　don't　really　care　anything　about　me。　　You　can't。　　You're　too　crazy　about　him。〃

〃Oh；　shut　up！〃　replied　Aileen；　irritated　greatly　for　the　moment　by　this　onslaught。　　〃You　talk　like　a　fool。　　I'm　not　anything　of　the　sort。　　I　admire　him。　　How　could　any　one　help　it？〃　（At　this　time；　of　course；　Cowperwood's　name　was　filling　the　city。）　〃He's　a　very　wonderful　man。　　He　was　never　brutal　to　me。　　He's　a　full…sized　manI'll　say　that　for　him。〃

By　now　Aileen　had　become　sufficiently　familiar　with　Lynde　to　criticize　him　in　her　own　mind；　and　even　outwardly　by　innuendo；　for　being　a　loafer　and　idler　who　had　never　created　in　any　way　the　money　he　was　so　freely　spending。　　She　had　little　power　to　psychologize　concerning　social　conditions；　but　the　stalwart　constructive　persistence　of　Cowperwood　along　commercial　lines　coupled　with　the　current　American　contempt　of　leisure　reflected　somewhat　unfavorably　upon　Lynde；　she　thought。

Lynde's　face　clouded　still　more　at　this　outburst。　　〃You　go　to　the　devil；〃　he　retorted。　　〃I　don't　get　you　at　all。　　Sometimes　you　talk　as　though　you　were　fond　of　me。　　At　other　times　you're　all　wrapped　up　in　him。　　Now　you　either　care　for　me　or　you　don't。　　Which　is　it？　If　you're　so　crazy　about　him　that　you　can't　leave　home　for　a　month　or　so　you　certainly　can't　care　much　about　me。〃

Aileen；　however；　because　of　her　long　experience　with　Cowperwood；　was　more　than　a　match　for　Lynde。　　At　the　same　time　she　was　afraid　to　let　go　of　him　for　fear　that　she　should　have　no　one　to　care　for　her。　　She　liked　him。　　He　was　a　happy　resource　in　her　misery；　at　least　for　the　moment。　　Yet　the　knowledge　that　Cowperwood　looked　upon　this　affair　as　a　heavy　blemish　on　her　pristine　solidarity　cooled　her。　　At　the　thought　of　him　and　of　her　whole　tarnished　and　troubled　career　she　was　very　unhappy。

〃Hell！〃　Lynde　had　repeated；　irritably；　〃stay　if　you　want　to。　　I'll　not　be　trying　to　over…persuade　youdepend　on　that。〃

They　quarreled　still　further　over　this　matter；　and；　though　they　eventually　made　up；　both　sensed　the　drift　toward　an　ultimately　unsatisfactory　conclusion。

It　was　one　morning　not　long　after　this　that　Cowperwood；　feeling　in　a　genial　mood　over　his　affairs；　came　into　Aileen's　room；　as　he　still　did　on　occasions；　to　finish　dressing　and　pass　the　time　of　day。

〃Well；〃　he　observed；　gaily；　as　he　stood　before　the　mirror　adjusting　his　collar　and　tie；　〃how　are　you　and　Lynde　getting　along　these　daysnicely？〃

〃Oh；　you　go　to　the　devil！〃　replied　Aileen；　flaring　up　and　struggling　with　her　divided　feelings；　which　pained　her　constantly。　　〃If　it　hadn't　been　for　you　there　wouldn't　be　any　chance　for　your　smarty　'how…am…I…getting…alongs。'　I　am　getting　along　all　rightfine　regardless　of　anything　you　may　think。　　He's　as　good　a　man　as　you　are　any　day；　and　better。　　I　like　him。　　At　least　he's　fond　of　me；　and　that's　more　than　you　are。　　Why　should　you　care　what　I　do？　You　don't；　so　why　talk　about　it？　I　want　you　to　let　me　alone。〃

〃Aileen；　Aileen；　how　you　carry　on！　Don't　flare　up　so。　　I　meant　nothing　by　it。　　I'm　sorry　as　much　for　myself　as　for　you。　　I've　told　you　I'm　not　jealous。　　You　think　I'm　critical。　　I'm　not　anything　of　the　kind。　　I　know　how　you　feel。　　That's　all　very　good。〃

〃Oh　yes；　yes；〃　she　replied。　　〃Well；　you　can　keep　your　feelings　to　yourself。　　Go　to　the　devil！　Go　to　the　devil；　I　tell　you！〃　Her　eyes　blazed。

He　stood　now；　fully　dressed；　in　the　center　of　the　rug　before　her；　and　Aileen　looked　at　him；　keen；　valiant；　handsomeher　old　Frank。　Once　again　she　regretted　her　nominal　faithlessness；　and　raged　at　him　in　her　heart　for　his　indifference。　　〃You　dog；〃　she　was　about　to　add；　〃you　have　no　heart！〃　but　she　changed　her　mind。　　Her　throat　tightened　and　her　eyes　filled。　　She　wanted　to　run　to　him　and　say：　〃Oh；　Frank；　don't　you　understand　how　it　all　is；　how　it　all　came　about？　Won't　you　love　me　againcan't　you？〃　But　she　restrained　herself。　　It　seemed　to　her　that　he　might　understandthat　he　would；　in　factbut　that　he　would　never　again　be　faithful；　anyhow。　　And　she　would　so　gladly　have　discarded　Lynde　and　any　and　all　men　if　he　would　only　have　said　the　word；　would　only　have　really　and　sincerely　wished　her　to　do　so。

It　was　one　day　not　long　after　their　morning　quarrel　in　her　bedroom　that　Cowperwood　broached　the　matter　of　living　in　New　York　to　Aileen；　pointing　out　that　thereby　his　art…collection；　which　was　growing　constantly；　might　be　more　suitably　housed；　and　that　it　would　give　her　a　second　opportunity　to　enter　social　life。

〃So　that　you　can　get　rid　of　me　out　here；〃　commented　Aileen；　little　knowing　of　Berenice　Fleming。

〃Not　at　all；〃　replied　Cowperwood；　sweetly。　　〃You　see　how　things　are。　　There's　no　chance　of　our　getting　into　Chicago　society。　　There's　too　much　financial　opposition　agai