the titan-第87节

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lps　me　over　my　difficulties；　that's　my　business；　not　yours；〃　and　in　defiance　she　prepared　another　glass　and　drank　it。

Cowperwood　shook　his　head；　looking　at　her　steadily　and　sorrowfully。　〃It's　too　bad；　Aileen；〃　he　said。　　〃I　don't　know　what　to　do　about　you　exactly。　　You　oughtn't　to　go　on　this　way。　　Whisky　won't　get　you　anywhere。　　It　will　simply　ruin　your　looks　and　make　you　miserable　in　the　bargain。〃

〃Oh；　to　hell　with　my　looks！〃　she　snapped。　　〃A　lot　of　good　they've　done　me。〃　And；　feeling　contentious　and　sad；　she　got　up　and　left　the　table。　　Cowperwood　followed　her　after　a　time；　only　to　see　her　dabbing　at　her　eyes　and　nose　with　powder。　　A　half…filled　glass　of　whisky　and　water　was　on　the　dressing…table　beside　her。　　It　gave　him　a　strange　feeling　of　responsibility　and　helplessness。

Mingled　with　his　anxiety　as　to　Aileen　were　thoughts　of　the　alternate　rise　and　fall　of　his　hopes　in　connection　with　Berenice。　　She　was　such　a　superior　girl；　developing　so　definitely　as　an　individual。　　To　his　satisfaction　she　had；　on　a　few　recent　occasions　when　he　had　seen　her；　unbent　sufficiently　to　talk　to　him　in　a　friendly　and　even　intimate　way；　for　she　was　by　no　means　hoity…toity；　but　a　thinking；　reasoning　being　of　the　profoundest　intellectual；　or；　rather；　the　highest　artistic　tendencies。　　She　was　so　care…free；　living　in　a　high　and　solitary　world；　at　times　apparently　enwrapt　in　thoughts　serene；　at　other　times　sharing　vividly　in　the　current　interests　of　the　social　world　of　which　she　was　a　part；　and　which　she　dignified　as　much　as　it　dignified　her。

One　Sunday　morning　at　Pocono；　in　late　June　weather；　when　he　had　come　East　to　rest　for　a　few　days；　and　all　was　still　and　airy　on　the　high　ground　which　the　Carter　cottage　occupied；　Berenice　came　out　on　the　veranda　where　Cowperwood　was　sitting；　reading　a　fiscal　report　of　one　of　his　companies　and　meditating　on　his　affairs。　　By　now　they　had　become　somewhat　more　sympatica　than　formerly；　and　Berenice　had　an　easy；　genial　way　in　his　presence。　　She　liked　him；　rather。　　With　an　indescribable　smile　which　wrinkled　her　nose　and　eyes；　and　played　about　the　corners　of　her　mouth；　she　said：　〃Now　I　am　going　to　catch　a　bird。〃

〃A　what？〃　asked　Cowperwood；　looking　up　and　pretending　he　had　not　heard；　though　he　had。　　He　was　all　eyes　for　any　movement　of　hers。　　She　was　dressed　in　a　flouncy　morning　gown　eminently　suitable　for　the　world　in　which　she　was　moving。

〃A　bird；〃　she　replied；　with　an　airy　toss　of　her　head。　　〃This　is　June…time；　and　the　sparrows　are　teaching　their　young　to　fly。〃

Cowperwood；　previously　engrossed　in　financial　speculations；　was　translated；　as　by　the　wave　of　a　fairy　wand；　into　another　realm　where　birds　and　fledglings　and　grass　and　the　light　winds　of　heaven　were　more　important　than　brick　and　stone　and　stocks　and　bonds。　　He　got　up　and　followed　her　flowing　steps　across　the　grass　to　where；　near　a　clump　of　alder　bushes；　she　had　seen　a　mother　sparrow　enticing　a　fledgling　to　take　wing。　　From　her　room　upstairs；　she　had　been　watching　this　bit　of　outdoor　sociology。　　It　suddenly　came　to　Cowperwood；　with　great　force；　how　comparatively　unimportant　in　the　great　drift　of　life　were　his　own　affairs　when　about　him　was　operative　all　this　splendid　will　to　existence；　as　sensed　by　her。　　He　saw　her　stretch　out　her　hands　downward；　and　run　in　an　airy；　graceful　way；　stooping　here　and　there；　while　before　her　fluttered　a　baby　sparrow；　until　suddenly　she　dived　quickly　and　then；　turning；　her　face　agleam；　cried：　〃See；　I　have　him！　He　wants　to　fight；　too！　Oh；　you　little　dear！〃

She　was　holding　〃him；〃　as　she　chose　to　characterize　it；　in　the　hollow　of　her　hand；　the　head　between　her　thumb　and　forefinger；　with　the　forefinger　of　her　free　hand　petting　it　the　while　she　laughed　and　kissed　it。　　It　was　not　so　much　bird…love　as　the　artistry　of　life　and　of　herself　that　was　moving　her。　　Hearing　the　parent　bird　chirping　distractedly　from　a　nearby　limb；　she　turned　and　called：　〃Don't　make　such　a　row！　I　sha'n't　keep　him　long。〃

Cowperwood　laughedtrig　in　the　morning　sun。　　〃You　can　scarcely　blame　her；〃　he　commented。

〃Oh；　she　knows　well　enough　I　wouldn't　hurt　him；〃　Berenice　replied；　spiritedly；　as　though　it　were　literally　true。

〃Does　she；　indeed？〃　inquired　Cowperwood。　　〃Why　do　you　say　that？〃

〃Because　it's　true。　　Don't　you　think　they　know　when　their　children　are　really　in　danger？〃

〃But　why　should　they？〃　persisted　Cowperwood；　charmed　and　interested　by　the　involute　character　of　her　logic。　　She　was　quite　deceptive　to　him。　　He　could　not　be　sure　what　she　thought。

She　merely　fixed　him　a　moment　with　her　cool；　slate…blue　eyes。　　〃Do　you　think　the　senses　of　the　world　are　only　five？〃　she　asked；　in　the　most　charming　and　non…reproachful　way。　　〃Indeed；　they　know　well　enough。　　She　knows。〃　She　turned　and　waved　a　graceful　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　tree；　where　peace　now　reigned。　　The　chirping　had　ceased。　　〃She　knows　I　am　not　a　cat。〃

Again　that　enticing；　mocking　smile　that　wrinkled　her　nose；　her　eye…corners；　her　mouth。　　The　word　〃cat〃　had　a　sharp；　sweet　sound　in　her　mouth。　　It　seemed　to　be　bitten　off　closely　with　force　and　airy　spirit。　　Cowperwood　surveyed　her　as　he　would　have　surveyed　the　ablest　person　he　knew。　　Here　was　a　woman；　he　saw；　who　could　and　would　command　the　utmost　reaches　of　his　soul　in　every　direction。　If　he　interested　her　at　all；　he　would　need　them　all。　　The　eyes　of　her　were　at　once　so　elusive；　so　direct；　so　friendly；　so　cool　and　keen。　　〃You　will　have　to　be　interesting；　indeed；　to　interest　me；〃　they　seemed　to　say；　and　yet　they　were　by　no　means　averse；　apparently；　to　a　hearty　camaraderie。　　That　nose…wrinkling　smile　said　as　much。　　Here　was　by　no　means　a　Stephanie　Platow；　nor　yet　a　Rita　Sohlberg。　　He　could　not　assume　her　as　he　had　Ella　Hubby；　or　Florence　Cochrane；　or　Cecily　Haguenin。　　Here　was　an　iron　individuality　with　a　soul　for　romance　and　art　and　philosophy　and　life。　　He　could　not　take　her　as　he　had　those　others。　　And　yet　Berenice　was　really　beginning　to　think　more　than　a　little　about　Cowperwood。　　He　must　be　an　extraordinary　man；　her　mother　said　so；　and　the　newspapers　were　always　mentioning　his　name　and　noting　his　movements。

A　little　later；　at　Southampton；　whither　she　and　her　mother　had　gone；　they　met　again。　　Together　with　a　young　man　by　the　name　of　Greanelle；　Cowperwood　and　Berenice　had　gone　into　the　sea　to　bathe。　It　was　a　wonderful　afternoon。

To　the　east　and　south　and　west　spread　the　sea；　a　crinkling　floor　of　blue；　and　to　their　left；　as　they　faced　it；　was　a　lovely　outward…curving　shore　of　tawny　sand。　　Studying　Berenice　in　blue…silk　bathing　costume　and　shoes；　Cowperwood　had　been　stung　by　the　wonder　of　passing　lifehow　youth　comes　in；　ever　fresh　and　fresh；　and　age　goes　out。　　Here　he　was；　long　crowded　years　of　conflict　and　experience　behind　him；　and　yet　this　twenty…year…old　girl；　with　her　incisive　mind　and　keen　tastes；　was　apparently　as　wise　in　matters　of　general　import　as　himself。　　He　could　find　no　flaw　in　her　armor　in　those　matters　which　they　could　discuss。　　Her　knowledge　and　comments　were　so　ripe　and　sane；　despite　a　tendency　to　pose　a　little；　which　was　quite　within　her　rights。　　Because　Greanelle　had　bored　her　a　little　she　had　shunted　him　off　and　was　amusing　herself　talking　to　Cowperwood；　who　fascinated　her　by　his　compact　individuality。

〃Do　you　know；〃　she　confided　to　him；　on　this　occasion；　〃I　get　so　very　tired　of　young　men　sometimes。　　They　can　be　so　inane。　　I　do　declare；　they　are　nothing　more　than　shoes　and　ties　and　socks　and　canes　strung　together　in　some　unimaginable　way。　　Vaughn　Greanelle　is　for　all　the　world　like　a　perambulating　manikin　to…day。　　He　is　just　an　English　suit　with　a　cane　attached　walking　about。〃

〃Well；　bless　my　soul；〃　commented　Cowperwood；　〃what　an　indictment！〃

〃It's　true；〃　she　replied。　　〃He　knows　nothing　at　all　except　polo；　and　the　latest　swimming…stroke；　and　where　everybody　is；　and　who　is　going　to　marry　who。　　Isn't　it　dull？〃

She　tossed　her　head　back　and　breathed　as　though　to　exhale　the　fumes　of　the　dull　and　the　inane　from　her　inmost　being。

〃Did　you　tell　him　that？〃　inquired　Cowperwood；　curiously。

〃Certainly　I　did。〃

〃I　don't　wonder　he　looks　so　solemn；〃　he　said；　turning　and　looking　back　at　Greanelle　and　Mrs。　Carter；　they　were　sitting　side　by　side　in　sand…chairs；　the　former　beating　the　sand　with　his　toes。　　〃You're　a　curious　girl；　Berenice；〃　he　went　on；　familiarly。　　〃You　are　so　direct　and　vital　at　times。

〃Not　any　more　than　you　are；　from　all　I　can　hear；〃　she　replied；　fixing　him　with　those　steady　eyes。　　〃Anyhow；　why　should　I　be　bored？　He　is　so　dull。　　He　follows　me　around　out　here　all　the　time；　and　I　don't　want　him。〃

She　tossed　her　head　and　began　to　run　up　the　beach　to　where　bathers　were　fewer　and　fewer；　looking　back　at　Cowperwood　as　if　to　say；　〃Why　don't　you　follow？〃　He　developed　a　burst　of　enthusiasm　and　ran　quite　briskly；　overtaking　her　near　some　shallows　where；　because　of　a　sandbar　offshore；　the　waters　were　thin　and　bright。

〃Oh；　look！〃　exclaimed　Berenice；　when　he　came　up。　　〃See；　the　fish！　O…oh！〃

She　dashed　in　to　where　a　few　feet　offshore　a　small　school　of　minnows　as　large　as　sardines　were　playing；　silvery　in　the　sun。　　She　ran　as　she　had　for　the　bird；　doing　her　best　to　frighten　them　into　a　neighboring　pocket　or　pool　farther　up　on　the　shore。　　Cowperwood；　as　gay　as　a　boy　of　ten；　joined　in　the　chase。