the titan-第98节

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lf　compelled　to　deal　would　be　kind　enough　to　keep　her　secret。　　But　there　were　others。　　How　near　she　had　been　to　drifting　on　the　rocks　when　Cowperwood　had　appeared！

〃After　all；〃　observed　Berenice；　thoughtfully；　〃Mr。　Cowperwood　isn't　a　mere　money…grabber；　is　he？　So　many　of　these　Western　moneyed　men　are　so　dull。〃

〃My　dear；〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Carter；　who　by　now　had　become　a　confirmed　satellite　of　her　secret　protector；　〃you　don't　understand　him　at　all。　　He　is　a　very　astonishing　man；　I　tell　you。　　The　world　is　certain　to　hear　a　lot　more　of　Frank　Cowperwood　before　he　dies。　　You　can　say　what　you　please；　but　some　one　has　to　make　the　money　in　the　first　place。　　It's　little　enough　that　good　breeding　does　for　you　in　poverty。　　I　know；　because　I've　seen　plenty　of　our　friends　come　down。〃

In　the　new　house；　on　a　scaffold　one　day；　a　famous　sculptor　and　his　assistants　were　at　work　on　a　Greek　frieze　which　represented　dancing　nymphs　linked　together　by　looped　wreaths。　　Berenice　and　her　mother　happened　to　be　passing。　　They　stopped　to　look；　and　Cowperwood　joined　them。　　He　waved　his　hand　at　the　figures　of　the　frieze；　and　said　to　Berenice；　with　his　old；　gay　air；　〃If　they　had　copied　you　they　would　have　done　better。〃

〃How　charming　of　you！〃　she　replied；　with　her　cool；　strange；　blue　eyes　fixed　on　him。　　〃They　are　beautiful。〃　In　spite　of　her　earlier　prejudices　she　knew　now　that　he　and　she　had　one　god　in　commonArt；　and　that　his　mind　was　fixed　on　things　beautiful　as　on　a　shrine。

He　merely　looked　at　her。

〃This　house　can　be　little　more　than　a　museum　to　me；　he　remarked；　simply；　when　her　mother　was　out　of　hearing；　〃but　I　shall　build　it　as　perfectly　as　I　can。　　Perhaps　others　may　enjoy　it　if　I　do　not。〃

She　looked　at　him　musingly；　understandingly；　and　he　smiled。　　She　realized；　of　course；　that　he　was　trying　to　convey　to　her　that　he　was　lonely。




Chapter　LI



The　Revival　of　Hattie　Starr

Engrossed　in　the　pleasures　and　entertainments　which　Cowperwood's　money　was　providing；　Berenice　had　until　recently　given　very　little　thought　to　her　future。　　Cowperwood　had　been　most　liberal。　　〃She　is　young；〃　he　once　said　to　Mrs。　Carter；　with　an　air　of　disinterested　liberality；　when　they　were　talking　about　Berenice　and　her　future。　〃She　is　an　exquisite。　　Let　her　have　her　day。　　If　she　marries　well　she　can　pay　you　back；　or　me。　　But　give　her　all　she　needs　now。〃　And　he　signed　checks　with　the　air　of　a　gardener　who　is　growing　a　wondrous　orchid。

The　truth　was　that　Mrs。　Carter　had　become　so　fond　of　Berenice　as　an　object　of　beauty；　a　prospective　grande　dame；　that　she　would　have　sold　her　soul　to　see　her　well　placed；　and　as　the　money　to　provide　the　dresses；　setting；　equipage　had　to　come　from　somewhere；　she　had　placed　her　spirit　in　subjection　to　Cowperwood　and　pretended　not　to　see　the　compromising　position　in　which　she　was　placing　all　that　was　near　and　dear　to　her。

〃Oh；　you're　so　good；〃　she　more　than　once　said　to　him　a　mist　of　gratitude　commingled　with　joy　in　her　eyes。　　〃I　would　never　have　believed　it　of　any　one。　　But　Bevy〃

〃An　esthete　is　an　esthete；〃　Cowperwood　replied。　　〃They　are　rare　enough。　　I　like　to　see　a　spirit　as　fine　as　hers　move　untroubled。　　She　will　make　her　way。〃

Seeing　Lieutenant　Braxmar　in　the　foreground　of　Berenice's　affairs；　Mrs。　Carter　was　foolish　enough　to　harp　on　the　matter　in　a　friendly；　ingratiating　way。　　Braxmar　was　really　interesting　after　his　fashion。　He　was　young；　tall；　muscular；　and　handsome；　a　graceful　dancer；　but；　better　yet；　he　represented　in　his　moods　lineage；　social　position；　a　number　of　the　things　which　engaged　Berenice　most。　　He　was　intelligent；　serious；　with　a　kind　of　social　grace　which　was　gay；　courteous；　wistful。　　Berenice　met　him　first　at　a　local　dance；　where　a　new　step　was　being　practised〃dancing　in　the　barn；〃　as　it　was　calledand　so　airily　did　he　tread　it　with　her　in　his　handsome　uniform　that　she　was　half　smitten　for　the　moment。

〃You　dance　delightfully；〃　she　said。　　〃Is　this　a　part　of　your　life　on　the　ocean　wave？〃

〃Deep…sea…going　dancing；〃　he　replied；　with　a　heavenly　smile。　　〃All　battles　are　accompanied　by　balls；　don't　you　know？〃

〃Oh；　what　a　wretched　jest！〃　she　replied。　　〃It's　unbelievably　bad。〃

〃Not　for　me。　　I　can　make　much　worse　ones。〃

〃Not　for　me；〃　she　replied；　〃I　can't　stand　them。〃　And　they　went　prancing　on。　　Afterward　he　came　and　sat　by　her；　they　walked　in　the　moonlight；　he　told　her　of　naval　life；　his　Southern　home　and　connections。

Mrs。　Carter；　seeing　him　with　Berenice；　and　having　been　introduced；　observed　the　next　morning；　〃I　like　your　Lieutenant；　Bevy。　　I　know　some　of　his　relatives　well。　　They　come　from　the　Carolinas。　　He's　sure　to　come　into　money。　　The　whole　family　is　wealthy。　　Do　you　think　he　might　be　interested　in　you？〃

〃Oh；　possiblyyes；　I　presume　so；〃　replied　Berenice；　airily；　for　she　did　not　take　too　kindly　to　this　evidence　of　parental　interest。　She　preferred　to　see　life　drift　on　in　some　nebulous　way　at　present；　and　this　was　bringing　matters　too　close　to　home。　　〃Still；　he　has　so　much　machinery　on　his　mind　I　doubt　whether　he　could　take　any　serious　interest　in　a　woman。　　He　is　almost　more　of　a　battle…ship　than　he　is　a　man。〃

She　made　a　mouth；　and　Mrs。　Carter　commented　gaily：　〃You　rogue！　All　the　men　take　an　interest　in　you。　　You　don't　think　you　could　care　for　him；　then；　at　all？〃

〃Why；　mother；　what　a　question！　Why　do　you　ask？　Is　it　so　essential　that　I　should？〃

〃Oh；　not　that　exactly；〃　replied　Mrs。　Carter；　sweetly；　bracing　herself　for　a　word　which　she　felt　incumbent　upon　her；　〃but　think　of　his　position。　　He　comes　of　such　a　good　family；　and　he　must　be　heir　to　a　considerable　fortune　in　his　own　right。　　Oh；　Bevy；　I　don't　want　to　hurry　or　spoil　your　life　in　any　way；　but　do　keep　in　mind　the　future。　　With　your　tastes　and　instincts　money　is　so　essential；　and　unless　you　marry　it　I　don't　know　where　you　are　to　get　it。　　Your　father　was　so　thoughtless；　and　Rolfe's　was　even　worse。

She　sighed。

Berenice；　for　almost　the　first　time　in　her　life；　took　solemn　heed　of　this　thought。　　She　pondered　whether　she　could　endure　Braxmar　as　a　life　partner；　follow　him　around　the　world；　perhaps　retransferring　her　abode　to　the　South；　but　she　could　not　make　up　her　mind。　　This　suggestion　on　the　part　of　her　mother　rather　poisoned　the　cup　for　her。　　To　tell　the　truth；　in　this　hour　of　doubt　her　thoughts　turned　vaguely　to　Cowperwood　as　one　who　represented　in　his　avid　way　more　of　the　things　she　truly　desired。　　She　remembered　his　wealth；　his　plaint　that　his　new　house　could　be　only　a　museum；　the　manner　in　which　he　approached　her　with　looks　and　voiceless　suggestions。　　But　he　was　old　and　marriedout　of　the　question；　thereforeand　Braxmar　was　young　and　charming。　　To　think　her　mother　should　have　been　so　tactless　as　to　suggest　the　necessity　for　consideration　in　his　case！　It　almost　spoiled　him　for　her。　　And　was　their　financial　state；　then；　as　uncertain　as　her　mother　indicated？

In　this　crisis　some　of　her　previous　social　experiences　became　significant。　　For　instance；　only　a　few　weeks　previous　to　her　meeting　with　Braxmar　she　had　been　visiting　at　the　country　estate　of　the　Corscaden　Batjers；　at　Redding　Hills；　Long　Island；　and　had　been　sitting　with　her　hostess　in　the　morning　room　of　Hillcrest；　which　commanded　a　lovely　though　distant　view　of　Long　Island　Sound。

Mrs。　Fredericka　Batjer　was　a　chestnut　blonde；　fair；　cool；　quiescent　a　type　out　of　Dutch　art。　　Clad　in　a　morning　gown　of　gray　and　silver；　her　hair　piled　in　a　Psyche　knot；　she　had　in　her　lap　on　this　occasion　a　Java　basket　filled　with　some　attempt　at　Norwegian　needlework。

〃Bevy；〃　she　said；　〃you　remember　Kilmer　Duelma；　don't　you？　Wasn't　he　at　the　Haggertys'　last　summer　when　you　were　there？〃

Berenice；　who　was　seated　at　a　small　Chippendale　writing…desk　penning　letters；　glanced　up；　her　mind　visioning　for　the　moment　the　youth　in　question。　　Kilmer　Duelmatall；　stocky；　swaggering；　his　clothes　the　loose；　nonchalant　perfection　of　the　season；　his　walk　ambling；　studied；　lackadaisical；　aimless；　his　color　high；　his　cheeks　full；　his　eyes　a　little　vacuous；　his　mind　acquiescing　in　a　sort　of　genial；　inconsequential　way　to　every　query　and　thought　that　was　put　to　him。　　The　younger　of　the　two　sons　of　Auguste　Duelma；　banker；　promoter；　multimillionaire；　he　would　come　into　a　fortune　estimated　roughly　at　between　six　and　eight　millions。　　At　the　Haggertys'　the　year　before　he　had　hung　about　her　in　an　aimless　fashion。

Mrs。　Batjer　studied　Berenice　curiously　for　a　moment；　then　returned　to　her　needlework。　　〃I've　asked　him　down　over　this　week…end；〃　she　suggested。

〃Yes？〃　queried　Berenice；　sweetly。　　〃Are　there　others？〃

〃Of　course；〃　assented　Mrs。　Batjer；　remotely。　　〃Kilmer　doesn't　interest　you；　I　presume。〃

Berenice　smiled　enigmatically。

〃You　remember　Clarissa　Faulkner；　don't　you；　Bevy？〃　pursued　Mrs。　Batjer。　　〃She　married　Romulus　Garrison。〃

〃Perfectly。　　Where　is　she　now？〃

〃They　have　leased　the　Chateau　Brieul　at　Ars　for　the　winter。　　Romulus　is　a　fool；　but　Clarissa　is　so　clever。　　You　know　she　writes　that　she　is　holding　a　veritable　court　there　this　season。　　Half　the　smart　set　of　Paris　and　London　are　dropping　in。　　It　is　so　charming　for　her　to　be　able　to　do　those　things　now。　　Poor　dear！　At　one　time　I　was　quite　troubled　over　her。〃

Without　giving　any　outward　sign　Berenice　did　not　fail　to　gather　the　full　impor