the titan- 第62部分

Lynde；　who　was　seeking　for　any　pretext　whereby　he　might　prolong　his　stay　and　overcome　her　nervous　mood；　accepted；　pretending；　however；　that　he　was　merely　passing　and　with　a　moment　to　spare。

〃Thought　I'd　get　just　one　glimpse　of　you　again。　　Couldn't　resist　the　temptation　to　look　in。　　Stunning　room；　isn't　it？　Spaciousand　there　you　are！　Who　did　that？　Oh；　I　seeVan　Beers。　　And　a　jolly　fine　piece　of　work　it　is；　too；　charming。〃

He　surveyed　her　and　then　turned　back　to　the　picture　where；　ten　years　younger；　buoyant；　hopeful；　carrying　her　blue…and…white　striped　parasol；　she　sat　on　a　stone　bench　against　the　Dutch　background　of　sky　and　clouds。　　Charmed　by　the　picture　she　presented　in　both　cases；　he　was　genially　complimentary。　　To…day　she　was　stouter；　ruddierthe　fiber　of　her　had　hardened；　as　it　does　with　so　many　as　the　years　come　on；　but　she　was　still　in　full　blooma　little　late　in　the　summer；　but　in　full　bloom。

〃Oh　yes；　and　this　RembrandtI'm　surprised！　I　did　not　know　your　husband's　collection　was　so　representative。　　Israels；　I　see；　and　Gerome；　and　Meissonier！　Gad！　It　is　a　representative　collection；　isn't　it？〃

〃Some　of　the　things　are　excellent；〃　she　commented；　with　an　air；　aping　Cowperwood　and　others；　〃but　a　number　will　be　weeded　out　eventuallythat　Paul　Potter　and　this　Goyas　better　examples　come　into　the　market。〃

She　had　heard　Cowperwood　say　as　much；　over　and　over。

Finding　that　conversation　was　possible　between　them　in　this　easy；　impersonal　way；　Aileen　became　quite　natural　and　interested；　pleased　and　entertained　by　his　discreet　and　charming　presence。　　Evidently　he　did　not　intend　to　pay　much　more　than　a　passing　social　call。　　On　the　other　hand；　Lynde　was　studying　her；　wondering　what　effect　his　light；　distant　air　was　having。　　As　he　finished　a　very　casual　survey　of　the　gallery　he　remarked：

〃I　have　always　wondered　about　this　house。　　I　knew　Lord　did　it；　of　course；　and　I　always　heard　it　was　well　done。　　That　is　the　dining…room；　I　suppose？〃

Aileen；　who　had　always　been　inordinately　vain　of　the　house　in　spite　of　the　fact　that　it　had　proved　of　small　use　socially；　was　delighted　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　tha