the titan-第35章
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lly began to feel the drift of affairs。 The pathos of all this is that it so quickly descends into the realm of the unsatisfactory； the banal； the pseudo intimate。 Aileen noticed it at once。 She tried protestations。 〃You don't kiss me the way you did once；〃 and then a little later； 〃You haven't noticed me hardly for four whole days。 What's the matter？〃
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 replied Cowperwood； easily； 〃I guess I want you as much as ever。 I don't see that I am any different。〃 He took her in his arms and petted and caressed her； but Aileen was suspicious； nervous。
The psychology of the human animal； when confronted by these tangles； these ripping tides of the heart； has little to do with so…called reason or logic。 It is amazing how in the face of passion and the affections and the changing face of life all plans and theories by which we guide ourselves fall to the ground。 Here was Aileen talking bravely at the time she invaded Mrs。 Lillian Cowperwood's domain of the necessity of 〃her Frank〃 finding a woman suitable to his needs； tastes； abilities； but now that the possibility of another woman equally or possibly better suited to him was looming in the offingalthough she had no idea who it might beshe could not reason in the same way。 Her ox； God wot； was the one that was being gored。 What if he should find some one whom he could want more than he did her？ Dear heaven； how terrible that would be！ What would she do？ she asked herself； thoughtfully。 She lapsed into the blues one afternoonalmost criedshe could scarcely say why。 Another time she thought of all the terrible things she would do； how difficult she would make it for any other woman who invaded her preserves。 However； she was not sure。 Would she declare war if she discovered another？ She knew she would eventually； and yet she knew； too； that if she did； and Cowperwood were set in his passion； thoroughly alienated； it would do no good。 It would be terrible； but what could she do to win him back？ That was the issue。 Once warned； however； by her suspicious questioning； Cowperwood was more mechanically attentive than ever。 He did his best to conceal his altered moodhis enthusiasms for Mrs。 Sohlberg； his interest in Antoinette Nowakand this helped somewhat。
But finally there was a detectable change。 Aileen noticed it first after they had been back from Europe nearly a year。 At this time she was still interested in Sohlberg； but in a harmlessly flirtatious way。 She thought he might be interesting physically； but would he be as delightful as Cowperwood？ Never！ When she felt that Cowperwood himself might he changing she pulled herself up at once； and when Antoinette appearedthe carriage incidentSohlberg lost his； at best； unstable charm。 She began to meditate on what a terrible thing it would be to lose Cowperwood； seeing that she had failed to establish herself socially。 Perhaps that had something to do with his defection。 No doubt it had。 Yet she could not believe； after all his protestations of affection in Philadelphia； after all her devotion to him in those dark days of his degradation and punishment； that he would really turn on her。 No； he might stray momentarily； but if she protested enough； made a scene； perhaps； he would not feel so free to injure herhe would remember and be loving and devoted again。 After seeing him； or imagining she had seen him； in the carriage； she thought at first that she would question him； but later decided that she would wait and watch more closely。 Perhaps he was beginning to run around with other women。 There was safety in numbersthat she knew。 Her heart； her pride； was hurt； but not broken。
Chapter XVIII
The Clash
The peculiar personality of Rita Sohlberg was such that by her very action she ordinarily allayed suspicion； or rather distracted it。 Although a novice； she had a strange ease； courage； or balance of soul which kept her whole and self…possessed under the most trying of circumstances。 She might have been overtaken in the most compromising of positions； but her manner would always have indicated ease； a sense of innocence； nothing unusual； for she had no sense of moral degradation in this matterno troublesome emotion as to what was to flow from a relationship of this kind； no worry as to her own soul； sin； social opinion； or the like。 She was really interested in art and lifea pagan； in fact。 Some people are thus hardily equipped。 It is the most notable attribute of the hardier type of personalitiesnot necessarily the most brilliant or successful。 You might have said that her soul was naively unconscious of the agony of others in loss。 She would have taken any loss to herself with an amazing equablenesssome qualms； of course； but not manybecause her vanity and sense of charm would have made her look forward to something better or as good。
She had called on Aileen quite regularly in the past； with or without Harold； and had frequently driven with the Cowperwoods or joined them at the theater or elsewhere。 She had decided； after becoming intimate with Cowperwood； to study art again； which was a charming blind； for it called for attendance at afternoon or evening classes which she frequently skipped。 Besides； since Harold had more money he was becoming gayer； more reckless and enthusiastic over women； and Cowperwood deliberately advised her to encourage him in some liaison which； in case exposure should subsequently come to them； would effectually tie his hands。
〃Let him get in some affair；〃 Cowperwood told Rita。 〃We'll put detectives on his trail and get evidence。 He won't have a word to say。〃
〃We don't really need to do that；〃 she protested sweetly； naively。 〃He's been in enough scrapes as it is。 He's given me some of the letters〃（she pronounced it 〃lettahs〃）〃written him。〃
〃But we'll need actual witnesses if we ever need anything at all。 Just tell me when he's in love again； and I'll do the rest。〃
〃You know I think；〃 she drawled； amusingly； 〃that he is now。 I saw him on the street the other day with one of his studentsrather a pretty girl； too。〃
Cowperwood was pleased。 Under the circumstances he would almost have been willingnot quitefor Aileen to succumb to Sohlberg in order to entrap her and make his situation secure。 Yet he really did not wish it in the last analysiswould have been grieved temporarily if she had deserted him。 However； in the case of Sohlberg； detectives were employed； the new affair with the flighty pupil was unearthed and sworn to by witnesses； and this； combined with the 〃lettahs〃 held by Rita； constituted ample material wherewith to 〃hush up〃 the musician if ever he became unduly obstreperous。 So Cowperwood and Rita's state was quite comfortable。
But Aileen； meditating over Antoinette Nowak； was beside herself with curiosity； doubt； worry。 She did not want to injure Cowperwood in any way after his bitter Philadelphia experience； and yet when she thought of his deserting her in this way she fell into a great rage。 Her vanity； as much as her love； was hurt。 What could she do to justify or set at rest her suspicions？ Watch him personally？ She was too dignified and vain to lurk about street…corners or offices or hotels。 Never！ Start a quarrel without additional evidencethat would be silly。 He was too shrewd to give her further evidence once she spoke。 He would merely deny it。 She brooded irritably； recalling after a time； and with an aching heart； that her father had put detectives on her track once ten years before； and had actually discovered her relations with Cowperwood and their rendezvous。 Bitter as that memory was torturingyet now the same means seemed not too abhorrent to employ under the circumstances。 No harm had come to Cowperwood in the former instance； she reasoned to herselfno especial harm from that discovery （this was not true）； and none would come to him now。 （This also was not true。） But one must forgive a fiery； passionate soul； wounded to the quick； some errors of judgment。 Her thought was that she would first be sure just what it was her beloved was doing； and then decide what course to take。 But she knew that she was treading on dangerous ground； and mentally she recoiled from the consequences which
