the titan-第51章
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ied Susetta Osborn； a Texas girl who was once his bookkeeper。 Mrs。 Platow was lithe； amiable； subtle； with an eye always to the main social chancein other words； a climber。 She was shrewd enough to realize that a knowledge of books and art and current events was essential； and so she 〃went in〃 for these things。
It is curious how the temperaments of parents blend and revivify in their children。 As Stephanie grew up she had repeated in her very differing body some of her father's and mother's characteristics an interesting variability of soul。 She was tall； dark； sallow； lithe； with a strange moodiness of heart and a recessive； fulgurous gleam in her chestnut…brown； almost brownish…black eyes。 She had a full； sensuous； Cupid's mouth； a dreamy and even languishing expression； a graceful neck； and a heavy； dark； and yet pleasingly modeled face。 From both her father and mother she had inherited a penchant for art； literature； philosophy； and music。 Already at eighteen she was dreaming of painting； singing； writing poetry； writing books； actinganything and everything。 Serene in her own judgment of what was worth while； she was like to lay stress on any silly mood or fad； thinking it exquisitethe last word。 Finally； she was a rank voluptuary； dreaming dreams of passionate union with first one and then another type of artist； poet； musicianthe whole gamut of the artistic and emotional world。
Cowperwood first saw her on board the Centurion one June morning； as the ship lay at dock in New York。 He and Aileen were en route for Norway； she and her father and mother for Denmark and Switzerland。 She was hanging over the starboard rail looking at a flock of wide…winged gulls which were besieging the port of the cook's galley。 She was musing soulfullyconscious （fully） that she was musing soulfully。 He paid very little attention to her； except to note that she was tall； rhythmic； and that a dark…gray plaid dress； and an immense veil of gray silk wound about her shoulders and waist and over one arm； after the manner of a Hindu shawl； appeared to become her much。 Her face seemed very sallow； and her eyes ringed as if indicating dyspepsia。 Her black hair under a chic hat did not escape his critical eye。 Later she and her father appeared at the captain's table； to which the Cowperwoods had also been invited。
Cowperwood and Aileen did not know how to take this girl； though she interested them both。 They little suspected the chameleon character of her soul。 She was an artist； and as formless and unstable as water。 It was a mere passing gloom that possessed her。 Cowperwood liked the semi…Jewish cast of her face； a certain fullness of the neck； her dark； sleepy eyes。 But she was much too young and nebulous； he thought； and he let her pass。 On this trip； which endured for ten days； he saw much of her； in different moods； walking with a young Jew in whom she seemed greatly interested； playing at shuffleboard； reading solemnly in a corner out of the reach of the wind or spray； and usually looking naive； preternaturally innocent； remote； dreamy。 At other times she seemed possessed of a wild animation； her eyes alight； her expression vigorous； an intense glow in her soul。 Once he saw her bent over a small wood block； cutting a book…plate with a thin steel graving tool。
Because of Stephanie's youth and seeming unimportance； her lack of what might be called compelling rosy charm； Aileen had become reasonably friendly with the girl。 Far subtler； even at her years； than Aileen； Stephanie gathered a very good impression of the former； of her mental girth； and how to take her。 She made friends with her； made a book…plate for her； made a sketch of her。 She confided to Aileen that in her own mind she was destined for the stage； if her parents would permit； and Aileen invited her to see her husband's pictures on their return。 She little knew how much of a part Stephanie would play in Cowperwood's life。
The Cowperwoods； having been put down at Goteborg； saw no more of the Platows until late October。 Then Aileen； being lonely； called to see Stephanie； and occasionally thereafter Stephanie came over to the South Side to see the Cowperwoods。 She liked to roam about their house； to dream meditatively in some nook of the rich interior； with a book for company。 She liked Cowperwood's pictures； his jades； his missals； his ancient radiant glass。 From talking with Aileen she realized that the latter had no real love for these things； that her expressions of interest and pleasure were pure make…believe； based on their value as possessions。 For Stephanie herself certain of the illuminated books and bits of glass had a heavy； sensuous appeal； which only the truly artistic can understand。 They unlocked dark dream moods and pageants for her。 She responded to them； lingered over them； experienced strange moods from them as from the orchestrated richness of music。
And in doing so she thought of Cowperwood often。 Did he really like these things； or was he just buying them to be buying them？ She had heard much of the pseudo artisticthe people who made a show of art。 She recalled Cowperwood as he walked the deck of the Centurion。 She remembered his large； comprehensive； embracing blue…gray eyes that seemed to blaze with intelligence。 He seemed to her quite obviously a more forceful and significant man than her father； and yet she could not have said why。 He always seemed so trigly dressed； so well put together。 There was a friendly warmth about all that he said or did； though he said or did little。 She felt that his eyes were mocking； that back in his soul there was some kind of humor over something which she did not understand quite。
After Stephanie had been back in Chicago six months； during which time she saw very little of Cowperwood； who was busy with his street…railway programme； she was swept into the net of another interest which carried her away from him and Aileen for the time being。 On the West Side； among a circle of her mother's friends； had been organized an Amateur Dramatic League； with no less object than to elevate the stage。 That world…old problem never fails to interest the new and the inexperienced。 It all began in the home of one of the new rich of the West Sidethe Timberlakes。 They； in their large house on Ashland Avenue； had a stage； and Georgia Timberlake； a romantic…minded girl of twenty with flaxen hair； imagined she could act。 Mrs。 Timberlake； a fat； indulgent mother； rather agreed with her。 The whole idea； after a few discursive performances of Milton's 〃The Masque of Comus；〃 〃Pyramus and Thisbe；〃 and an improved Harlequin and Columbine； written by one of the members； was transferred to the realm of the studios； then quartered in the New Arts Building。 An artist by the name of Lane Cross； a portrait…painter； who was much less of an artist than he was a stage director； and not much of either； but who made his living by hornswaggling society into the belief that he could paint； was induced to take charge of these stage performances。
By degrees the 〃Garrick Players；〃 as they chose to call themselves； developed no little skill and craftsmanship in presenting one form and another of classic and semi…classic play。 〃Romeo and Juliet；〃 with few properties of any kind； 〃The Learned Ladies〃 of Moliere； Sheridan's 〃The Rivals；〃 and the 〃Elektra〃 of Sophocles were all given。 Considerable ability of one kind and another was developed； the group including two actresses of subsequent repute on the American stage； one of whom was Stephanie Platow。 There were some ten girls and women among the active members； and almost as many mena variety of characters much too extended to discuss here。 There was a dramatic critic by the name of Gardner Knowles； a young man； very smug and handsome； who was connected with the Chicago Press。 Whipping his neatly trousered legs with his bright little cane； he used to appear at the rooms of the players at the Tuesday； Thursday； and Saturday teas which they inaugurated； and discuss the merits of the venture。 Thus the Garrick Players were gradually introduced into the newspapers。 Lane Cross； the smooth…faced； pasty…souled artist who had charge； was a rake at heart； a subtle seduc
