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isfy myself；〃 was his motto； and it might well have been emblazoned upon any coat of arms which he could have contrived to set forth his claim to intellectual and social nobility。
But this matter of Aileen was up for consideration and solution at this present moment； and because of his forceful； determined character he was presently not at all disturbed by the problem it presented。 It was a problem； like some of those knotty financial complications which presented themselves daily； but it was not insoluble。 What did he want to do？ He couldn't leave his wife and fly with Aileen； that was certain。 He had too many connections。 He had too many social； and thinking of his children and parents； emotional as well as financial ties to bind him。 Besides； he was not at all sure that he wanted to。 He did not intend to leave his growing interests； and at the same time he did not intend to give up Aileen immediately。 The unheralded manifestation of interest on her part was too attractive。 Mrs。 Cowperwood was no longer what she should be physically and mentally； and that in itself to him was sufficient to justify his present interest in this girl。 Why fear anything； if only he could figure out a way to achieve it without harm to himself？ At the same time he thought it might never be possible for him to figure out any practical or protective program for either himself or Aileen； and that made him silent and reflective。 For by now he was intensely drawn to her； as he could feelsomething chemic and hence dynamic was uppermost in him now and clamoring for expression。
At the same time； in contemplating his wife in connection with all this； he had many qualms； some emotional； some financial。 While she had yielded to his youthful enthusiasm for her after her husband's death； he had only since learned that she was a natural conservator of public moralsthe cold purity of the snowdrift in so far as the world might see； combined at times with the murky mood of the wanton。 And yet； as he had also learned； she was ashamed of the passion that at times swept and dominated her。 This irritated Cowperwood； as it would always irritate any strong； acquisitive； direct…seeing temperament。 While he had no desire to acquaint the whole world with his feelings； why should there be concealment between them； or at least mental evasion of a fact which physically she subscribed to？ Why do one thing and think another？ To be sure； she was devoted to him in her quiet way； not passionately （as he looked back he could not say that she had ever been that）； but intellectually。 Duty； as she understood it； played a great part in this。 She was dutiful。 And then what people thought； what the time…spirit demandedthese were the great things。 Aileen； on the contrary； was probably not dutiful； and it was obvious that she had no temperamental connection with current convention。 No doubt she had been as well instructed as many another girl； but look at her。 She was not obeying her instructions。
In the next three months this relationship took on a more flagrant form。 Aileen； knowing full well what her parents would think； how unspeakable in the mind of the current world were the thoughts she was thinking； persisted； nevertheless； in so thinking and longing。 Cowperwood； now that she had gone thus far and compromised herself in intention； if not in deed； took on a peculiar charm for her。 It was not his bodygreat passion is never that； exactly。 The flavor of his spirit was what attracted and compelled； like the glow of a flame to a moth。 There was a light of romance in his eyes； which； however governed and controlledwas directive and almost all…powerful to her。
When he touched her hand at parting； it was as though she had received an electric shock； and she recalled that it was very difficult for her to look directly into his eyes。 Something akin to a destructive force seemed to issue from them at times。 Other people； men particularly； found it difficult to face Cowperwood's glazed stare。 It was as though there were another pair of eyes behind those they saw； watching through thin； obscuring curtains。 You could not tell what he was thinking。
And during the next few months she found herself coming closer and closer to Cowperwood。 At his home one evening； seated at the piano； no one else being present at the moment； he leaned over and kissed her。 There was a cold； snowy street visible through the interstices of the hangings of the windows； and gas…lamps flickering outside。 He had come in early； and hearing Aileen； he came to where she was seated at the piano。 She was wearing a rough； gray wool cloth dress； ornately banded with fringed Oriental embroidery in blue and burnt…orange； and her beauty was further enhanced by a gray hat planned to match her dress； with a plume of shaded orange and blue。 On her fingers were four or five rings； far too manyan opal； an emerald； a ruby； and a diamondflashing visibly as she played。
She knew it was he； without turning。 He came beside her； and she looked up smiling； the reverie evoked by Schubert partly vanishing or melting into another mood。 Suddenly he bent over and pressed his lips firmly to hers。 His mustache thrilled her with its silky touch。 She stopped playing and tried to catch her breath； for； strong as she was； it affected her breathing。 Her heart was beating like a triphammer。 She did not say； 〃Oh；〃 or； 〃You mustn't；〃 but rose and walked over to a window； where she lifted a curtain； pretending to look out。 She felt as though she might faint； so intensely happy was she。
Cowperwood followed her quickly。 Slipping his arms about her waist； he looked at her flushed cheeks； her clear； moist eyes and red mouth。
〃You love me？〃 he whispered； stern and compelling because of his desire。
〃Yes！ Yes！ You know I do。〃
He crushed her face to his； and she put up her hands and stroked his hair。
A thrilling sense of possession； mastery； happiness and understanding； love of her and of her body； suddenly overwhelmed him。
〃I love you；〃 he said； as though he were surprised to hear himself say it。 〃I didn't think I did； but I do。 You're beautiful。 I'm wild about you。〃
〃And I love you〃 she answered。 〃I can't help it。 I know I shouldn't； butoh〃 Her hands closed tight over his ears and temples。 She put her lips to his and dreamed into his eyes。 Then she stepped away quickly； looking out into the street； and he walked back into the living…room。 They were quite alone。 He was debating whether he should risk anything further when Norah； having been in to see Anna next door； appeared and not long afterward Mrs。 Cowperwood。 Then Aileen and Norah left。
Chapter XX
This definite and final understanding having been reached； it was but natural that this liaison should proceed to a closer and closer relationship。 Despite her religious upbringing； Aileen was decidedly a victim of her temperament。 Current religious feeling and belief could not control her。 For the past nine or ten years there had been slowly forming in her mind a notion of what her lover should be like。 He should be strong； handsome； direct； successful； with clear eyes； a ruddy glow of health； and a certain native understanding and sympathya love of life which matched her own。 Many young men had approached her。 Perhaps the nearest realization of her ideal was Father David； of St。 Timothy's； and he was； of course； a priest and sworn to celibacy。 No word had ever passed between them but he had been as conscious of her as she of him。 Then came Frank Cowperwood； and by degrees； because of his presence and contact； he had been slowly built up in her mind as the ideal person。 She was drawn as planets are drawn to their sun。
It is a question as to what would have happened if antagonistic forces could have been introduced just at this time。 Emotions and liaisons of this character can； of course； occasionally be broken up and destroyed。 The characters of the individuals can be modified or changed to a certain extent； but the force must be quite sufficient。 Fear is a great deterrentfear of material loss where there is no spiritual dreadbut wealth and position so often tend to destroy this dread。 It is so easy to scheme with means。 Aileen had no spiritual dread whatever。 Cowperwood was without spiritual or religious feeling。 He looked at this girl； and his one thought was how could he so deceive the world that he could enjoy her love and leave his present state undisturbed。 Love her he did surely。
Business necessitated his calling at the Butlers' quite frequently； and on each occasion he saw Aileen。 She managed to slip forward and squeeze his hand the first time he cameto steal a quick； vivid kiss； and another time； as he was going out； she suddenly appeared from behind the curtains hanging at the parlor door。
〃Honey！〃
The voice was soft and coaxing。 He turned； giving her a warning nod in the direction of her father's room upstairs。
She stood there； holding out one hand； and he stepped forward for a second。 Instantly her arms were about his neck； as he slipped his about her waist。
〃I long to see you so。〃
〃I； too。 I'll fix some way。 I'm thinking。〃
He released her arms； and went out； and she ran to t