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She did not understand the bitter reaches of life at all。 She waited； humming for effect； until she heard her father go downstairs to dinner on this tenth day of December； then leaned over the upper balustrade to make sure that Owen； Callum； Norah； and her mother were at the table； and that Katy； the housemaid； was not anywhere in sight。 Then she slipped into her father's den； and； taking a note from inside her dress； laid it on his desk； and went out。 It was addressed to 〃Father；〃 and read：
Dear Father；I just cannot do what you want me to。 I have made up my mind that I love Mr。 Cowperwood too much； so I am going away。 Don't look for me with him。 You won't find me where you think。 I am not going to him； I will not be there。 I am going to try to get along by myself for a while； until he wants me and can marry me。 I'm terribly sorry； but I just can't do what you want。 I can't ever forgive you for the way you acted to me。 Tell mama and Norah and the boys good…by for me。 Aileen
To insure its discovery； she picked up Butler's heavy…rimmed spectacles which he employed always when reading； and laid them on it。 For a moment she felt very strange； somewhat like a thief a new sensation for her。 She even felt a momentary sense of ingratitude coupled with pain。 Perhaps she was doing wrong。 Her father had been very good to her。 Her mother would feel so very bad。 Norah would be sorry； and Callum and Owen。 Still； they did not understand her any more。 She was resentful of her father's attitude。 He might have seen what the point was； but no； he was too old； too hidebound in religion and conventional ideashe never would。 He might never let her come back。 Very well； she would get along somehow。 She would show him。 She might get a place as a school…teacher； and live with the Calligans a long while； if necessary； or teach music。
She stole downstairs and out into the vestibule； opening the outer door and looking out into the street。 The lamps were already flaring in the dark； and a cool wind was blowing。 Her portmanteau was heavy； but she was quite strong。 She walked briskly to the corner； which was some fifty feet away； and turned south； walking rather nervously and irritably； for this was a new experience for her； and it all seemed so undignified； so unlike anything she was accustomed to doing。 She put her bag down on a street corner； finally； to rest。 A boy whistling in the distance attracted her attention； and as he drew near she called to him： 〃Boy！ Oh； boy！〃
He came over； looking at her curiously。
〃Do you want to earn some money？〃
〃Yes； ma'am；〃 he replied politely； adjusting a frowsy cap over one ear。
〃Carry this bag for me；〃 said Aileen； and he picked it up and marched off。
In due time she arrived at the Calligans'； and amid much excitement was installed in the bosom of her new home。 She took her situation with much nonchalance； once she was properly placed； distributing her toilet articles and those of personal wear with quiet care。 The fact that she was no longer to have the services of Kathleen； the maid who had served her and her mother and Norah jointly； was odd； though not trying。 She scarcely felt that she had parted from these luxuries permanently； and so made herself comfortable。
Mamie Calligan and her mother were adoring slaveys； so she was not entirely out of the atmosphere which she craved and to which she was accustomed。
Chapter XLVI
Meanwhile； in the Butler home the family was assembling for dinner。 Mrs。 Butler was sitting in rotund complacency at the foot of the table； her gray hair combed straight back from her round； shiny forehead。 She had on a dark…gray silk dress； trimmed with gray…and…white striped ribbon。 It suited her florid temperament admirably。 Aileen had dictated her mother's choice； and had seen that it had been properly made。 Norah was refreshingly youthful in a pale…green dress； with red…velvet cuffs and collar。 She looked young； slender； gay。 Her eyes； complexion and hair were fresh and healthy。 She was trifling with a string of coral beads which her mother had just given her。
〃Oh； look； Callum；〃 she said to her brother opposite her； who was drumming idly on the table with his knife and fork。 〃Aren't they lovely？ Mama gave them to me。〃
〃Mama does more for you than I would。 You know what you'd get from me； don't you？〃
〃What？〃
He looked at her teasingly。 For answer Norah made a face at him。 Just then Owen came in and took his place at the table。 Mrs。 Butler saw Norah's grimace。
〃Well； that'll win no love from your brother； ye can depend on that；〃 she commented。
〃Lord； what a day！〃 observed Owen； wearily； unfolding his napkin。 〃I've had my fill of work for once。〃
〃What's the trouble？〃 queried his mother； feelingly。
〃No real trouble； mother；〃 he replied。 〃Just everythingducks and drakes； that's all。〃
〃Well； ye must ate a good； hearty meal now； and that'll refresh ye；〃 observed his mother； genially and feelingly。 〃Thompson〃she was referring to the family grocer〃brought us the last of his beans。 You must have some of those。〃
〃Sure； beans'll fix it； whatever it is； Owen；〃 joked Callum。 〃Mother's got the answer。〃
〃They're fine； I'd have ye know；〃 replied Mrs。 Butler； quite unconscious of the joke。
〃No doubt of it； mother；〃 replied Callum。 〃Real brain…food。 Let's feed some to Norah。〃
〃You'd better eat some yourself； smarty。 My； but you're gay！ I suppose you're going out to see somebody。 That's why。〃
〃Right you are； Norah。 Smart girl； you。 Five or six。 Ten to fifteen minutes each。 I'd call on you if you were nicer。〃
〃You would if you got the chance；〃 mocked Norah。 〃I'd have you know I wouldn't let you。 I'd feel very bad if I couldn't get somebody better than you。〃
〃As good as； you mean；〃 corrected Callum。
〃Children； children！〃 interpolated Mrs。 Butler； calmly； looking about for old John； the servant。 〃You'll be losin' your tempers in a minute。 Hush now。 Here comes your father。 Where's Aileen？〃
Butler walked heavily in and took his seat。
John； the servant； appeared bearing a platter of beans among other things； and Mrs。 Butler asked him to send some one to call Aileen。
〃It's gettin' colder； I'm thinkin'；〃 said Butler； by way of conversation； and eyeing Aileen's empty chair。 She would come soon nowhis heavy problem。 He had been very tactful these last two monthsavoiding any reference to Cowperwood in so far as he could help in her presence。
〃It's colder；〃 remarked Owen； 〃much colder。 We'll soon see real winter now。〃
Old John began to offer the various dishes in order； but when all had been served Aileen had not yet come。
〃See where Aileen is； John；〃 observed Mrs。 Butler； interestedly。 〃The meal will be gettin' cold。〃
Old John returned with the news that Aileen was not in her room。
〃Sure she must be somewhere；〃 commented Mrs。 Butler； only slightly perplexed。 〃She'll be comin'； though； never mind； if she wants to。 She knows it's meal…time。〃
The conversation drifted from a new water…works that was being planned to the new city hall； then nearing completion； Cowperwood's financial and social troubles； and the state of the stock market generally； a new gold…mine in Arizona； the departure of Mrs。 Mollenhauer the following Tuesday for Europe； with appropriate comments by Norah and Callum； and a Christmas ball that was going to be given for charity。
〃Aileen'll be wantin' to go to that；〃 commented Mrs。 Butler。
〃I'm going； you bet；〃 put in Norah。
〃Who's going to take you？〃 asked Callum。
〃That's my affair； mister；〃 she replied； smartly。
The meal was over； and Mrs。 Butler strolled up to Aileen's room to see why she had not come down to dinner。 Butler entered his den； wishing so much that he could take his wife into his confidence concerning all that was worrying him。 On his desk； as he sat down and turned up the light； he saw the note。 He recognized Aileen's handwriting at once。 What could she mean by writing him？ A sense of the untoward came to him； and he tore it open slowly； and； putting on his glasses； contemplated it solemnly。
So Aileen was gone。 The old man stared at each word as if it had been written in fire。 She said she had not gone with Cowperwood。 It was possible； just the same； that he had run away from Philadelphia and taken her with him。 This was the last straw。 This ended it。 Aileen lured away from hometo whereto what？ Butler could scarcely believe； though； that Cowperwood had tempted her to do this。 He had too much at stake； it would involve his own and Butler's families。 The papers would be certain to get it quickly。 He got up； crumpling the paper in his hand； and turned about at a noise。 His wife was coming in。 He pulled himself together and shoved the letter in his pocket。
〃Aileen's not in her room；〃 she said； curiously。 〃She didn't say anything to you about going out； did she？〃
〃No；〃 he replied； truthfully； wondering how soon he should have to tell his wife。
〃That's odd；〃 observed Mrs。 Butler； doubtfully。 〃She must have gone out after somethin'。 It's a wonder she wouldn't tell somebody。〃
Butler gave no sign。 He dared not。