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been in the banking and street…railway business all my life。 My first wife was a Presbyterian girl； religious； conventional。 She was older than I by six or seven years。 I was happy for a whilefive or six years。 We had two childrenboth still living。 Then I met my present wife。 She was younger than myselfat least ten years； and very good…looking。 She was in some respects more intelligent than my first wifeat least less conventional； more generous； I thought。 I fell in love with her； and when I eventually left Philadelphia I got a divorce and married her。 I was greatly in love with her at the time。 I thought she was an ideal mate for me； and I still think she has many qualities which make her attractive。 But my own ideals in regard to women have all the time been slowly changing。 I have come to see； through various experiments； that she is not the ideal woman for me at all。 She does not understand me。 I don't pretend to understand myself； but it has occurred to me that there might be a woman somewhere who would understand me better than I understand myself； who would see the things that I don't see about myself； and would like me； anyhow。 I might as well tell you that I have been a lover of women always。 There is just one ideal thing in this world to me； and that is the woman that I would like to have。〃
〃I should think it would make it rather difficult for any one woman to discover just which woman you would like to have？〃 smiled Berenice； whimsically。 Cowperwood was unabashed。
〃It would； I presume； unless she should chance to be the very one woman I am talking about；〃 he replied； impressively。
〃I should think she would have her work cut out for her under any circumstances；〃 added Berenice； lightly； but with a touch of sympathy in her voice。
〃I am making a confession；〃 replied Cowperwood； seriously and a little heavily。 〃I am not apologizing for myself。 The women I have known would make ideal wives for some men； but not for me。 Life has taught me that much。 It has changed me。〃
〃And do you think the process has stopped by any means？〃 she replied； quaintly； with that air of superior banter which puzzled； fascinated； defied him。
〃No； I will not say that。 My ideal has become fixed； though； apparently。 I have had it for a number of years now。 It spoils other matters for me。 There is such a thing as an ideal。 We do have a pole…star in physics。〃
As he said this Cowperwood realized that for him he was making a very remarkable confession。 He had come here primarily to magnetize her and control her judgment。 As a matter of fact； it was almost the other way about。 She was almost dominating him。 Lithe； slender； resourceful； histrionic； she was standing before him making him explain himself； only he did not see her so much in that light as in the way of a large； kindly； mothering intelligence which could see； feel； and understand。 She would know how it was； he felt sure。 He could make himself understood if he tried。 Whatever he was or had been； she would not take a petty view。 She could not。 Her answers thus far guaranteed as much。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； 〃we do have a pole…star； but you do not seem able to find it。 Do you expect to find your ideal in any living woman？〃
〃I have found it；〃 he answered； wondering at the ingenuity and complexity of her mindand of his own； for that matterof all mind indeed。 Deep below deep it lay； staggering him at times by its fathomless reaches。 〃I hope you will take seriously what I am going to say； for it will explain so much。 When I began to be interested in your picture I was so because it coincided with the ideal I had in mindthe thing that you think changes swiftly。 That was nearly seven years ago。 Since then it has never changed。 When I saw you at your school on Riverside Drive I was fully convinced。 Although I have said nothing； I have remained so。 Perhaps you think I had no right to any such feelings。 Most people would agree with you。 I had them and do have them just the same； and it explains my relation to your mother。 When she came to me once in Louisville and told me of her difficulties I was glad to help her for your sake。 That has been my reason ever since； although she does not know that。 In some respects； Berenice； your mother is a little dull。 All this while I have been in love with youintensely so。 As you stand there now you seem to me amazingly beautifulthe ideal I have been telling you about。 Don't be disturbed； I sha'n't press any attentions on you。〃 （Berenice had moved very slightly。 She was concerned as much for him as for herself。 His power was so wide； his power so great。 She could not help taking him seriously when he was so serious。） 〃I have done whatever I have done in connection with you and your mother because I have been in love with you and because I wanted you to become the splendid thing I thought you ought to become。 You have not known it； but you are the cause of my building the house on Fifth Avenuethe principal reason。 I wanted to build something worthy of you。 A dream？ Certainly。 Everything we do seems to have something of that quality。 Its beauty； if there is any； is due to you。 I made it beautiful thinking of you。
He paused； and Berenice gave no sign。 Her first impulse had been to object； but her vanity； her love of art； her love of powerall were touched。 At the same time she was curious now as to whether he had merely expected to take her as his mistress or to wait until he could honor her as his wife。
〃I suppose you are wondering whether I ever expected to marry you or not；〃 he went on； getting the thought out of her mind。 〃I am no different from many men in that respect； Berenice。 I will be frank。 I wanted you in any way that I could get you。 I was living in the hope all along that you would fall in love with meas I had with you。 I hated Braxmar here； not long ago； when he appeared on the scene； but I could never have thought of interfering。 I was quite prepared to give you up。 I have envied every man I have ever seen with youyoung and old。 I have even envied your mother for being so close to you when I could not be。 At the same time I have wanted you to have everything that would help you in any way。 I did not want to interfere with you in case you found some one whom you could truly love if I knew that you could not love me。 There is the whole story outside of anything you may know。 But it is not because of this that I came to…day。 Not to tell you this。〃
He paused； as if expecting her to say something； though she made no comment beyond a questioning 〃Yes？〃
〃The thing that I have come to say is that I want you to go on as you were before。 Whatever you may think of me or of what I have just told you； I want you to believe that I am sincere and disinterested in what I am telling you now。 My dream in connection with you is not quite over。 Chance might make me eligible if you should happen to care。 But I want you to go on and be happy； regardless of me。 I have dreamed； but I dare say it has been a mistake。 Hold your head highyou have a right to。 Be a lady。 Marry any one you really love。 I will see that you have a suitable marriage portion。 I love you； Berenice； but I will make it a fatherly affection from now on。 When I die I will put you in my will。 But go on now in the spirit you were going before。 I really can't be happy unless I think you are going to be。〃
He paused； still looking at her； believing for the time being what he said。 If he should die she would find herself in his will。 If she were to go on and socialize and seek she might find some one to love； but also she might think of him more kindly before she did so。 What would be the cost of her as a ward compared to his satisfaction and delight in having her at least friendly and sympathetic and being in her good graces and confidence？
Berenice； who had always been more or less interested in him； temperamentally biased； indeed； in his direction because of his efficiency； simplicity； directness； and force； was especially touched in this instance by his utter frankness and generosity。 She might question his temperamental control over his own sincerity in the future； but she could scarcely question that at present he was sincere。 Moreover； his long period of secret love and admiration； the thought of so powerful a man dreaming of her in this fashion； was so flattering。 It soothed her troubled vanity and shame in what had gone before。 His straightforward confession had a kind of nobility which was electric； moving。 She looked at him as he stood there； a little gray about the templesthe most appealing ornament of some men to some womenand for the life of her she could not help being moved by a kind of tenderness； sympathy； mothering affection。 Obviously he did need the woman his attitude seemed to show that he needed； some woman of culture； spirit； taste； amorousness； or； at least； he was entitled to dream of her。 As he stood before her he seemed a kind of superman； and yet also a bad boyhandsome； powerful； hopeful； not so very much older than herself now； impelled by some blazing internal force which harried him on and on。 How much did he really care for her？ How much could he？ How much coul