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g to feel that she had made a serious mistake。 Lynde was delightful； after his fashion。 He could amuse her with a different type of experience from any that Cowperwood had to relate。 Once they were intimate he had； with an easy； genial air； confessed to all sorts of liaisons in Europe and America。 He was utterly pagana faun and at the same time he was truly of the smart world。 His open contempt of all but one or two of the people in Chicago whom Aileen had secretly admired and wished to associate with； and his easy references to figures of importance in the East and in Paris and London； raised him amazingly in her estimation； it made her feel； sad to relate； that she had by no means lowered herself in succumbing so readily to his forceful charms。
Nevertheless； because he was what he wasgenial； complimentary； affectionate； but a playboy； merely； and a soldier of fortune； with no desire to make over her life for her on any new basisshe was now grieving over the futility of this romance which had got her nowhere； and which； in all probability； had alienated Cowperwood for good。 He was still outwardly genial and friendly； but their relationship was now colored by a sense of mistake and uncertainty which existed on both sides； but which； in Aileen's case； amounted to a subtle species of soul…torture。 Hitherto she had been the aggrieved one； the one whose loyalty had never been in question； and whose persistent affection and faith had been greatly sinned against。 Now all this was changed。 The manner in which he had sinned against her was plain enough； but the way in which； out of pique； she had forsaken him was in the other balance。 Say what one will； the loyalty of woman； whether a condition in nature or an evolved accident of sociology； persists as a dominating thought in at least a section of the race； and women themselves； be it said； are the ones who most loudly and openly subscribe to it。 Cowperwood himself was fully aware that Aileen had deserted him； not because she loved him less or Lynde more； but because she was hurtand deeply so。 Aileen knew that he knew this。 From one point of view it enraged her and made her defiant； from another it grieved her to think she had uselessly sinned against his faith in her。 Now he had ample excuse to do anything he chose。 Her best claim on himher woundsshe had thrown away as one throws away a weapon。 Her pride would not let her talk to him about this； and at the same time she could not endure the easy； tolerant manner with which he took it。 His smiles； his forgiveness； his sometimes pleasant jesting were all a horrible offense。
To complete her mental quandary； she was already beginning to quarrel with Lynde over this matter of her unbreakable regard for Cowperwood。 With the sufficiency of a man of the world Lynde intended that she should succumb to him completely and forget her wonderful husband。 When with him she was apparently charmed and interested； yielding herself freely； but this was more out of pique at Cowperwood's neglect than from any genuine passion for Lynde。 In spite of her pretensions of anger； her sneers； and criticisms whenever Cowperwood's name came up； she was； nevertheless； hopelessly fond of him and identified with him spiritually； and it was not long before Lynde began to suspect this。 Such a discovery is a sad one for any master of women to make。 It jolted his pride severely。
〃You care for him still； don't you？〃 he asked； with a wry smile； upon one occasion。 They were sitting at dinner in a private room at Kinsley's； and Aileen； whose color was high； and who was becomingly garbed in metallic…green silk； was looking especially handsome。 Lynde had been proposing that she should make special arrangements to depart with him for a three…months' stay in Europe； but she would have nothing to do with the project。 She did not dare。 Such a move would make Cowperwood feel that she was alienating herself forever； it would give him an excellent excuse to leave her。
〃Oh； it isn't that；〃 she had declared； in reply to Lynde's query。 〃I just don't want to go。 I can't。 I'm not prepared。 It's nothing but a notion of yours； anyhow。 You're tired of Chicago because it's getting near spring。 You go and I'll be here when you come back； or I may decide to come over later。〃 She smiled。
Lynde pulled a dark face。
〃Hell！〃 he said。 〃I know how it is with you。 You still stick to him； even when he treats you like a dog。 You pretend not to love him when as a matter of fact you're mad about him。 I've seen it all along。 You don't really care anything about me。 You can't。 You're too crazy about him。〃
〃Oh； shut up！〃 replied Aileen； irritated greatly for the moment by this onslaught。 〃You talk like a fool。 I'm not anything of the sort。 I admire him。 How could any one help it？〃 （At this time； of course； Cowperwood's name was filling the city。） 〃He's a very wonderful man。 He was never brutal to me。 He's a full…sized manI'll say that for him。〃
By now Aileen had become sufficiently familiar with Lynde to criticize him in her own mind； and even outwardly by innuendo； for being a loafer and idler who had never created in any way the money he was so freely spending。 She had little power to psychologize concerning social conditions； but the stalwart constructive persistence of Cowperwood along commercial lines coupled with the current American contempt of leisure reflected somewhat unfavorably upon Lynde； she thought。
Lynde's face clouded still more at this outburst。 〃You go to the devil；〃 he retorted。 〃I don't get you at all。 Sometimes you talk as though you were fond of me。 At other times you're all wrapped up in him。 Now you either care for me or you don't。 Which is it？ If you're so crazy about him that you can't leave home for a month or so you certainly can't care much about me。〃
Aileen； however； because of her long experience with Cowperwood； was more than a match for Lynde。 At the same time she was afraid to let go of him for fear that she should have no one to care for her。 She liked him。 He was a happy resource in her misery； at least for the moment。 Yet the knowledge that Cowperwood looked upon this affair as a heavy blemish on her pristine solidarity cooled her。 At the thought of him and of her whole tarnished and troubled career she was very unhappy。
〃Hell！〃 Lynde had repeated； irritably； 〃stay if you want to。 I'll not be trying to over…persuade youdepend on that。〃
They quarreled still further over this matter； and； though they eventually made up； both sensed the drift toward an ultimately unsatisfactory conclusion。
It was one morning not long after this that Cowperwood； feeling in a genial mood over his affairs； came into Aileen's room； as he still did on occasions； to finish dressing and pass the time of day。
〃Well；〃 he observed； gaily； as he stood before the mirror adjusting his collar and tie； 〃how are you and Lynde getting along these daysnicely？〃
〃Oh； you go to the devil！〃 replied Aileen； flaring up and struggling with her divided feelings； which pained her constantly。 〃If it hadn't been for you there wouldn't be any chance for your smarty 'how…am…I…getting…alongs。' I am getting along all rightfine regardless of anything you may think。 He's as good a man as you are any day； and better。 I like him。 At least he's fond of me； and that's more than you are。 Why should you care what I do？ You don't； so why talk about it？ I want you to let me alone。〃
〃Aileen； Aileen； how you carry on！ Don't flare up so。 I meant nothing by it。 I'm sorry as much for myself as for you。 I've told you I'm not jealous。 You think I'm critical。 I'm not anything of the kind。 I know how you feel。 That's all very good。〃
〃Oh yes； yes；〃 she replied。 〃Well； you can keep your feelings to yourself。 Go to the devil！ Go to the devil； I tell you！〃 Her eyes blazed。
He stood now； fully dressed； in the center of the rug before her； and Aileen looked at him； keen； valiant； handsomeher old Frank。 Once again she regretted her nominal faithlessness； and raged at him in her heart for his indifference。 〃You dog；〃 she was about to add； 〃you have no heart！〃 but she changed her mind。 Her throat tightened and her eyes filled。 She wanted to run to him and say： 〃Oh； Frank； don't you understand how it all is； how it all came about？ Won't you love me againcan't you？〃 But she restrained herself。 It seemed to her that he might understandthat he would； in factbut that he would never again be faithful； anyhow。 And she would so gladly have discarded Lynde and any and all men if he would only have said the word； would only have really and sincerely wished her to do so。
It was one day not long after their morning quarrel in her bedroom that Cowperwood broached the matter of living in New York to Aileen； pointing out that thereby his art…collection； which was growing constantly； might be more suitably housed； and that it would give her a second opportunity to enter social life。
〃So that you can get rid of me out here；〃 commented Aileen； little knowing of Berenice Fleming。
〃Not at all；〃 replied Cowperwood； sweetly。 〃You see how things are。 There's no chance of our getting into Chicago society。 There's too much financial opposition agai