It was Butler’s habit when he became involved in these

“You surely are not going to go on fighting about that now,” family quarrels, which were as shallow as puddles, to wave pleaded Mrs. Butler, as strong and patient as fate itself. She 112

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knew where Aileen’s trouble lay.

whole family atmosphere were at fault? But she played

“But we might have a decent house,” insisted Aileen. “Or Schumann, Schubert, Offenbach, Chopin, and the old this one done over,” whispered Norah to her mother.

gentleman strolled to and fro and mused, smiling. There was

“Hush now! In good time,” replied Mrs. Butler to Norah.

real feeling and a thoughtful interpretation given to some of

“Wait. We’ll fix it all up some day, sure. You run to your these things, for Aileen was not without sentiment, though lessons now. You’ve had enough.” she was so strong, vigorous, and withal so defiant; but it was Norah arose and left. Aileen subsided. Her father was sim-all lost on him. He looked on her, his bright, healthy, entic-ply stubborn and impossible. And yet he was sweet, too. She ingly beautiful daughter, and wondered what was going to pouted in order to compel him to apologize.

become of her. Some rich man was going to many her—

“Come now,” he said, after they had left the table, and some fine, rich young man with good business instincts—

conscious of the fact that his daughter was dissatisfied with and he, her father, would leave her a lot of money.

him. He must do something to placate her. “Play me There was a reception and a dance to be given to celebrate somethin’ on the piano, somethin’ nice.” He preferred showy, the opening of the two Cowperwood homes—the reception clattery things which exhibited her skill and muscular abil-to be held in Frank Cowperwood’s residence, and the dance ity and left him wondering how she did it. That was what later at his father’s. The Henry Cowperwood domicile was education was for—to enable her to play these very difficult much more pretentious, the reception-room, parlor, music-things quickly and forcefully. “And you can have a new pi-room, and conservatory being in this case all on the ground ano any time you like. Go and see about it. This looks pretty floor and much larger. Ellsworth had arranged it so that those good to me, but if you don’t want it, all right.” Aileen squeezed rooms, on occasion, could be thrown into one, leaving excel-his arm. What was the use of arguing with her father? What lent space for promenade, auditorium, dancing—anything, good would a lone piano do, when the whole house and the in fact, that a large company might require. It had been the 113

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Intention all along of the two men to use these houses jointly.

the evening a less democratic group if possible was to be There was, to begin with, a combination use of the various entertained, albeit it would have to be extended to include servants, the butler, gardener, laundress, and maids. Frank the friends of Anna, Mrs. Cowperwood, Edward, and Jo-Cowperwood employed a governess for his children. The but-seph, and any list which Frank might personally have in mind.

ler was really not a butler in the best sense. He was Henry This was to be the list. The best that could be persuaded, Cowperwood’s private servitor. But he could carve and pre-commanded, or influenced of the young and socially elect side, and he could be used in either house as occasion war-were to be invited here.

ranted. There was also a hostler and a coachman for the joint It was not possible, however, not to invite the Butlers, par-stable. When two carriages were required at once, both drove.

ents and children, particularly the children, for both after-It made a very agreeable and satisfactory working arrangement.

noon and evening, since Cowperwood was personally at-The preparation of this reception had been quite a matter tracted to Aileen and despite the fact that the presence of the of importance, for it was necessary for financial reasons to parents would be most unsatisfactory. Even Aileen as he knew make it as extensive as possible, and for social reasons as ex-was a little unsatisfactory to Anna and Mrs. Frank clusive. It was therefore decided that the afternoon recep-Cowperwood; and these two, when they were together su-tion at Frank’s house, with its natural overflow into Henry pervising the list of invitations, often talked about it.

W.’s, was to be for all—the Tighes, Steners, Butlers,

“She’s so hoidenish,” observed Anna, to her sister-in-law, Mollenhauers, as well as the more select groups to which, for when they came to the name of Aileen. “She thinks she knows instance, belonged Arthur Rivers, Mrs. Seneca Davis, Mr.

so much, and she isn’t a bit refined. Her father! Well, if I had and Mrs. Trenor Drake, and some of the younger Drexels her father I wouldn’t talk so smart.” and Clarks, whom Frank had met. It was not likely that the Mrs. Cowperwood, who was before her secretaire in her latter would condescend, but cards had to be sent. Later in new boudoir, lifted her eyebrows.

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“You know, Anna, I sometimes wish that Frank’s business dear! oh, dear! she does think she is so much!” And Anna did not compel me to have anything to do with them. Mrs.

giggled, half in reproach, half in amusement.

Butler is such a bore. She means well enough, but she doesn’t

“I suppose we’ll have to invite her; I don’t see how we can know anything. And Aileen is too rough. She’s too forward, get out of it. I know just how she’ll do, though. She’ll walk I think. She comes over here and plays upon the piano, par-about and pose and hold her nose up.” ticularly when Frank’s here. I wouldn’t mind so much for

“Really, I don’t see how she can,” commented Anna. “Now, myself, but I know it must annoy him. All her pieces are so I like Norah. She’s much nicer. She doesn’t think she’s so noisy. She never plays anything really delicate and refined.” much.”

“I don’t like the way she dresses,” observed Anna, sympa-

“I like Norah, too,” added Mrs. Cowperwood. “She’s re-thetically. “She gets herself up too conspicuously. Now, the ally very sweet, and to me she’s prettier.” other day I saw her out driving, and oh, dear! you should

“Oh, indeed, I think so, too.” have seen her! She had on a crimson Zouave jacket heavily It was curious, though, that it was Aileen who commanded braided with black about the edges, and a turban with a huge nearly all their attention and fixed their minds on her so-crimson feather, and crimson ribbons reaching nearly to her called idiosyncrasies. All they said was in its peculiar way waist. Imagine that kind of a hat to drive in. And her hands!

true; but in addition the girl was really beautiful and much You should have seen the way she held her hands—oh—just above the average intelligence and force. She was running so—self-consciously. They were curved just so”—and she deep with ambition, and she was all the more conspicuous, showed how. “She had on yellow gauntlets, and she held the and in a way irritating to some, because she reflected in her reins in one hand and the whip in the other. She drives just own consciousness her social defects, against which she was like mad when she drives, anyhow, and William, the foot-inwardly fighting. She resented the fact that people could man, was up behind her. You should just have seen her. Oh, justly consider her parents ineligible, and for that reason her 115

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also. She was intrinsically as worth while as any one.

was so informed and intensely forceful. And already he was Cowperwood, so able, and rapidly becoming so distinguished, so much admired by so many, her own father and mother seemed to realize it. The days that had been passing had included, and by Mr. Mollenhauer and Mr. Simpson, so she brought them somewhat closer together in spirit. He was heard. And his own home and office were so beautiful. Be-nice to her and liked to talk to her. Whenever he was at her sides, his quiet intensity matched her restless force.

home now, or she was at his and he was present, he managed Aileen and her sister were accordingly invited to the recep-somehow to say a word. He would come over quite near and tion but the Butlers mere and pere were given to understand, look at her in a warm friendly fashion.