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old house there. He knows that he ought to. But even that wouldn't do much good."
She paused, looking at him with a straight, clear, vigorous glance. He liked the medallion
sharpness of her features--their smooth, Greek modeling.
"Never mind, pet," he replied. "We will arrange all these things later. I don't see my way out of
this just now; but I think the best thing to do is to confess to Lillian some day, and see if some
other plan can't be arranged. I want to fix it so the children won't suffer. I can provide for them
amply, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if Lillian would be willing to let me go. She certainly
wouldn't want any publicity."
He was counting practically, and man-fashion, on her love for her children.
Aileen looked at him with clear, questioning, uncertain eyes. She was not wholly without
sympathy, but in a way this situation did not appeal to her as needing much. Mrs. Cowperwood
was not friendly in her mood toward her. It was not based on anything save a difference in their
point of view. Mrs. Cowperwood could never understand how a girl could carry her head so high
and "put on such airs," and Aileen could not understand how any one could be so lymphatic and
lackadaisical as Lillian Cowperwood. Life was made for riding, driving, dancing, going. It was
made for airs and banter and persiflage and coquetry. To see this woman, the wife of a young,
forceful man like Cowperwood, acting, even though she were five years older and the mother of
two children, as though life on its romantic and enthusiastic pleasurable side were all over was
too much for her. Of course Lillian was unsuited to Frank; of course he needed a young woman
like herself, and fate would surely give him to her. Then what a delicious life they would lead!
"Oh, Frank," she exclaimed to him, over and over, "if we could only manage it. Do you think we
can?"
"Do I think we can? Certainly I do. It's only a matter of time. I think if I were to put the matter to
her clearly, she wouldn't expect me to stay. You look out how you conduct your affairs. If your
father or your brother should ever suspect me, there'd be an explosion in this town, if nothing
worse. They'd fight me in all my money deals, if they didn't kill me. Are you thinking carefully of
what you are doing?"
"All the time. If anything happens I'll deny everything. They can't prove it, if I deny it. I'll come to
you in the long run, just the same."
They were in the Tenth Street house at the time. She stroked his cheeks with the loving fingers
of the wildly enamored woman.
"I'll do anything for you, sweetheart," she declared. "I'd die for you if I had to. I love you so."
"Well, pet, no danger. You won't have to do anything like that. But be careful."
Chapter XXIII
Then, after several years of this secret relationship, in which the ties of sympathy and
understanding grew stronger instead of weaker, came the storm. It burst unexpectedly and out
of a clear sky, and bore no relation to the intention or volition of any individual. It was nothing
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