登陆注册
20052700000016

第16章 Chapter VI The New Queen of the Home(3)

Addison or Mrs. Rambaud he could suggest or follow appropriate leads. Aileen, unfortunately, was not so much at home, for her natural state and mood were remote not so much from a serious as from an accurate conception of life. So many things, except in a very nebulous and suggestive way, were sealed books to Aileen--merely faint, distant tinklings. She knew nothing of literature except certain authors who to the truly cultured might seem banal. As for art, it was merely a jingle of names gathered from Cowperwood's private comments. Her one redeeming feature was that she was truly beautiful herself--a radiant, vibrating objet d'art. A man like Rambaud, remote, conservative, constructive, saw the place of a woman like Aileen in the life of a man like Cowperwood on the instant. She was such a woman as he would have prized himself in a certain capacity.

Sex interest in all strong men usually endures unto the end, governed sometimes by a stoic resignation. The experiment of such attraction can, as they well know, be made over and over, but to what end? For many it becomes too troublesome. Yet the presence of so glittering a spectacle as Aileen on this night touched Mr.

Rambaud with an ancient ambition. He looked at her almost sadly.

Once he was much younger. But alas, he had never attracted the flaming interest of any such woman. As he studied her now he wished that he might have enjoyed such good fortune.

In contrast with Aileen's orchid glow and tinted richness Mrs.

Rambaud's simple gray silk, the collar of which came almost to her ears, was disturbing--almost reproving--but Mrs. Rambaud's ladylike courtesy and generosity made everything all right. She came out of intellectual New England--the Emerson-Thoreau-Channing Phillips school of philosophy--and was broadly tolerant. As a matter of fact, she liked Aileen and all the Orient richness she represented.

"Such a sweet little house this is," she said, smilingly. "We've noticed it often. We're not so far removed from you but what we might be called neighbors."

Aileen's eyes spoke appreciation. Although she could not fully grasp Mrs. Rambaud, she understood her, in a way, and liked her.

She was probably something like her own mother would have been if the latter had been highly educated. While they were moving into the reception-room Taylor Lord was announced. Cowperwood took his hand and brought him forward to the others.

"Mrs. Cowperwood," said Lord, admiringly--a tall, rugged, thoughtful person--"let me be one of many to welcome you to Chicago. After Philadelphia you will find some things to desire at first, but we all come to like it eventually."

"Oh, I'm sure I shall," smiled Aileen.

"I lived in Philadelphia years ago, but only for a little while," added Lord. "I left there to come here."

The observation gave Aileen the least pause, but she passed it over lightly. This sort of accidental reference she must learn to expect; there might be much worse bridges to cross.

"I find Chicago all right," she replied, briskly. "There's nothing the matter with it. It has more snap than Philadelphia ever had."

"I'm glad to hear you say that. I like it so much. Perhaps it's because I find such interesting things to do here."

He was admiring the splendor of her arms and hair. What need had beautiful woman to be intellectual, anyhow, he was saying to himself, sensing that Aileen might be deficient in ultimate refinement.

Once more an announcement from the butler, and now Mr. and Mrs.

Addison entered. Addison was not at all concerned over coming here--liked the idea of it; his own position and that of his wife in Chicago was secure. "How are you, Cowperwood?" he beamed, laying one hand on the latter's shoulder. "This is fine of you to have us in to-night. Mrs. Cowperwood, I've been telling your husband for nearly a year now that he should bring you out here.

Did he tell you?" (Addison had not as yet confided to his wife the true history of Cowperwood and Aileen.)

"Yes, indeed," replied Aileen, gaily, feeling that Addison was charmed by her beauty. "I've been wanting to come, too. It's his fault that I wasn't here sooner."

Addison, looking circumspectly at Aileen, said to himself that she was certainly a stunning-looking woman. So she was the cause of the first wife's suit. No wonder. What a splendid creature! He contrasted her with Mrs. Addison, and to his wife's disadvantage.

She had never been as striking, as stand-upish as Aileen, though possibly she might have more sense. Jove! if he could find a woman like Aileen to-day. Life would take on a new luster. And yet he had women--very carefully, very subterraneously. But he had them.

"It's such a pleasure to meet you," Mrs. Addison, a corpulent, bejeweled lady, was saying to Aileen. "My husband and yours have become the best of friends, apparently. We must see more of each other."

She babbled on in a puffy social way, and Aileen felt as though she were getting along swiftly. The butler brought in a great tray of appetizers and cordials, and put them softly on a remote table. Dinner was served, and the talk flowed on; they discussed the growth of the city, a new church that Lord was building ten blocks farther out; Rambaud told about some humorous land swindles.

It was quite gay. Meanwhile Aileen did her best to become interested in Mrs. Rambaud and Mrs. Addison. She liked the latter somewhat better, solely because it was a little easier to talk to her. Mrs. Rambaud Aileen knew to be the wiser and more charitable woman, but she frightened her a little; presently she had to fall back on Mr. Lord's help. He came to her rescue gallantly, talking of everything that came into his mind. All the men outside of Cowperwood were thinking how splendid Aileen was physically, how white were her arms, how rounded her neck and shoulders, how rich her hair.

同类推荐
  • 淞隐漫录

    淞隐漫录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 求治管见

    求治管见

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 东坡先生年谱

    东坡先生年谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 上清道宝经

    上清道宝经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 罗密欧与朱丽叶

    罗密欧与朱丽叶

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我穿过一个个城市,只为遇见你

    我穿过一个个城市,只为遇见你

    我穿过一个个城市,只为遇见你。路过的每一个你,都曾呼唤我的名字。那些花枝招展的你,那些厚颜无耻的你,那些市侩雍容的你,那些厚颜无耻的你。我坚信你在远方,你走路的样子像蒲公英,妙曼轻盈。我坚信你在村庄,我熟悉你淳朴的味道,弥漫村野。我穿过一座座村庄,流泪却不悲伤。——聂鲁达《为了遇见》宋宋十年爱恋着子岚,十年后重逢,会发生什么故事,仔细看,这对年轻人的青春故事里面,或许也会有你的影子。
  • 泣血倾城

    泣血倾城

    当杀手穿越成为武林世家女,神秘的身份,美丽的容貌,不冷不热的性格态度。当他遇上她会擦出什么样的火花呢。我们的女主角不相信爱情,但是我们的男主角却偏偏爱上了她。这是一场死缠烂打的追爱戏码吗,我不知道,易或者是两情相悦?请敬请期待......
  • 步步惊心:女生公寓闹鬼

    步步惊心:女生公寓闹鬼

    女研究生海燕最近身边闹鬼了,同学,朋友,亲人一个个离奇死去,是鬼魂作怪吗?还是幕后另有黑手?本书作者承诺:该小说绝对恐怖,绝对惊悚,绝对震撼人心!请大家加入我的读者交流群128830303和58093841感谢我的忠实粉丝小爽,鬼小漆和青青的一路支持。
  • 天都龙吟

    天都龙吟

    九曲天河万里幽,剑指沧溟破九州。一声天都苍龙吟,余音轮转碎千霄!苍茫大地,谁主沉浮?悠悠三界,谁宰轮回?错错错!这万载轮回竟是这般虚妄,如今魔道再次出世,究竟是天命使然,抑或被人掌控?这一切的背后似乎隐藏着一个惊天大秘,上天界,下幽冥,我欲化身苍龙,突破天地枷锁,主掌三界轮回!便是一声轻喝也要叫这天地惊颤……
  • 喋血三公主复仇爱恋

    喋血三公主复仇爱恋

    10年前,她们,因为爸爸的外遇,仇人的追杀以及姐姐的嫉妒,被赶出家门成为孤儿,还好被第一集团总裁收留,她们苦苦训练了十年回到祖国,这一次,她们要她们付出代价,却因为他们,她们慢慢的改变了,她们命运会如何……
  • 妃你莫属:王爷请娶我

    妃你莫属:王爷请娶我

    他是王爷了怎么了,只要她喜欢,他就得娶她,什么公主什么圣女,她都不要管,因为爱上了,谁也不能来阻止,哪怕是父王母后,哪怕是王公大臣,哪怕是三纲五常,只要她喜欢就够了,只要他答应就够了,爱是两个人的事,就算真的到了那个时候,她会嫁的,但那人必须是…
  • 毁灭物质

    毁灭物质

    遥想当初,我们曾经一起战斗过。遥想当初,我们曾经一起努力过。末日,或许这一切都是冥冥之中注定的。
  • 巴黎圣母院(青少版)

    巴黎圣母院(青少版)

    本书是法国大作家雨果写于1831年的一本爱情小说。它以离奇和对比手法写了一个发生在15世纪法国的故事:巴黎圣母院副主教克洛德道貌岸然、蛇蝎心肠,先爱后恨,迫害吉卜赛女郎爱斯梅拉尔达。面目丑陋、心地善良的敲钟人卡西莫多为救女郎舍身。小说揭露了宗教的虚伪,宣告禁欲主义的破产,歌颂了下层劳动人民的善良、友爱、舍己为人,反映了雨果的人道主义思想。
  • 重生之按部就班

    重生之按部就班

    按部就班沿续原来的路走下去,想想容易,可真的要做到,能容易吗?重新寻回拥有过的幸福,也许可以拒绝名,拒绝利,但可以拒绝真挚的情感吗?
  • 送魂歌

    送魂歌

    一双眼,看尽多少世间悲欢;一曲歌,奏了多少春秋冬夏。一曲送魂,送君踏上归乡路。