the titan-第99节
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roubled over her。〃
Without giving any outward sign Berenice did not fail to gather the full import of the analogy。 It was all true。 One must begin early to take thought of one's life。 She suffered a disturbing sense of duty。 Kilmer Duelma arrived at noon Friday with six types of bags； a special valet； and a preposterous enthusiasm for polo and hunting （diseases lately acquired from a hunting set in the Berkshires）。 A cleverly contrived compliment supposed to have emanated from Miss Fleming and conveyed to him with tact by Mrs。 Batjer brought him ambling into Berenice's presence suggesting a Sunday drive to Saddle Rock。
〃Haw！ haw！ You know； I'm deiighted to see you again。 Haw！ haw！ It's been an age since I've seen the Haggertys。 We missed you after you left。 Haw！ haw！ I did； you know。 Since I saw you I have taken up polothree ponies with me all the time nowhaw！ haw！a regular stable nearly。〃
Berenice strove valiantly to retain a serene interest。 Duty was in her mind； the Chateau Brieul； the winter court of Clarissa Garrison； some first premonitions of the flight of time。 Yet the drive was a bore； conversation a burden； the struggle to respond titanic； impossible。 When Monday came she fled； leaving three days between that and a week…end at Morristown。 Mrs。 Batjerwho read straws most capablysighed。 Her own Corscaden was not much beyond his money； but life must be lived and the ambitious must inherit wealth or gather it wisely。 Some impossible scheming silly would soon collect Duelma； and then She considered Berenice a little difficult。
Berenice could not help piecing together the memory of this incident with her mother's recent appeal in behalf of Lieutenant Braxmar。 A great； cloying； disturbing； disintegrating factor in her life was revealed by the dawning discovery that she and her mother were without much money； that aside from her lineage she was in a certain sense an interloper in society。 There were never rumors of great wealth in connection with herno flattering whispers or public notices regarding her station as an heiress。 All the smug minor manikins of the social world were on the qui vive for some cotton…headed doll of a girl with an endless bank…account。 By nature sybaritic； an intense lover of art fabrics； of stately functions； of power and success in every form； she had been dreaming all this while of a great soul…freedom and art…freedom under some such circumstances as the greatest individual wealth of the day； and only that； could provide。 Simultaneously she had vaguely cherished the idea that if she ever found some one who was truly fond of her； and whom she could love or even admire intenselysome one who needed her in a deep； sincere wayshe would give herself freely and gladly。 Yet who could it be？ She had been charmed by Braxmar； but her keen； analytic intelligence required some one harder； more vivid； more ruthless； some one who would appeal to her as an immense force。 Yet she must be conservative； she must play what cards she had to win。
During his summer visit at Narragansett Cowperwood had not been long disturbed by the presence of Braxmar； for； having received special orders； the latter was compelled to hurry away to Hampton Roads。 But the following November； forsaking temporarily his difficult affairs in Chicago for New York and the Carter apartment in Central Park South； Cowperwood again encountered the Lieutenant； who arrived one evening brilliantly arrayed in full official regalia in order to escort Berenice to a ball。 A high military cap surmounting his handsome face； his epaulets gleaming in gold； the lapels of his cape thrown back to reveal a handsome red silken lining； his sword clanking by his side； he seemed a veritable singing flame of youth。 Cowperwood； caught in the drift of circumstanceage； unsuitableness； the flaring counter…attractions of romance and vigorfairly writhed in pain。
Berenice was so beautiful in a storm of diaphanous clinging garments。 He stared at them from an adjacent room； where he pretended to be reading； and sighed。 Alas； how was his cunning and foresight even histo overcome the drift of life itself？ How was he to make himself appealing to youth？ Braxmar had the years； the color； the bearing。 Berenice seemed to…night； as she prepared to leave； to be fairly seething with youth； hope； gaiety。 He arose after a few moments and； giving business as an excuse； hurried away。 But it was only to sit in his own rooms in a neighboring hotel and meditate。 The logic of the ordinary man under such circumstances； compounded of the age…old notions of chivalry； self…sacrifice； duty to higher impulses； and the like； would have been to step aside in favor of youth； to give convention its day； and retire in favor of morality and virtue。 Cowperwood saw things in no such moralistic or altruistic light。 〃I satisfy myself；〃 had ever been his motto； and under that； however much he might sympathize with Berenice in love or with love itself； he was not content to withdraw until he was sure that the end of hope for him had really come。 There had been moments between him and Berenicelittle approximations toward intimacywhich had led him to believe that by no means was she seriously opposed to him。 At the same time this business of the Lieutenant； so Mrs。 Carter confided to him a little later； was not to be regarded lightly。 While Berenice might not care so much； obviously Braxmar did。
〃Ever since he has been away he has been storming her with letters；〃 she remarked to Cowperwood； one afternoon。 〃I don't think he is the kind that can be made to take no for an answer。
〃A very successful kind；〃 commented Cowperwood； dryly。 Mrs。 Carter was eager for advice in the matter。 Braxmar was a man of parts。 She knew his connections。 He would inherit at least six hundred thousand dollars at his father's death； if not more。 What about her Louisville record？ Supposing that should come out later？ Would it not be wise for Berenice to marry； and have the danger over with？
〃It is a problem； isn't it？〃 observed Cowperwood； calmly。 〃Are you sure she's in love？〃
〃Oh； I wouldn't say that； but such things so easily turn into love。 I have never believed that Berenice could be swept off her feet by any oneshe is so thoughtfulbut she knows she has her own way to make in the world； and Mr。 Braxmar is certainly eligible。 I know his cousins； the Clifford Porters； very well。〃
Cowperwood knitted his brows。 He was sick to his soul with this worry over Berenice。 He felt that he must have her； even at the cost of inflicting upon her a serious social injury。 Better that she should surmount it with him than escape it with another。 It so happened； however； that the final grim necessity of acting on any such idea was spared him。
Imagine a dining…room in one of the principal hotels of New York； the hour midnight； after an evening at the opera； to which Cowperwood； as host； had invited Berenice； Lieutenant Braxmar； and Mrs。 Carter。 He was now playing the role of disinterested host and avuncular mentor。
His attitude toward Berenice； meditating； as he was； a course which should be destructive to Braxmar； was gentle； courteous； serenely thoughtful。 Like a true Mephistopheles he was waiting； surveying Mrs。 Carter and Berenice； who were seated in front chairs clad in such exotic draperies as opera…goers affectMrs。 Carter in pale…lemon silk and diamonds； Berenice in purple and old…rose； with a jeweled comb in her hair。 The Lieutenant in his dazzling uniform smiled and talked blandly； complimented the singers； whispered pleasant nothings to Berenice； descanted at odd moments to Cowperwood on naval personages who happened to be present。 Coming out of the opera and driving through blowy； windy streets to the Waldorf； they took the table reserved for them； and Cowperwood； after consulting with regard to the dishes and ordering the wine； went back reminiscently to the music； which had been 〃La Boheme。〃 The death of Mimi and the grief of Rodolph； as voiced by the splendid melodies of Puccini； interested him。
〃That makeshift studio world may have no connection with the genuine professional artist； but it's very representative of life；〃 he remarked。
〃I don't know； I'm sure；〃 said Braxmar； seriously。
〃All I know of Bohemia is what I have read in booksTrilby； for instance； and〃 He could think of no other； and stopped。 〃I suppose it is that way in Paris。〃
He looked at Berenice for confirmation and to win a smile。 Owing to her mobile and sympathetic disposition； she had during the opera been swept from period to period by surges of beauty too gay or pathetic for words； but clearly comprehended of the spirit。 Once when she had been lost in dreamy contemplation； her hands folded on her knees； her eyes fixed on the stage； both Braxmar and Cowperwood had studied her parted lips and fine profile with common impulses of emotion and enthusiasm。 Realizing after the mood was gone that they had been watching her； Berenice had continued the pose for a moment； then had waked as from a dream with a sigh。 This incident now came back to her as well as her feeling in regard to the opera generally。
〃It is very beautiful；〃 she said； 〃I do not know what to say。 People are like that； of c
