Cowperwood came over quickly. He was distressed, pained. "I didn't mean that, Aileen," he explained. "I didn't mean it in that way--not at all. You rather drew that out of me; but I didn't mean it as a reproach. You were my mistress, but good Lord, I never loved you any the less for that--rather more. You know I did. I want you to believe that; it's true. These other matters haven't been so important to me--they really haven't--"
He looked at her helplessly as she moved away to avoid him; he was distressed, nonplussed, immensely sorry. As he walked to the center of the room again she suddenly suffered a great revulsion of feeling, but only in the direction of more wrath. This was too much.
"So this is the way you talk to me," she exclaimed, "after all I have done for you! You say that to me after I waited for you and cried over you when you were in prison for nearly two years? Your mistress! That's my reward, is it? Oh!"
Suddenly she observed her jewel-case, and, resenting all the gifts he had given her in Philadelphia, in Paris, in Rome, here in Chicago, she suddenly threw open the lid and, grabbing the contents by handfuls, began to toss them toward him--to actually throw them in his face. Out they came, handfuls of gauds that he had given her in real affection: a jade necklace and bracelet of pale apple-green set in spun gold, with clasps of white ivory; a necklace of pearls, assorted as to size and matched in color, that shone with a tinted, pearly flame in the evening light; a handful of rings and brooches, diamonds, rubies, opals, amethysts; a dog-collar of emeralds, and a diamond hair-ornament. She flung them at him excitedly, strewing the floor, striking him on the neck, the face, the hands. "Take that! and that! and that! There they are! I don't want anything more of yours. I don't want anything more to do with you. I don't want anything that belongs to you. Thank God, I have money enough of my own to live on! I hate you--I despise you--I never want to see you any more. Oh--" And, trying to think of something more, but failing, she dashed swiftly down the hall and down the stairs, while he stood for just one moment overwhelmed.
Then he hurried after.
"Aileen!" he called. "Aileen, come back here! Don't go, Aileen!"
But she only hurried faster; she opened and closed the door, and actually ran out in the dark, her eyes wet, her heart bursting.
So this was the end of that youthful dream that had begun so beautifully. She was no better than the others--just one of his mistresses. To have her past thrown up to her as a defense for the others! To be told that she was no better than they! This was the last straw. She choked and sobbed as she walked, vowing never to return, never to see him any more. But as she did so Cowperwood came running after, determined for once, as lawless as he was, that this should not be the end of it all. She had loved him, he reflected. She had laid every gift of passion and affection on the altar of her love. It wasn't fair, really. She must be made to stay. He caught up at last, reaching her under the dark of the November trees.
"Aileen," he said, laying hold of her and putting his arms around her waist. "Aileen, dearest, this is plain madness. It is insanity.
You're not in your right mind. Don't go! Don't leave me! I love you! Don't you know I do? Can't you really see that? Don't run away like this, and don't cry. I do love you, and you know it.
I always shall. Come back now. Kiss me. I'll do better. Really I will. Give me another chance. Wait and see. Come now--won't you? That's my girl, my Aileen. Do come. Please!"
She pulled on, but he held her, smoothing her arms, her neck, her face.
"Aileen!" he entreated.
She tugged so that he was finally compelled to work her about into his arms; then, sobbing, she stood there agonized but happy once more, in a way.
"But I don't want to," she protested. "You don't love me any more.
Let me go."
But he kept hold of her, urging, and finally she said, her head upon his shoulder as of old, "Don't make me come back to-night.
I don't want to. I can't. Let me go down-town. I'll come back later, maybe."
"Then I'll go with you," he said, endearingly. "It isn't right.
There are a lot of things I should be doing to stop this scandal, but I'll go."
And together they sought a street-car.
