hout
her knowledge.

It was during this interregnum that Cowperwood for the first time
clearly began to get the idea that there was a marked difference
between him and Aileen intellectually and spiritually; and that while
he might be in accord with her in many ways--emotionally, physically,
idyllicly--there were, nevertheless, many things which he could do
alone which she could not do--heights to which he could rise where she
could not possibly follow. Chicago society might be a negligible
quantity, but he was now to contrast her sharply with the best of what
the Old World had to offer in the matter of femininity, for following
their social expulsion in Chicago and his financial victory, he once
more decided to go abroad. In Rome, at the Japanese and Brazilian
embassies (where, because of his wealth, he gained introduction), and
at the newly established Italian Court, he encountered at a distance
charming social figures of considerable significance--Italian
countesses, English ladies of high degree, talented American women of
strong artistic and social proclivities. As a rule they were quick to
recognize the charm of his manner, the incisiveness and grip of his
mind, and to estimate at all its worth the high individuality of his
soul; but he could also always see that Aileen was not so acceptable.
She was too rich in her entourage, too showy. Her glowing health and
beauty was a species of affront to the paler, more sublimated souls of
many who were not in themselves unattractive.

"Isn't that the typical American for you," he heard a woman remark, at
one of those large, very general court receptions to which so many are
freely admitted, and to which Aileen had been determined to go. He was
standing aside talking to an acquaintance he had made--an
English-speaking Greek banker stopping at the Grand Hotel--while Aileen
promenaded with the banker's wife. The speaker was an Englishwoman.
"So gaudy, so self-conscious, and so naive!"

Cowperwood turned to look. It was Aileen, and the lady speaking was
undoubtedly well bred, thoughtful, good-looking. He had to admit that
much that she said was true, but how were you to gage a woman like
Aileen, anyhow? She was not reprehensible in any way--just a
full-blooded animal glowing with a love of life. She was attractive to
him. It was too bad that people of obviously more conservative
tendencies were so opposed to her. Why could they not see what he
saw--a kind of chil