الفصل الفصل 56 · It is difficult to say whether Lester might not have returned to

Jennie after all but for certain influential factors. After a time,

with his control of his portion of the estate firmly settled in his

hands and the storm of original feeling forgotten, he was well aware

that diplomacy--if he ignored his natural tendency to fulfil even

implied obligations--could readily bring about an arrangement

whereby he and Jennie could be together. But he was haunted by the

sense of what might be called an important social opportunity in the

form of Mrs. Gerald. He was compelled to set over against his natural

tendency toward Jennie a consciousness of what he was ignoring in the

personality and fortunes of her rival, who was one of the most

significant and interesting figures on the social horizon. For think

as he would, these two women were now persistently opposed in his

consciousness. The one polished, sympathetic,

philosophic--schooled in all the niceties of polite society, and

with the means to gratify her every wish; the other natural,

sympathetic, emotional, with no schooling in the ways of polite

society, but with a feeling for the beauty of life and the lovely

things in human relationship which made her beyond any question an

exceptional woman. Mrs. Gerald saw it and admitted it. Her criticism

of Lester's relationship with Jennie was not that she was not worth

while, but that conditions made it impolitic. On the other hand, union

with her was an ideal climax for his social aspirations. This would

bring everything out right. He would be as happy with her as he would

be with Jennie--almost--and he would have the satisfaction

of knowing that this Western social and financial world held no more

significant figure than himself. It was not wise to delay either this

latter excellent solution of his material problems, and after thinking

it over long and seriously he finally concluded that he would not. He

had already done Jennie the irreparable wrong of leaving her. What

difference did it make if he did this also? She was possessed of

everything she could possibly want outside of himself. She had herself

deemed it advisable for him to leave. By such figments of the brain,

in the face of unsettled and disturbing conditions, he was becoming

used to the idea of a new alliance.

The thing which prevented an eventual resumption of relationship in

some form with Jennie was the constant presence of Mrs. Gerald.

Circumstances conspired to make her the logical solution of his mental

quandary at this time. Alone he could do nothing save to make visits

here and there, and he did not care to do that. He was too indifferent

mentally to gather about him as a bachelor that atmosphere which he

enjoyed and which a woman like Mrs. Gerald could so readily provide.

United with her it was simple enough. Their home then, wherever it

was, would be full of clever people. He would need to do little save

to appear and enjoy it. She understood quite as well as any one how he

liked to live. She enjoyed to meet the people he enjoyed meeting.

There were so many things they could do together nicely. He visited

West Baden at the same time she did, as she suggested. He gave himself

over to her in Chicago for dinners, parties, drives. Her house was

quite as much his own as hers--she made him feel so. She talked

to him about her affairs, showing him exactly how they stood and why

she wished him to intervene in this and that matter. She did not wish

him to be much alone. She did not want him to think or regret. She

came to represent to him comfort, forgetfulness, rest from care. With

the others he visited at her house occasionally, and it gradually

became rumored about that he would marry her. Because of the fact that

there had been so much discussion of his previous relationship, Letty

decided that if ever this occurred it should be a quiet affair. She

wanted a simple explanation in the papers of how it had come about,

and then afterward, when things were normal again and gossip had

subsided, she would enter on a dazzling social display for his

sake.

"Why not let us get married in April and go abroad for the summer?"

she asked once, after they had reached a silent understanding that

marriage would eventually follow. "Let's go to Japan. Then we can come

back in the fall, and take a house on the drive."

Lester had been away from Jennie so long now that the first severe

wave of self-reproach had passed. He was still doubtful, but he

preferred to stifle his misgivings. "Very well," he replied, almost

jokingly. "Only don't let there be any fuss about it."

"Do you really mean that, sweet?" she exclaimed, looking over at

him; they had been spending the evening together quietly reading and

chatting.

"I've thought about it a long while," he replied. "I don't see why

not."

She came over to him and sat on his knee, putting her arms upon his

shoulders.

"I can scarcely believe you said that," she said, looking at him

curiously.

"Shall I take it back?" he asked.

"No, no. It's agreed for April now. And we'll go to Japan. You

can't change your mind. There won't be any fuss. But my, what a

trousseau I will prepare!"

He smiled a little constrainedly as she tousled his head; there was

a missing note somewhere in this gamut of happiness; perhaps it was

because he was getting old.