A thrilling sense of possession, mastery, happiness and understanding, love of her and of her body, suddenly overwhelmed him.

“I love you,” he said, as though he were surprised to hear himself say it.  “I didn’t think I did, but I do.  You’re beautiful.  I’m wild about you.”

“And I love you” she answered.  “I can’t help it.  I know I shouldn’t, but—­oh—­” Her hands closed tight over his ears and temples.  She put her lips to his and dreamed into his eyes.  Then she stepped away quickly, looking out into the street, and he walked back into the living-room.  They were quite alone.  He was debating whether he should risk anything further when Norah, having been in to see Anna next door, appeared and not long afterward Mrs. Cowperwood.  Then Aileen and Norah left.

Chapter XX

This definite and final understanding having been reached, it was but natural that this liaison should proceed to a closer and closer relationship.  Despite her religious upbringing, Aileen was decidedly a victim of her temperament.  Current religious feeling and belief could not control her.  For the past nine or ten years there had been slowly forming in her mind a notion of what her lover should be like.  He should be strong, handsome, direct, successful, with clear eyes, a ruddy glow of health, and a certain native understanding and sympathy—­a love of life which matched her own.  Many young men had approached her.  Perhaps the nearest realization of her ideal was Father David, of St. Timothy’s, and he was, of course, a priest and sworn to celibacy.  No word had ever passed between them but he had been as conscious of her as she of him.  Then came Frank Cowperwood, and by degrees, because of his presence and contact, he had been slowly built up in her mind as the ideal person.  She was drawn as planets are drawn to their sun.

It is a question as to what would have happened if antagonistic forces could have been introduced just at this time.  Emotions and liaisons of this character can, of course, occasionally be broken up and destroyed.  The characters of the individuals can be modified or changed to a certain extent, but the force must be quite sufficient.  Fear is a great deterrent—­fear of material loss where there is no spiritual dread—­but wealth and position so often tend to destroy this dread.  It is so easy to scheme with means.  Aileen had no spiritual dread whatever.  Cowperwood was without spiritual or religious feeling.  He looked at this girl, and his one thought was how could he so deceive the world that he could enjoy her love and leave his present state undisturbed.  Love her he did surely.

Business necessitated his calling at the Butlers’ quite frequently, and on each occasion he saw Aileen.  She managed to slip forward and squeeze his hand the first time he came—­to steal a quick, vivid kiss; and another time, as he was going out, she suddenly appeared from behind the curtains hanging at the parlor door.