“Well, we’ll not talk any more about it now, daughter,” he said, wearily.  “Ye’ve been so much to me during all these years that I can scarcely belave anythin’ wrong of ye.  I don’t want to, God knows.  Ye’re a grown woman, though, now; and if ye are doin’ anythin’ wrong I don’t suppose I could do so much to stop ye.  I might turn ye out, of course, as many a father would; but I wouldn’t like to do anythin’ like that.  But if ye are doin’ anythin’ wrong”—­and he put up his hand to stop a proposed protest on the part of Aileen—­“remember, I’m certain to find it out in the long run, and Philadelphy won’t be big enough to hold me and the man that’s done this thing to me.  I’ll get him,” he said, getting up dramatically.  “I’ll get him, and when I do—­” He turned a livid face to the wall, and Aileen saw clearly that Cowperwood, in addition to any other troubles which might beset him, had her father to deal with.  Was this why Frank had looked so sternly at her the night before?

“Why, your mother would die of a broken heart if she thought there was anybody could say the least word against ye,” pursued Butler, in a shaken voice.  “This man has a family—­a wife and children, Ye oughtn’t to want to do anythin’ to hurt them.  They’ll have trouble enough, if I’m not mistaken—­facin’ what’s comin’ to them in the future,” and Butler’s jaw hardened just a little.  “Ye’re a beautiful girl.  Ye’re young.  Ye have money.  There’s dozens of young men’d be proud to make ye their wife.  Whatever ye may be thinkin’ or doin’, don’t throw away your life.  Don’t destroy your immortal soul.  Don’t break my heart entirely.”

Aileen, not ungenerous—­fool of mingled affection and passion—­could now have cried.  She pitied her father from her heart; but her allegiance was to Cowperwood, her loyalty unshaken.  She wanted to say something, to protest much more; but she knew that it was useless.  Her father knew that she was lying.

“Well, there’s no use of my saying anything more, father,” she said, getting up.  The light of day was fading in the windows.  The downstairs door closed with a light slam, indicating that one of the boys had come in.  Her proposed trip to the library was now without interest to her.  “You won’t believe me, anyhow.  I tell you, though, that I’m innocent just the same.”

Butler lifted his big, brown hand to command silence.  She saw that this shameful relationship, as far as her father was concerned, had been made quite clear, and that this trying conference was now at an end.  She turned and walked shamefacedly out.  He waited until he heard her steps fading into faint nothings down the hall toward her room.  Then he arose.  Once more he clinched his big fists.

“The scoundrel!” he said.  “The scoundrel!  I’ll drive him out of Philadelphy, if it takes the last dollar I have in the world.”

Chapter XXVII