Mamie’s mother’s very pleasant social disposition, the fact that they had a very cleanly, if poor little home, that she could entertain them by playing on their piano, and that Mrs. Calligan took an adoring interest in the work she did for her, made up the sum and substance of the attraction of the Calligan home for Aileen.  She went there occasionally as a relief from other things, and because Mamie Calligan had a compatible and very understanding interest in literature.  Curiously, the books Aileen liked she liked—­Jane Eyre, Kenelm Chillingly, Tricotrin, and A Bow of Orange Ribbon.  Mamie occasionally recommended to Aileen some latest effusion of this character; and Aileen, finding her judgment good, was constrained to admire her.

In this crisis it was to the home of the Calligans that Aileen turned in thought.  If her father really was not nice to her, and she had to leave home for a time, she could go to the Calligans.  They would receive her and say nothing.  They were not sufficiently well known to the other members of the Butler family to have the latter suspect that she had gone there.  She might readily disappear into the privacy of Cherry Street and not be seen or heard of for weeks.  It is an interesting fact to contemplate that the Calligans, like the various members of the Butler family, never suspected Aileen of the least tendency toward a wayward existence.  Hence her flight from her own family, if it ever came, would be laid more to the door of a temperamental pettishness than anything else.

On the other hand, in so far as the Butler family as a unit was concerned, it needed Aileen more than she needed it.  It needed the light of her countenance to keep it appropriately cheerful, and if she went away there would be a distinct gulf that would not soon be overcome.

Butler, senior, for instance, had seen his little daughter grow into radiantly beautiful womanhood.  He had seen her go to school and convent and learn to play the piano—­to him a great accomplishment.  Also he had seen her manner change and become very showy and her knowledge of life broaden, apparently, and become to him, at least, impressive.  Her smart, dogmatic views about most things were, to him, at least, well worth listening to.  She knew more about books and art than Owen or Callum, and her sense of social manners was perfect.  When she came to the table—­breakfast, luncheon, or dinner—­she was to him always a charming object to see.  He had produced Aileen—­he congratulated himself.  He had furnished her the money to be so fine.  He would continue to do so.  No second-rate upstart of a man should be allowed to ruin her life.  He proposed to take care of her always—­to leave her so much money in a legally involved way that a failure of a husband could not possibly affect her.  “You’re the charming lady this evenin’, I’m thinkin’,” was one of his pet remarks; and also, “My, but we’re that fine!” At table almost invariably she sat beside him and looked out for him.  That was what he wanted.  He had put her there beside him at his meals years before when she was a child.