enable her to play these very difficult things quickly and forcefully.  “And you can have a new piano any time you like.  Go and see about it.  This looks pretty good to me, but if you don’t want it, all right.”  Aileen squeezed his arm.  What was the use of arguing with her father?  What good would a lone piano do, when the whole house and the whole family atmosphere were at fault?  But she played Schumann, Schubert, Offenbach, Chopin, and the old gentleman strolled to and fro and mused, smiling.  There was real feeling and a thoughtful interpretation given to some of these things, for Aileen was not without sentiment, though she was so strong, vigorous, and withal so defiant; but it was all lost on him.  He looked on her, his bright, healthy, enticingly beautiful daughter, and wondered what was going to become of her.  Some rich man was going to many her—­some fine, rich young man with good business instincts—­and he, her father, would leave her a lot of money.

There was a reception and a dance to be given to celebrate the opening of the two Cowperwood homes—­the reception to be held in Frank Cowperwood’s residence, and the dance later at his father’s.  The Henry Cowperwood domicile was much more pretentious, the reception-room, parlor, music-room, and conservatory being in this case all on the ground floor and much larger.  Ellsworth had arranged it so that those rooms, on occasion, could be thrown into one, leaving excellent space for promenade, auditorium, dancing—­anything, in fact, that a large company might require.  It had been the intention all along of the two men to use these houses jointly.  There was, to begin with, a combination use of the various servants, the butler, gardener, laundress, and maids.  Frank Cowperwood employed a governess for his children.  The butler was really not a butler in the best sense.  He was Henry Cowperwood’s private servitor.  But he could carve and preside, and he could be used in either house as occasion warranted.  There was also a hostler and a coachman for the joint stable.  When two carriages were required at once, both drove.  It made a very agreeable and satisfactory working arrangement.

The preparation of this reception had been quite a matter of importance, for it was necessary for financial reasons to make it as extensive as possible, and for social reasons as exclusive.  It was therefore decided that the afternoon reception at Frank’s house, with its natural overflow into Henry W.’s, was to be for all—­the Tighes, Steners, Butlers, Mollenhauers, as well as the more select groups to which, for instance, belonged Arthur Rivers, Mrs. Seneca Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Trenor Drake, and some of the younger Drexels and Clarks, whom Frank had met.  It was not likely that the latter would condescend, but cards had to be sent.  Later in the evening a less democratic group if possible was to be entertained, albeit it would have to be extended to include the friends of Anna, Mrs. Cowperwood, Edward, and Joseph, and any list which Frank might personally have in mind.  This was to be the list.  The best that could be persuaded, commanded, or influenced of the young and socially elect were to be invited here.