Book-bot.com - read famous books online for free

The Titan by Theodore Dreiser
page 40 of 717 (05%)
door, and a judicious use of stained glass to give its interior
an artistically subdued atmosphere. Fortunately, it was furnished
in good taste. Cowperwood turned over the matter of the dinner
to a caterer and decorator. Aileen had nothing to do but dress,
and wait, and look her best.

"I needn't tell you," he said, in the morning, on leaving, "that
I want you to look nice to-night, pet. I want the Addisons and
Mr. Rambaud to like you."

A hint was more than sufficient for Aileen, though really it was
not needed. On arriving at Chicago she had sought and discovered
a French maid. Although she had brought plenty of dresses from
Philadelphia, she had been having additional winter costumes
prepared by the best and most expensive mistress of the art in
Chicago--Theresa Donovan. Only the day before she had welcomed
home a golden-yellow silk under heavy green lace, which, with her
reddish-gold hair and her white arms and neck, seemed to constitute
an unusual harmony. Her boudoir on the night of the dinner presented
a veritable riot of silks, satins, laces, lingerie, hair ornaments,
perfumes, jewels--anything and everything which might contribute
to the feminine art of being beautiful. Once in the throes of a
toilet composition, Aileen invariably became restless and energetic,
almost fidgety, and her maid, Fadette, was compelled to move quickly.
Fresh from her bath, a smooth, ivory Venus, she worked quickly
through silken lingerie, stockings and shoes, to her hair. Fadette
had an idea to suggest for the hair. Would Madame let her try a
new swirl she had seen? Madame would--yes. So there were movings
of her mass of rich glinting tresses this way and that. Somehow
it would not do. A braided effect was then tried, and instantly
DigitalOcean Referral Badge