In Search of Victory

In the mean time the social affairs of Aileen had been prospering
in a small way, for while it was plain that they were not to be
taken up at once--that was not to be expected--it was also plain
that they were not to be ignored entirely. One thing that helped
in providing a nice harmonious working atmosphere was the obvious
warm affection of Cowperwood for his wife. While many might
consider Aileen a little brash or crude, still in the hands of so
strong and capable a man as Cowperwood she might prove available.
So thought Mrs. Addison, for instance, and Mrs. Rambaud. McKibben
and Lord felt the same way. If Cowperwood loved her, as he seemed
to do, he would probably "put her through" successfully. And he
really did love her, after his fashion. He could never forget how
splendid she had been to him in those old days when, knowing full
well the circumstances of his home, his wife, his children, the
probable opposition of her own family, she had thrown over convention
and sought his love. How freely she had given of hers! No petty,
squeamish bickering and dickering here. He had been "her Frank"
from the start, and he still felt keenly that longing in her to
be with him, to be his, which had produced those first wonderful,
almost terrible days. She might quarrel, fret, fuss, argue,
suspect, and accuse him of flirtation with other women; but slight
variations from the norm in his case did not trouble her--at least
she argued that they wouldn't. She had never had any evidence.
She was ready to forgive him anything, she said, and she was, too,
if only he would love her.

"You devil," she used to say to him, playfully. "I know you. I