She　did　not　understand　the　bitter　reaches　of　life　at　all。　　She　waited；　humming　for　effect；　until　she　heard　her　father　go　downstairs　to　dinner　on　this　tenth　day　of　December；　then　leaned　over　the　upper　balustrade　to　make　sure　that　Owen；　Callum；　Norah；　and　her　mother　were　at　the　table；　and　that　Katy；　the　housemaid；　was　not　anywhere　in　sight。　　Then　she　slipped　into　her　father's　den；　and；　taking　a　note　from　inside　her　dress；　laid　it　on　his　desk；　and　went　out。　It　was　addressed　to　〃Father；〃　and　read：
  Dear　Father；I　just　cannot　do　what　you　want　me　to。　　I　have　made　　　up　my　mind　that　I　love　Mr。　Cowperwood　too　much；　so　I　am　going　　　away。　　Don't　look　for　me　with　him。　　You　won't　find　me　where　you　　　think。　　I　am　not　going　to　him；　I　will　not　be　there。　　I　am　going　　　to　try　to　get　along　by　myself　for　a　while；　until　he　wants　me　and　　　can　marry　me。　　I'm　terribly　sorry；　but　I　just　can't　do　what　you　　　want。　　I　can't　ever　forgive　you　for　the　way　you　acted　to　me。　　　Tell　mama　and　Norah　and　the　boys　good…by　for　me。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Aileen
  To　insure　its　discovery；　she　picked　up　Butler's　heavy…rimmed　spectacles　which　he　employed　always　when　reading；　and　laid　them　on　it。　　For　a　moment　she　felt　very　strange；　somewhat　like　a　thief　a　new　sensation　for　her。　　She　even　felt　a　momentary　sense　of　ingratitude　coupled　with　pain。　　Perhaps　she　was　doing　wrong。　　Her　father　had　been　very　good　to　her。　　Her　mother　would　feel　so　very　bad。　　Norah　would　be　sorry；　and　Callum　and　Owen。　　Still；　they　did　not　understand　her　any　more。　　She　was　resentful　of　her　father's　attitude。　　He　might　have　seen　what　the　point　was；　but　no；　he　was　too　old；　too　hidebound　in　religion　and　conventional　ideashe　never　would。　　He　might　never　let　her　come　back。　　Very　well；　she　would　get　along　somehow。　　She　would　show　him。　　She　might　get　a　place　as　a　school…teacher；　and　live　with　the　Calligans　a　long　while；　if　necessary；　or　teach　music。
  She　stole　downstairs　and　out　into　the　vestibule；　opening　the　outer　door　and　looking　out　into　the　street。　　The　lamps　were　already　flaring　in　the　dark；　and　a　cool　wind　was　blowing。　　Her　portmanteau　was　heavy；　but　she　was　quite　strong。　　She　walked　briskly　to　the　corner；　which　was　some　fifty　feet　away；　and　turned　south；　walking　rather　nervously　and　irritably；　for　this　was　a　new　experience　for　her；　and　it　all　seemed　so　undignified；　so　unlike　anything　she　was　accustomed　to　doing。　　She　put　her　bag　down　on　a　street　corner；　finally；　to　rest。　　A　boy　whistling　in　the　distance　attracted　her　attention；　and　as　he　drew　near　she　called　to　him：　〃Boy！　Oh；　boy！〃
  He　came　over；　looking　at　her　curiously。
  〃Do　you　want　to　earn　some　money？〃
  〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　replied　politely；　adjusting　a　frowsy　cap　over　one　ear。
  〃Carry　this　bag　for　me；〃　said　Aileen；　and　he　picked　it　up　and　marched　off。
  In　due　time　she　arrived　at　the　Calligans'；　and　amid　much　excitement　was　installed　in　the　bosom　of　her　new　home。　　She　took　her　situation　with　much　nonchalance；　once　she　was　properly　placed；　distributing　her　toilet　articles　and　those　of　personal　wear　with　quiet　care。　The　fact　that　she　was　no　longer　to　have　the　services　of　Kathleen；　the　maid　who　had　served　her　and　her　mother　and　Norah　jointly；　was　odd；　though　not　trying。　　She　scarcely　felt　that　she　had　parted　from　these　luxuries　permanently；　and　so　made　herself　comfortable。
  Mamie　Calligan　and　her　mother　were　adoring　slaveys；　so　she　was　not　entirely　out　of　the　atmosphere　which　she　craved　and　to　which　she　was　accustomed。
  Chapter　XLVI
  Meanwhile；　in　the　Butler　home　the　family　was　assembling　for　dinner。　Mrs。　Butler　was　sitting　in　rotund　complacency　at　the　foot　of　the　table；　her　gray　hair　combed　straight　back　from　her　round；　shiny　forehead。　　She　had　on　a　dark…gray　silk　dress；　trimmed　with　gray…and…white　striped　ribbon。　　It　suited　her　florid　temperament　admirably。　　Aileen　had　dictated　her　mother's　choice；　and　had　seen　that　it　had　been　properly　made。　　Norah　was　refreshingly　youthful　in　a　pale…green　dress；　with　red…velvet　cuffs　and　collar。　　She　looked　young；　slender；　gay。　　Her　eyes；　complexion　and　hair　were　fresh　and　healthy。　　She　was　trifling　with　a　string　of　coral　beads　which　her　mother　had　just　given　her。
  〃Oh；　look；　Callum；〃　she　said　to　her　brother　opposite　her；　who　was　drumming　idly　on　the　table　with　his　knife　and　fork。　　〃Aren't　they　lovely？　Mama　gave　them　to　me。〃
  〃Mama　does　more　for　you　than　I　would。　　You　know　what　you'd　get　from　me；　don't　you？〃
  〃What？〃
  He　looked　at　her　teasingly。　　For　answer　Norah　made　a　face　at　him。　Just　then　Owen　came　in　and　took　his　place　at　the　table。　　Mrs。　Butler　saw　Norah's　grimace。
  〃Well；　that'll　win　no　love　from　your　brother；　ye　can　depend　on　that；〃　she　commented。
  〃Lord；　what　a　day！〃　observed　Owen；　wearily；　unfolding　his　napkin。　〃I've　had　my　fill　of　work　for　once。〃
  〃What's　the　trouble？〃　queried　his　mother；　feelingly。
  〃No　real　trouble；　mother；〃　he　replied。　　〃Just　everythingducks　and　drakes；　that's　all。〃
  〃Well；　ye　must　ate　a　good；　hearty　meal　now；　and　that'll　refresh　ye；〃　observed　his　mother；　genially　and　feelingly。　　〃Thompson〃she　was　referring　to　the　family　grocer〃brought　us　the　last　of　his　beans。　　You　must　have　some　of　those。〃
  〃Sure；　beans'll　fix　it；　whatever　it　is；　Owen；〃　joked　Callum。　〃Mother's　got　the　answer。〃
  〃They're　fine；　I'd　have　ye　know；〃　replied　Mrs。　Butler；　quite　unconscious　of　the　joke。
  〃No　doubt　of　it；　mother；〃　replied　Callum。　　〃Real　brain…food。　　Let's　feed　some　to　Norah。〃
  〃You'd　better　eat　some　yourself；　smarty。　　My；　but　you're　gay！　I　suppose　you're　going　out　to　see　somebody。　　That's　why。〃
  〃Right　you　are；　Norah。　　Smart　girl；　you。　　Five　or　six。　　Ten　to　fifteen　minutes　each。　　I'd　call　on　you　if　you　were　nicer。〃
  〃You　would　if　you　got　the　chance；〃　mocked　Norah。　　〃I'd　have　you　know　I　wouldn't　let　you。　　I'd　feel　very　bad　if　I　couldn't　get　somebody　better　than　you。〃
  〃As　good　as；　you　mean；〃　corrected　Callum。
  〃Children；　children！〃　interpolated　Mrs。　Butler；　calmly；　looking　about　for　old　John；　the　servant。　　〃You'll　be　losin'　your　tempers　in　a　minute。　　Hush　now。　　Here　comes　your　father。　　Where's　Aileen？〃
  Butler　walked　heavily　in　and　took　his　seat。
  John；　the　servant；　appeared　bearing　a　platter　of　beans　among　other　things；　and　Mrs。　Butler　asked　him　to　send　some　one　to　call　Aileen。
  〃It's　gettin'　colder；　I'm　thinkin'；〃　said　Butler；　by　way　of　conversation；　and　eyeing　Aileen's　empty　chair。　　She　would　come　soon　nowhis　heavy　problem。　　He　had　been　very　tactful　these　last　two　monthsavoiding　any　reference　to　Cowperwood　in　so　far　as　he　could　help　in　her　presence。
  〃It's　colder；〃　remarked　Owen；　〃much　colder。　　We'll　soon　see　real　winter　now。〃
  Old　John　began　to　offer　the　various　dishes　in　order；　but　when　all　had　been　served　Aileen　had　not　yet　come。
  〃See　where　Aileen　is；　John；〃　observed　Mrs。　Butler；　interestedly。　〃The　meal　will　be　gettin'　cold。〃
  Old　John　returned　with　the　news　that　Aileen　was　not　in　her　room。
  〃Sure　she　must　be　somewhere；〃　commented　Mrs。　Butler；　only　slightly　perplexed。　　〃She'll　be　comin'；　though；　never　mind；　if　she　wants　to。　She　knows　it's　meal…time。〃
  The　conversation　drifted　from　a　new　water…works　that　was　being　planned　to　the　new　city　hall；　then　nearing　completion；　Cowperwood's　financial　and　social　troubles；　and　the　state　of　the　stock　market　generally；　a　new　gold…mine　in　Arizona；　the　departure　of　Mrs。　Mollenhauer　the　following　Tuesday　for　Europe；　with　appropriate　comments　by　Norah　and　Callum；　and　a　Christmas　ball　that　was　going　to　be　given　for　charity。
  〃Aileen'll　be　wantin'　to　go　to　that；〃　commented　Mrs。　　Butler。
  〃I'm　going；　you　bet；〃　put　in　Norah。
  〃Who's　going　to　take　you？〃　asked　Callum。
  〃That's　my　affair；　mister；〃　she　replied；　smartly。
  The　meal　was　over；　and　Mrs。　Butler　strolled　up　to　Aileen's　room　to　see　why　she　had　not　come　down　to　dinner。　　Butler　entered　his　den；　wishing　so　much　that　he　could　take　his　wife　into　his　confidence　concerning　all　that　was　worrying　him。　　On　his　desk；　as　he　sat　down　and　turned　up　the　light；　he　saw　the　note。　　He　recognized　Aileen's　handwriting　at　once。　　　What　could　she　mean　by　writing　him？　A　sense　of　the　untoward　came　to　him；　and　he　tore　it　open　slowly；　and；　putting　on　his　glasses；　contemplated　it　solemnly。
  So　Aileen　was　gone。　　The　old　man　stared　at　each　word　as　if　it　had　been　written　in　fire。　　She　said　she　had　not　gone　with　Cowperwood。　It　was　possible；　just　the　same；　that　he　had　run　away　from　Philadelphia　and　taken　her　with　him。　　This　was　the　last　straw。　　This　ended　it。　Aileen　lured　away　from　hometo　whereto　what？　Butler　could　scarcely　believe；　though；　that　Cowperwood　had　tempted　her　to　do　this。　　He　had　too　much　at　stake；　it　would　involve　his　own　and　Butler's　families。　The　papers　would　be　certain　to　get　it　quickly。　　He　got　up；　crumpling　the　paper　in　his　hand；　and　turned　about　at　a　noise。　　His　wife　was　coming　in。　　He　pulled　himself　together　and　shoved　the　letter　in　his　pocket。
  〃Aileen's　not　in　her　room；〃　she　said；　curiously。　　〃She　didn't　say　anything　to　you　about　going　out；　did　she？〃
  〃No；〃　he　replied；　truthfully；　wondering　how　soon　he　should　have　to　tell　his　wife。
  〃That's　odd；〃　observed　Mrs。　Butler；　doubtfully。　　〃She　must　have　gone　out　after　somethin'。　　It's　a　wonder　she　wouldn't　tell　somebody。〃
  Butler　gave　no　sign。　　He　dared　not。