ithout resources of her own and could live without him. She
might force him to change his attitude toward her and possibly even to
modify some of his political machinations against him, Cowperwood. Any
port in a storm--and besides, he had now really nothing to lose, and
instinct told him that her move was likely to prove more favorable than
otherwise--so he did nothing to prevent it.

She took her jewels, some underwear, a couple of dresses which she
thought would be serviceable, and a few other things, and packed them
in the most capacious portmanteau she had. Shoes and stockings came into
consideration, and, despite her efforts, she found that she could not
get in all that she wished. Her nicest hat, which she was determined to
take, had to be carried outside. She made a separate bundle of it,
which was not pleasant to contemplate. Still she decided to take it.
She rummaged in a little drawer where she kept her money and jewels, and
found the three hundred and fifty dollars and put it in her purse. It
wasn't much, as Aileen could herself see, but Cowperwood would help
her. If he did not arrange to take care of her, and her father would not
relent, she would have to get something to do. Little she knew of the
steely face the world presents to those who have not been practically
trained and are not economically efficient. 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 spe