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The Non-commercial
Herfamily’snamewasnotamongthemostdistinguishedandtheirfortunewasmodest,butbothweresufficienttoletherbeincludedinthetopcirclesofNewYork’ssociety,wherehehadmether.Nineyearsago,hehadappearedinNewYorklikeanexplosion,intheglareofthesuccessofReardenSteel,asuccessthathadbeenthoughtimpossiblebythecity’sexperts.Itwashisindifferencethatmadehimspectacular.Hedidnotknowthathewasexpectedtoattempttobuyhiswayintosocietyandthattheyanticipatedthepleasureofrejectinghim.Hehadnotimetonoticetheirdisappointment.
Heattended,reluctantly,afewsocialoccasionstowhichhewasinvitedbymenwhosoughthisfavor.Hedidnotknow,buttheyknew,thathiscourteouspolitenesswascondescensiontowardthepeoplewhohadexpectedtosnubhim,thepeoplewhohadsaidthattheageofachievementwaspast.
ItwasLillian’sausteritythatattractedhim—theconflictbetweenherausterityandherbehavior.Hehadneverlikedanyoneorexpectedtobeliked.Hefoundhimselfheldbythespectacleofawomanwhowasobviouslypursuinghimbutwithobviousreluctance,asifagainstherownwill,asiffightingadesiresheresented.Itwasshewhoplannedthattheyshouldmeet,thenfacedhimcoldly,asifnotcaringthatheknewit.Shespokelittle;shehadanairofmysterythatseemedtotellhimhewouldneverbreakthroughherprouddetachment,andanairofamusement,mockingherowndesireandhis.
Hehadnotknownmanywomen.
