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forgive her。 And she let Herbert know it。 Herbert was properly
in love with Sally Winthrop； but he liked to think that his
engagement to Aline； though brief and abruptly terminated； had
proved him to be a man fatally attractive to all women。 And
though he was hypnotizing himself into believing that his feeling
for Aline had been the grand passion； the truth was that all that
kept her in his thoughts was his own vanity。 He was not
discontented with his lothis lot being Sally Winthrop； her
millions； and her estate of three hundred acres near Westbury。
Nor was he still longing for Aline。 It was only that his vanity
was flattered by the recollection that one of the young women
most beloved by the public had once loved him。
〃I once was a king in Babylon；〃 he used to misquote to himself；
〃and she was a Christian slave。〃
He was as young as that。
Had he been content in secret to assure himself that he once had
been a reigning monarch； his vanity would have harmed no one；
but； unfortunately； he possessed certain documentary evidence to
that fact。 And he was sufficiently foolish not to wish to destroy
it。 The evidence consisted of a dozen photographs he had snapped
of Aline during the happy days at Bar Harbor； and on which she
had written phrases somewhat exuberant and sentimental。
From these photographs Nelson was loath to partespecially with
one that showed Aline seated on a rock that ran into the waters of
the harbor； and on which she had written： 〃As long as this rock
lasts！〃 Each time she was in love Aline believed it would last。
That in the past it never had lasted did not discourage her。
What to do with these photographs that so vividly recalled the
most tumultuous period of his life Nelson could not decide。 If he
hid them away and Sally found them； he knew she would make his
life miserable。 If he died and Sally then found them； when he no
longer was able to explain that they meant nothing to him； she
would believe he always had loved the other woman； and it would
make her miserable。 He felt he could not safely keep them in his
own house； his vanity did not permit him to burn them； and；
accordingly； he decided to unload them on some one else。
The young man to whom he confided his collection was Charles
Cochran。 Cochran was a charming person from the West。 He had
studied in the Beaux Arts and on foot had travelled over England
and Europe； preparing himself to try his fortune in New York as
an architect。 He was now in the office of the architects Post &
Constant； and lived alone in a tiny farmhouse he had made over
for himself near Herbert Nelson； at Westbury； Long Island。
Post & Constant were a fashionable firm and were responsible for
many of the French chateaux and English country houses that were
rising near Westbury； Hempstead； and Roslyn； and it was Cochran's
duty to drive over that territory in his runabout； keep an eye on
the contractors； and dissuade clients from grafting mansard roofs
on Italian villas。 He had built the summer home of the Herbert
Nelsons； and Herbert and Charles were very warm friends。 Charles
was of the same lack of years as was Herbert； of an enthusiastic
and sentimental nature； and； like many other young men； the story
of his life also was the lovely and much…desired Aline Proctor。
It was this coincidence that had made them friends and that had
led Herbert to select Charles as the custodian of his treasure。
As a custodian and confidant Charles especially appealed to his
new friend； because； except upon the stage and in restaurants；
Charles had never seen Aline Proctor； did not know herand
considered her so far above him； so unattainable； that he had no
wish to seek her out。 Unknown； he preferred to worship at a
distance。 In this determination Herbert strongly encouraged him。
When he turned over the pictures to Charles； Herbert could not
resist showing them to him。 They were in many ways charming。
They presented the queen of musical comedy in several new roles。
In one she was in a sailor suit； giving an imitation of a girl
paddling a canoe。 In another she was in a riding…habit mounted
upon a pony of which she seemed very much afraid。
In some she sat like a siren among the rocks with the waves and
seaweed snatching at her feet； and in another she crouched
beneath the wheel of Herbert's touring car。 All of the
photographs were unprofessional and intimate； and the
legends scrawled across them were even more intimate。
〃'As long as this rock lasts！'〃 read Herbert。 At arm's length he
held the picture for Cochran to see； and laughed bitterly and
unmirthfully as he had heard leading men laugh in problem plays。
〃That is what she wrote；〃 he mocked〃but how long did it last？
Until she saw that little red…headed Albany playing polo。 That
lasted until his mother heard of it。 She thought her precious
lamb was in the clutches of a designing actress； and made the
Foreign Office cable him home。 Then Aline took up one of those
army aviators； and chucked him for that fellow who painted her
portrait； and threw him over for the lawn…tennis champion。 Now
she's engaged to Chester Griswold； and Heaven pity her！ Of course
he's the greatest catch in America； but he's a prig and a snob； and
he's so generous with his money that he'll give you five pennies for
a nickel any time you ask him。 He's got a heart like the metre of a
taxicab； and he's jealous as a cat。 Aline will have a fine time with
Chester！ I knew him at St。 Paul's and at Harvard； and he's got as
much red blood in him as an eel！〃
Cochran sprang to the defense of the lady of his dreams。
〃There must be some good in the man；〃 he protested； 〃or Miss
Proctor…〃
〃Oh； those solemn snobs；〃 declared Herbert； 〃impress women by
just keeping still。 Griswold pretends the reason he doesn't speak
to you is because he's too superior； but the real reason is that
he knows whenever he opens his mouth he shows he is an ass。〃
Reluctantly Herbert turned over to Charles the precious pictures。
〃It would be a sin to destroy them； wouldn't it？〃 he prompted。
Cochran agreed heartily。
〃You might even；〃 suggested Herbert； 〃leave one or two of them
about。 You have so many of Aline already that one more wouldn't
be noticed。 Then when I drop in I could see it。〃 He smiled
ingratiatingly。
〃But those I have I bought；〃 Cochran pointed out。 〃Anybody can
buy them； but yours are personal。 And they're signed。〃
〃No one will notice that but me；〃 protested Herbert。 〃Just one or
two；〃 he coaxed…〃stuck round among the others。 They'd give me a
heap of melancholy pleasure。〃
Charles shook his head doubtfully。
〃Your wife often comes here with you；〃 he said。 〃I don't believe
they'd give her melancholy pleasure。 The question is； are you married
to Sally or to Aline Proctor？〃
〃Oh； of course；〃 exclaimed Herbert〃 if you refuse！〃
With suspicious haste Charles surrendered。
〃I don't refuse；〃 he explained； 〃I only ask if it's wise。 Sally
knows you were once very fond of Miss Proctorknows you were
engaged to her。〃
〃But；〃 protested Herbert； 〃Sally sees your photographs of Aline。
What difference can a few more make？ After she's seen