A few days afterward Aileen, much to his regret and astonishment--for he did not then know the cause--actually became ill.
If it had not been for Cowperwood's eventual financial triumph over all opposition--the complete routing of the enemy--in the struggle for control in the gas situation--the situation would have been hard, indeed.

As it was, Aileen suffered bitterly; she felt that the slight was principally directed at her, and would remain in force.

In the privacy of their own home they were compelled eventually to admit, the one to the other, that their house of cards, resplendent and forceful looking as it was, had fallen to the ground.

Personal confidences between people so closely united are really the most trying of all.
Human souls are constantly trying to find each other, and rarely succeeding.
"You know," he finally said to her once, when he came in rather unexpectedly and found her sick in bed, her eyes wet, and her maid dismissed for the day, "I understand what this is all about.

To tell you the truth, Aileen, I rather expected it.