Aileen knew this, although she could not prove it to be true.

At the same time she had an affection and an admiration for the man which gripped her in spite of herself.
You have, perhaps, pictured to yourself the mood of some general who has perhaps suffered a great defeat; the employee who after years of faithful service finds himself discharged.

What shall life say to the loving when their love is no longer of any value, when all that has been placed upon the altar of affection has been found to be a vain sacrifice?
Philosophy?
Give that to dolls to play with.

Religion?
Seek first the metaphysical-minded.

Aileen was no longer the lithe, forceful, dynamic girl of 1865, when Cowperwood first met her.