a far country-第80章
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tableaux； and fancy…dress balls； to take a place at a table at the last
moment。 One of his most appealing attributes was his 〃belief〃 in our
city；a form of patriotism that culminated； in later years； in 〃million
population〃 clubs。 I have often heard him declare； when the ladies had
left the diningroom； that there was positively no limit to our future
growth； and； incidentally； to our future wealth。 Such sentiments as
these could not fail to add to any man's popularity； and his success was
a foregone conclusion。 Almost before we knew it he was building the new
Union Station of which he had foreseen the need； to take care of the
millions to which our population was to be swelled； building the new Post
Office that the unceasing efforts of Theodore Watling finally procured
for us： building； indeed； Nancy's new house； the largest of our private
mansions save Mr。 Scherer's； a commission that had immediately brought
about others from the Dickinsons and the Berringers。。。。 That very day I
called on him in his offices at the top of one of our new buildings；
where many young draftsmen were bending over their boards。 I was ushered
into his private studio。
〃I suppose you want something handsome； Hugh；〃 he said； looking at me
over his cigarette； 〃something commensurate with these fees I hear you
are getting。〃
〃Well； I want to be comfortable；〃 I admitted。
We lunched at the Club together； where we talked over the requirements。
When he came to dinner the next week and spread out his sketch on the
living…room table Maude drew in her breath。
〃Why； Hugh；〃 she exclaimed in dismay； 〃it's as big asas big as the
White House！〃
〃Not quite；〃 I answered； laughing with Archie。 〃We may as well take our
ease in our old age。〃
〃Take our ease！〃 echoed Maude。 〃We'll rattle 'round in it。 I'll never
get used to it。〃
〃After a month； Mrs。 Paret； I'll wager you'll be wondering how you ever
got along without it；〃 said Archie。
It was not as big as the White House； yet it could not be called small。
I had seen； to that。 The long facade was imposing； dignified； with a
touch of conventionality and solidity in keeping with my standing in the
city。 It was Georgian； of plum…coloured brick with marble trimmings and
marble wedges over the ample windows； some years later I saw the house by
Ferguson； of New York； from which Archie had cribbed it。 At one end； off
the dining…room； was a semicircular conservatory。 There was a small
portico； with marble pillars； and in the ample； swift sloping roof many
dormers； servants' rooms； Archie explained。 The look of anxiety on
Maude's face deepened as he went over the floor plans； the reception…room；
dining room to seat thirty； the servants' hall； and upstairs Maude's room；
boudoir and bath and dress closet； my 〃apartments〃 adjoining on one side
and the children's on the other； and the guest…rooms with baths。。。。
Maude surrendered； as one who gives way to the inevitable。 When the
actual building began we both of us experienced； I think； a certain mild
excitement； and walked out there； sometimes with the children； in the
spring evenings； and on Sunday afternoons。 〃Excitement〃 is； perhaps； too
strong a word for my feelings： there was a pleasurable anticipation on my
part； a looking forward to a more decorous； a more luxurious existence； a
certain impatience at the delays inevitable in building。 But a new legal
commercial enterprise of magnitude began to absorb me at his time； and
somehow the building of this homethe first that we possessed was not
the event it should have been； there were moments when I felt cheated；
when I wondered what had become of that capacity for enjoyment which in
my youth had been so keen。 I remember indeed； one grey evening when I
went there alone； after the workmen had departed； and stood in the litter
of mortar and bricks and boards gazing at the completed front of the
house。 It was even larger than I had imagined it from the plans； in the
Summer twilight there was an air about it；if not precisely menacing； at
least portentous； with its gaping windows and towering roof。 I was a
little tired from a hard day； I had the odd feeding of having raised up
something with whichmomentarily at leastI doubted my ability to cope：
something huge； impersonal； something that ought to have represented a
fireside； a sanctuary； and yet was the embodiment of an element quite
alien to the home； a restless element with which our American atmosphere
had； by invisible degrees； become charged。 As I stared at it； the odd
fancy seized me that the building somehow typified my own career。。。。 I
had gained something； in truth； but had I not also missed something？
something a different home would have embodied？
Maude and the children had gone； to the seaside。
With a vague uneasiness I turned away from the contemplation of those
walls。 The companion mansions were closed； their blinds tightly drawn；
the neighbourhood was as quiet as the country； save for a slight but
persistent noise that impressed itself on my consciousness。 I walked
around the house to spy in the back yard； a young girl rather stealthily
gathering laths； and fragments of joists and flooring； and loading them
into a child's express…wagon。 She started when she saw me。 She was
little； more than a child； and the loose calico dress she wore seemed to
emphasize her thinness。 She stood stock…still； staring at me with
frightened yet defiant eyes。 I； too； felt a strange timidity in her
presence。
〃Why do you stop？〃 I asked at length。
〃Say； is this your heap？〃 she demanded。
I acknowledged it。 A hint of awe widened her eyes。 Then site glanced at
the half…filled wagon。
〃This stuff ain't no use to you； is it？〃
〃No； I'm glad to have you take it。〃
She shifted to the other foot； but did not continue her gathering。 An
impulse seized me； I put down my walkingstick and began picking up pieces
of wood； flinging them into the wagon。 I looked at her again； rather
furtively； she had not moved。 Her attitude puzzled me； for it was one
neither of surprise nor of protest。 The spectacle of the 〃millionaire〃
owner of the house engaged in this menial occupation gave her no thrills。
I finished the loading。
〃There！〃 I said； and drew a dollar bill out of my pocket and gave it to
her。 Even then she did not thank me； but took up the wagon tongue and
went off； leaving on me a disheartening impression of numbness； of life
crushed out。 I glanced up once more at the mansion I had built for
myself looming in the dusk； and walked hurriedly away。。。。
One afternoon some three weeks after we had moved into the new house； I
came out of the Club； where I had been lunching in conference with
Scherer and two capitalists from New York。 It was after four o'clock；
the day was fading； the street lamps were beginning to cast sickly
streaks of jade…coloured light across the slush of the pavements。 It was
the sight of this slush （which for a brief half hour that morning had
been pure snow； and had sent Matthew and Moreton and Biddy into ecstasies
at the notion of a 〃real Christmas〃）； that brought to my mind the
immanence of the festival； and the fact that I had as yet bought no
presents。 Such was the predicament in which I usually found myself on
Christmas eve； and it was not without a certain sense of annoyance at the
task thus abruptly confronting me that I got into my automobile and
directed the chauffeur to the shopping district。 The crowds surged along
the wet sidewalks and overflowed into the street； and over the heads of
the people I stared at the blazing shop…windows decked out in Christmas
greens。 My chauffeur； a bristly…haired Parisian； blew his horn
insolently； men and women jostled each other to get out of the way； their
holiday mood giving place to resentment as they stared into the windows
of the limousine。 With the American inability to sit still I shifted
from one corner of the seat to another； impatient at the slow progress of
the machine： and I felt a certain contempt for human beings； that they
should make all this fuss； burden themselves with all these senseless
purchases； for a tradition。 The automobile stopped； and I foug
