differentfromtherest;inshort,sheemphasizedandintensifiedwhatI
maycalltheWeathersfieldenvironment,stirredupinmenewandvagueaspirationsthattroubledyetexcitedme.
ThentherewasMrs.Kyme,apretty,light-heartedlady,stillyoung,whoseemedtohavenointentionofgrowingolder,whorompedandplayedsongsforusonthepiano.ThedaughterofanoldbutnowimpecuniousWestchesterfamily,shehadbeenborntoadornthepositionsheheld,shewasadaptedbynaturetowringfromittheutmostofthejoysitoffered.
Fromher,ratherthanfromherhusband,bothofthechildrenseemedtohaveinherited.IusedtowatchMr.GrosvenorKymeashesatattheendofthedinner-table,dark,preoccupied,taciturn,symbolicalofawealthnewtomyexperience,andwhichhadaboutitacertainfabulousquality.
Ittoilednot,neitherdiditspin,butgrewasifbymagic,dayandnight,untiltheveryconceptionofitwasoverpowering.WhatmustitbetohavehadancestorswhohadbeencleverenoughtositstilluntilacongestedanddiscontentedEuropehadbeguntopouritsthousandsandhundredsofthousandsintothegatewayofthewesternworld,untilthatgatewayhadbecomeametropolis?ancestors,ofcourse,possessingwhatnowsuddenlyappearedtomeasthemostdesirableofgifts——sinceitreapedsodazzlingaharvest-businessforesight.Fromtimetotimetheseancestorshadcontinuedtobuydesirablecorners,whichnoamountofpersuasionhadavailedtomakethemrelinquish.Leasethem,yes;sellthem,never!Byvirtueofsuchasystemwealthwasasinevitableashumannecessity;andthethoughtofhumannecessitydidnotgreatlybotherme.Mr.Kyme\'sproblemoflifewasnotoneofmakingmoney,butofinvestingit.Onebecameautomaticallyapersonage