\"Anothertelephonecompany!\"herepeated.
Ihadalreadynameditonmywalk.
\"TheInterurban,\"Isaid.
\"Adummycompany?\"saidMr.Jason.
\"Livelyenoughtobidsomethingoverahundredthousandtothecityforitsfranchise,\"Ireplied.
JuddJason,withaqueerlook,gotupandwenttoadeskinadarkcorner,andafterrummagingforafewmomentsinoneofthepigeon-holes,drewforthaglasscylinder,whichheheldoutasheapproachedme.
\"Yougetit,Mr.Paret,\"hesaid.
\"Whatisit?\"Iasked,\"abomb!\"
\"That,\"heannounced,ashetwistedthetubeaboutinhislongfingers,holdingituptothelight,\"isthefinestbrandofcigarsevermadeinCuba.Agentlemanwhohadeveryreasontobegratefultome——Iwon\'tsaywhohewas——gavemethatonce.Well,theLordmademeso\'sIcan\'tappreciateanybettertobaccothanthosefive-cent\'Bobtails\'Monahan\'sgotdownstairs,andIsavedit.Isaveditforthemanwhowouldputsomethingovermesomeday,and——yougetit.\"
\"Thankyou,\"Isaid,unconsciouslyfallinginwiththesemi-ceremonyofhismanner.\"IdonotflattermyselfthatthesolutionIhavesuggesteddidnotalsooccurtoyou.\"
\"You\'llsmokeit?\"heasked.
\"Surely.\"
\"Now?Herewithme?\"
\"Certainly,\"Iagreed,alittlepuzzled.AsIbroketheseal,pulledoutthecorkandunwrappedthecigarfromitsgoldfoilhetookastickandrappedloudlyonthefloor.AfterabriefintervalfootstepswereheardonthestairsandMikeMonahan,whiteapronedandscarletfaced,appearedatthedoor.
\"Bobtails,\"saidMr.Jason,laconically.
\"It\'sthemIthoughtye\'dbewanting,\"saidthesaloon-keeper,holdingoutahandful.JuddJasonlightedone,andbegansmokingreflectively.
Igazedaboutthemeanroom,withitslitterofnewspapersandreports,itsshabbyfurniture,andtheseseemedtohavebecomeincongruous,outoffigureinthechairfacingmekeepingwiththethoughtfulfigureinthechairfacingme.
\"Youhadacollegeeducation,Mr.Paret,\"heremarkedatlength.
\"Yes.\"
\"Life\'saqueerthing.NowifI\'dhadacollegeeducation,likeyou,andyou\'dbeenthrownontheworld,likeme,maybeI\'dbelivin\'upthereonGrantAvenueandyou\'dbedownhereoverthesaloon.\"
\"Maybe,\"Isaid,wonderinguneasilywhetherhemeanttoimplyasimilarityinourgifts.Buthismannerremainedimpassive,speculative.
\"EverreadCarlyle\'s\'FrenchRevolution\'?\"heaskedsuddenly.
\"Why,yes,partofit,agoodwhileago.\"
\"Whenyouwasincollege?\"
\"Yes.\"
\"I\'vegotalittlelibraryhere,\"hesaid,gettingupandraisingtheshadesandopeningtheglassdoorsofabookcasewhichhadescapedmyattention.HetookdownavolumeofCarlyle,boundinhalfcalf.
\"Wouldn\'tthinkIcaredforsuchthings,wouldyou?\"hedemandedashehandedittome.
\"Well,younevercantellwhataman\'srealtastesareuntilyouknowhim,\"Iobserved,toconcealmysurprise.
\"That\'sso,\"heagreed.\"Ilikebooks——somebooks.IfI\'dhadaneducation,I\'dhavelikedmoreof\'em,knownmoreabout\'em.NowIcanreadthisoneoverandover.ThatfellerCarlylewasagenius,hecouldlookrightintothebowelsofthevolcano,andhewasontohowmenandwomenfeetdownthere,howtheyhate,howtheysquare\'emselveswhentheygetachance.\"
Hehadmanagedtobringbeforemevividlythatterrible,volcanicflowonVersaillesoftheParismob.Heputbackthebookandresumedhisseat.
\"AndIknowhowthesepeoplefeddownhere,belowthecrust,\"hewenton,wavinghiscigaroutofthewindow,asthoughtoindicatethewholeofthatmeandistrict.\"Theyhate,andtheirhateismoltenhell.I\'vebeenthroughit.\"
\"Butyou\'vegotontop,\"Isuggested.
\"Sure,I\'vegotontop.Doyouknowwhy?it\'sbecauseIhated——that\'swhy.Aman\'sfeelings,ifthey\'restrongenough,havealottodowithwhathebecomes.\"
\"Buthehastohaveability,too,\"Iobjected.
\"Sure,hehastohaveability,buthisfeelingisthedrivingpowerifhefeelsstrongenough,hecanmakealittleabilitygoalongway.\"
Iwasstruckbytheforceofthisremark.IscarcelyrecognizedJuddJason.Theman,asherevealedhimself,hadbecomeatoncemoresinisterandmorefascinating.
\"IcanguesshowsomeofthoseJacobinsfeltwhentheyhadthearistocratsinthedock.They\'dgotontop——theJacobins,Imean.It\'shumannaturetowanttogetontop——ain\'tit?\"Helookedatmeandsmiled,buthedidnotseemtoexpectareply.\"Well,whatyoucallsociety,rich,respectablesocietylikeyoubelongtowouldhavemadeabumandacriminaloutofmeifIhadn\'tbeentoosmartfor\'em,andit\'sakindofsatisfactiontohave\'emcomingdownheretoMonahan\'sforthingstheycan\'thavewithoutmyleave.I\'vegotahalfNelsonon\'em.
Iwouldn\'tliveuponGrantAvenueifyougavemeScherer\'snewhouse.\"
Iwassilent.
\"Insteadofstartingmycareerincollege,Istartedinjail,\"hewenton,apparentlyignoringanyeffecthemayhaveproduced.Sosubtly,sodispassionatelyindeedwashedeliveringhimselfoftheseremarksthatitwasimpossibletotellwhetherhemeanttheirapplicationtobepersonal,tome,orgeneral,tomyassociates.\"IwenttojailwhenIwasfourteenbecauseIwantedaknifetomakekitesticks,andIstolearazorfromabarber.IwasbitterwhentheysteeredmeintoalockupinHickoryStreet.Itwasfullofbugsandcrooks,andtheyputmeinthesamecellwithanold-timernamed\'Red\'Waters;whowasoneoftheslickestsafe-
blowersaroundinthosedays.Redtookashinetome,foundoutIhadaheadpiece,andsaidtheirgangcoulduseacleverboy.IfI\'dgoinwithhim,Icouldmakeallkindsofmoney.IguessImighthavejoinedthegangifRedhadn\'tkepttalking——abouthowthebossofhisdistrictnamedGallagherwouldcomedownandgethimout,——andsureenoughGallagherdidcomedownandgethimout.IthoughtI\'dratherbeGallagherthanRed——Redhadtoservetimeonceinawhile.SoonashegotoutIwentdowntoGallagher\'ssaloon,andtherewasRedleaningoverthebar.\'Here\'sasmartkid!hesays,\'Heandmewereroom-matesoverinHickoryStreet.\'Hegottogassingme,andtellingmeI\'dbettercomealongwithhim,whenGallaghercamein.\'Whatisitye\'dliketobe,myson?\'sayshe.Apolitician,Itoldhim.Iwasthroughgoingtojail.
Gallagherhadalaughyoucouldhearallovertheplace.Hetookmeonasakindofhandyboyaroundtheestablishment,andbyandbyIbegantorunerrandsandfindoutthingsforhim.IwasbossofthatwardmyselfwhenIwastwenty-sixHow\'dyoulikethatcigar?\"
Ipraisedit.
\"Itoughttohavebeenagoodone,\"hedeclared.\"Well,Idon\'twanttokeepyouhereallafternoontellingyoumylifestory.\"
IassuredhimIhadbeendeeplyinterested.
\"Prettyslickideaofyours,thatdummycompany,Mr.Paret.Goaheadandorganizeit.\"Herose,whichwascontrarytohiscustomonthedepartureofavisitor.\"Dropinagain.We\'lltalkaboutthebooks.\"
Iwalkedslowlybackreflectingonthisconversation,uponthemotivesimpellingMr.Jasontobecomethusconfidential;norwasitthemostcomfortingthoughtintheworldthattheartistinmehadappealedtotheartistinhim,thathehadhailedmeasabreather.ButforthegraceofGodImighthavebeenMr.JasonandheMr.Paret:undoubtedlythatwaswhathehadmeanttoimplyAndIwasforcedtoadmitthathehadsucceeded——deliberatelyornot——inmakingtherespectableMr.Paretjustatrifleuncomfortable.
InthemarblevestibuleoftheCornNationalBankIranintoTallant,holdinghisbrownstrawhatinhishandandlookingalittlemoremoth-
eatenthanusual.
\"Hello,Paret,\"hesaid\"howisthattelephonebusinessgettingalong?\"
\"IsDickinsonin?\"Iasked.
Tallantnodded.
Wewentthroughthecoolbank,withitsshiningbrassandredmahogany,itstiledfloor,itsbusytellersattendingtofilesofclients,tothepresident\'ssanctumintherear.LeonardDickinson,veryspruceanddignifiedinablackcutawaycoat,wasdictatingrapidlytoawoman,stenographer,whomhedismissedwhenhesawus.Thedoorwasshut.
\"IwasjustaskingParetaboutthetelephoneaffair,\"saidMr.Tallant.
\"Well,haveyoufoundawayout?\"LeonardDickinsonlookedquestioninglyatme.
\"It\'sallright,\"Ianswered.\"I\'veseenJason.\"
\"Allright!\"theybothejaculatedatonce.
\"Wewin,\"Isaid.
Theystoodgazingatme.EvenDickinson,whowasrarelyruffled,seemedexcited.
\"Doyoumeantosayyou\'vefixedit?\"hedemanded.
Inodded.Theystaredatmeinamazement.
\"Howthedeucedidyoumanageit?\"
\"WeorganizetheInterurbanTelephoneCompany,andbidforthefranchise——that\'sall.\"
\"Adummycompany!\"criedTallant.\"Why,it\'ssimpleasABC!\"
Dickinsonsmiled.Hewastremendouslyrelieved,andshowedit.
\"That\'strueaboutallgreatideas,Tallant,\"hesaid.\"They\'resimple,onlyittakesaclevermantothinkofthem.\"
\"AndJasonagrees?\"Tallantdemanded.
Inoddedagain.\"We\'llhavetooutbidtheAutomaticpeople.Ihaven\'tseenBitteryetaboutthe——aboutthefee.\"
\"That\'sallright,\"saidLeonardDickinson,quickly.\"Itakeoffmyhattoyou.You\'vesavedus.Youcanaskanyfeeyoulike,\"headdedgenially.\"Let\'sgooverto——totheAshuelaandgetsomelunch.\"HehadbeenabouttosaytheClub,butherememberedMr.Tallant\'spresenceintime.\"Nothing\'sworryingyou,Hugh?\"headded,aswewentout,followedbytheglancesofhisemployees.
\"Nothing,\"Isaid
XVIX.
Makingmoneyinthosedayswassoridiculouslyeasy!Thetroublewastoknowhowtospendit.OneeveningwhenIgothomeItoldMaudeIhadasurpriseforher.
\"Asurprise?\"sheasked,lookingupfromalittlepinksmockshewasmakingforChickabiddy.
\"I\'veboughtthatlotonGrantAvenue,nexttotheOgilvys\'.\"
Shedroppedhersewing,andstaredatme.
\"Aren\'tyoupleased?\"Iasked.\"Atlastwearegoingtohaveahouseofourveryown.What\'sthematter?\"
\"Ican\'tbearthethoughtofleavinghere.I\'msousedtoit.I\'vegrowntoloveit.It\'spartofme.\"
\"But,\"Iexclaimed,alittleexasperated,\"youdidn\'texpecttoliveherealways,didyou?Thehousehasbeentoosmallforusforyears.I
thoughtyou\'dbedelighted.\"Thiswasnotstrictlytrue,forIhadratherexpectedsomesuchactiononherpart.\"Mostwomenwould.Ofcourse,ifit\'sgoingtomakesuchadifferencetoyouasthat,I\'llsellthelot.Thatwon\'tbedifficult.\"
Igotup,andstartedtogointomystudy.Shehalfrose,andhersewingfelltothefloor.
\"Oh,whyarewealwayshavingmisunderstandings?Dositdownaminute,Hugh.Don\'tthinkI\'mnotappreciative,\"shepleaded.\"Itwas——suchashock.\"
Isatdownratherreluctantly.
\"Ican\'texpresswhatIthink,\"shecontinued,ratherbreathlessly,\"butsometimesI\'mactuallyfrightened,we\'regoingthroughlifesofastinthesedays,anditdoesn\'tseemasifweweregettingtherealthingsoutofit.I\'mafraidofyoursuccess,andofallthemoneyyou\'remaking.\"
Ismiled.
\"I\'mnotsorichyet,asrichesgointhesedays,thatyouneedbealarmed,\"Isaid.
Shelookedatmehelplesslyamoment.
\"Ifeelthatitisn\'t——right,somehow,thatyou\'llpayforit,thatwe\'llpayforit.Goodnessknows,wehaveeverythingwewant,andmoretoo.
Thishouse——thishouseisreal,andI\'mafraidthatwon\'tbeahome,won\'tbereal.Thatwe\'llbeoverwhelmedwith——withthings!\"
Shewasinterruptedbytheentranceofthechildren.Butafterdinner,whenshehadseenthemtobed,aswashercustom,shecamedownstairsintomystudyandsaidquietly:-
\"Iwaswrong,Hugh.Ifyouwanttobuildahouse,ifyoufeelthatyou\'dbehappier,Ihavenorighttoobject.Ofcoursemysentimentforthishouseisnatural,thechildrenwerebornhere,butI\'verealizedwecouldn\'tliveherealways.\"
\"I\'mgladyoulookatitthatway,\"Ireplied.\"Why,we\'realreadygettingcramped,Maude,andnowyou\'regoingtohaveagovernessIdon\'tknowwhereyou\'dputher.\"
\"Nottoolarge,ahouse,\"shepleaded.\"IknowyouthinkI\'msilly,butthisextravaganceweseeeverywheredoesmakemeuneasy.Perhapsit\'sbecauseI\'mprovincial,andalwaysshallbe.\"
\"Well,wemusthaveahouselargeenoughtobecomfortablein,\"Isaid.
\"There\'snoreasonwhyweshouldn\'tbecomfortable.\"Ithoughtitaswellnottoconfessmyambitions,andIwasgreatlyrelievedthatshedidnotreproachmeforbuyingthelotwithoutconsultingher.Indeed,Iwasgratefulforthisunanticipatedacquiescence,Ifeltnearertoher,thanIhadforalongtime.Idrewupanotherchairtomydesk.
\"Sitdownandwe\'llmakeafewsketches,justforfun,\"Iurged.
\"Hugh,\"shesaidpresently,aswewereblackingoutprospectiverooms,\"doyourememberallthosedrawingsandplanswemadeinEngland,onourweddingtrip,andhowweknewjustwhatwewanted,andchangedourmindseveryfewdays?Andnowwe\'rereadytobuild,andhaven\'tanyideasatall!\"
\"Yes,\"Ianswered——butIdidnotlookather.
\"Ihavethebookstill——it\'sintheatticsomewhere,packedawayinabox.Isupposethoseplanswouldseemridiculousnow.\"
Itwasquitetrue,——nowthatwewerereadytobuildthehomethathadbeendeferredsolong,nowthatIhadthemoneytospendwithoutstintonitsconstruction,theironyoflifehaddeprivedmeofthosestrongdesiresandpredilectionsIhadknownonmyweddingtrip.Whatajoyitwouldhavebeentobuildthen!ButnowIfoundmyself:whollylackingindefiniteideasastostyleandconstruction.Secretly,Ilookedforwardtocertainluxuries,suchasabedroomanddressing-roomandwarmtiledbathroomalltomyselfbachelorprivaciesforwhichIhadlonged.TwomorningslateratthebreakfasttableMaudeaskedmeifIhadthoughtofanarchitect.
\"Why,ArchieLammerton,Isuppose.Whoelseisthere?Haveyouanyoneelseinmind?\"
\"N-no,\"saidMaude.\"ButIheardofsuchaclevermaninBoston,whodoesn\'tchargeMr.Lammerton\'sprices;andwhodesignssuchbeautifulprivatehouses.\"
\"ButwecanaffordtopayLammerton\'sprices,\"Ireplied,smiling.\"Andwhyshouldn\'twehavethebest?\"
\"Areyousure——heisthebest,Hugh?\"
\"Everybodyhashim,\"Isaid.
Maudesmiledinreturn.
\"Isupposethat\'sagoodreason,\"sheanswered.
\"Ofcourseit\'sagoodreason,\"Iassuredher.\"Thesepeople——thepeopleweknow——wouldn\'thavehadLammertonunlesshewassatisfactory.What\'sthematterwithhishouses?\"
\"Well,\"saidMaude,\"they\'renotveryoriginal.Idon\'tsaythey\'renotgood,inaway,buttheylackacertainimagination.It\'sdifficultformetoexpresswhatImean,\'machinemade\'isn\'tpreciselytheidea,butthereshouldbeacertainirregularityinart——shouldn\'tthere?IsawareproductioninoneofthearchitecturaljournalsofahouseinBostonbyamannamedFrey,thatseemedtometohavegreatcharm.\"
HerewasLucia,unmistakably.
\"That\'sallverywell,\"Isaidimpatiently,\"butwhenonehastoliveinahouse,onewantssomethingmorethanartisticirregularity.Lammertonknowshowtobuildforeverydayexistence;he\'sapracticalman,aswellasamanoftaste,hemaynotbeaChristopherWrenn,butheunderstandsconveniencesandcomforts.Hischimneysdon\'tsmoke,hiswindowsaretight,heknowswhatsystemsofheatingarethebest,andwhomtogoto: