the mansion-第1章
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The Mansion
by Henry van Dyke
There was an air of calm and reserved opulence about
the Weightman mansion that spoke not of money squandered；
but of wealth prudently applied。 Standing on a corner of
the Avenue no longer fashionable for residence； it looked upon
the swelling tide of business with an expression of complacency
and half…disdain。
The house was not beautiful。 There was nothing in its straight
front of
chocolate…colored stone； its heavy cornices； its broad； staring
windows of
plate glass； its carved and bronze…bedecked mahogany doors at the
top of the wide stoop； to charm the eye or fascinate the
imagination。
But it was eminently respectable； and in its way imposing。
It seemed to say that the glittering shops of the jewelers； the
milliners；
the confectioners； the florists； the picture…dealers； the
furriers；
the makers of rare and costly antiquities； retail traders in
luxuries of life； were beneath the notice of a house that had its
foundations in the high finance； and was built literally and
figuratively
in the shadow of St。 Petronius' Church。
At the same time there was something self…pleased and
congratulatory in
the way in which the mansion held its own amid the changing
neighborhood。
It almost seemed to be lifted up a little； among the tall
buildings
near at hand； as if it felt the rising value of the land on which
it stood。
John Weightman was like the house into which he had built himself
thirty years ago； and in which his ideals and ambitions were
incrusted。
He was a self…made man。 But in making himself he had chosen a
highly esteemed pattern and worked according to the approved
rules。
There was nothing irregular； questionable； flamboyant about him。
He was solid； correct； and justly successful。
His minor tastes； of course； had been carefully kept up to date。
At the proper time； pictures of the Barbizon masters； old English
plate and portraits； bronzes by Barye and marbles by Rodin；
Persian carpets
and Chinese porcelains； had been introduced to the mansion。
It contained a Louis Quinze reception…room； an Empire
drawing…room；
a Jacobean dining…room； and various apartments dimly reminiscent
of
the styles of furniture affected by deceased monarchs。 That the
hallways
were too short for the historic perspective did not make much
difference。
American decorative art is capable de tout； it absorbs all
periods。
Of each period Mr。 Weightman wished to have something of the
best。
He understood its value； present as a certificate； and
prospective as
an investment。
It was only in the architecture of his town house that he
remained conservative； immovable； one might almost say
Early…Victorian…Christian。 His country house at
Dulwich…on…the…Sound
was a palace of the Italian Renaissance。 But in town
he adhered to an architecture which had moral associations；
the Nineteenth…Century…Brownstone epoch。 It was a symbol of
his social position； his religious doctrine； and even； in a way；
of his business creed。
〃A man of fixed principles；〃 he would say； 〃should express them
in
the looks of his house。 New York changes its domestic
architecture
too rapidly。 It is like divorce。 It is not dignified。 I don't
like it。
Extravagance and fickleness are advertised in most of these new
houses。
I wish to be known for different qualities。 Dignity and prudence
are
the things that people trust。 Every one knows that I can afford
to
live in the house that suits me。 It is a guarantee to the
public。
It inspires confidence。 It helps my influence。 There is a text
in
the Bible about 'a house that hath foundations。' That is the
proper kind of
a mansion for a solid man。〃
Harold Weightman had often listened to his father discoursing in
this fashion on the fundamental principles of life； and always
with
a divided mind。 He admired immensely his father's talents
and the single…minded energy with which he improved them。
But in the paternal philosophy there was something that
disquieted
and oppressed the young man； and made him gasp inwardly for fresh
air
and free action。
At times； during his college course and his years at the law
school；
he had yielded to this impulse and broken awaynow toward
extravagance
and dissipation； and then； when the reaction came； toward a
romantic
devotion to work among the poor。 He had felt his father's
disapproval
for both of these forms of imprudence； but is was never expressed
in
a harsh or violent way； always with a certain tolerant patience；
such as one might show for the mistakes and vagaries of the very
young。
John Weightman was not hasty； impulsive； inconsiderate； even
toward his
own children。 With them； as with the rest of the world； he felt
that he
had a reputation to maintain； a theory to vindicate。 He could
afford to
give them time to see that he was absolutely right。
One of his favorite Scripture quotations was； 〃Wait on the Lord。〃
He had applied it to real estate and to people； with profitable
results。
But to human persons the sensation of being waited for is not
always agreeable。 Sometimes； especially with the young； it
produces
a vague restlessness； a dumb resentment； which is increased by
the fact that one can hardly explain or justify it。 Of this
John Weightman was not conscious。 It lay beyond his horizon。
He did not take it into account in the plan of life which he made
for
himself and for his family as the sharers and inheritors of his
success。
〃Father plays us；〃 said Harold； in a moment of irritation； to his
mother；
〃like pieces in a game of chess。
〃My dear；〃 said that lady； whose faith in her husband was
religious；
〃you ought not to speak so impatiently。 At least he wins the
game。
He is one of the most respected men in New York。 And he is
very generous； too。〃
〃I wish he would be more generous in letting us be ourselves；〃
said the young man。 〃He always has something in view for us
and expects to move us up to it。〃
〃But isn't it always for our benefit？〃 replied his mother。
〃Look what a position we have。 No one can say there is any taint
on
our money。 There are no rumors about your father。 He has kept
the laws of God and of man。 He has never made any mistakes。〃
Harold got up from his chair and poked the fire。 Then he came
back to
the ample； well…gowned； firm…looking lady； and sat beside her on
the sofa。
He took her hand gently and looked at the two ringsa thin band
of
yellow gold； and a small solitaire diamondwhich kept their
place on
her third finger in modest dignity； as if not shamed； but rather
justified；
by the splendor of the emerald which glittered beside them。
〃Mother；〃 he said； 〃you have a wonderful hand。 And father made
no mistake
when he won you。 But are you sure he has always been so
inerrant？〃
〃Harold；〃 she exclaimed； a little stiffly； 〃what do you mean？
His life is an open book。〃
〃Oh；〃 he answered； 〃I don't mean anything bad； mother dear。
I know the governor's life is an open booka ledger； if you
like；
kept in the best bookkeeping hand； and always ready for
inspectionevery page correct； and showing a handsome balance。
But isn't it a mistake not to allow us to make our own mistakes；
to learn for ourselves； to live our own lives？ Must we be
always working for 'the balance；' in one thing or another？
I want to be myselfto get outside of this everlasting；
profitable 'plan'to let myself go； and lose myself for a while
at leastto do the things that I want to do； just because
I want to do them。〃
〃My boy；〃 said his mother； anxiously； 〃you are not going to do
anything
wrong or foolish？ You know the falsehood of that old proverb
about
wild oats。〃
He threw back his head and laughed。 〃Yes； mother；〃 he answered；
〃I know it well enough。 But in California； you know； the wild
oats are
one of the most valuable crops。 They grow all over the hillsides
and
keep the cattle and the horses alive。 But that wasn't what I
meantto sow
wild oats。 Say to pick wild flowers； if you like； or even to
chase
wild geeseto do something that seems good to me just for its
own sake；
not for the sake of wages of one kind or another。 I feel like a
hired man；
in the service of this magnificent mansionsay in training for
father's place as majordomo。 I'd like to get out some way；
to feel freeperhaps to do something for others。〃
The young man's voice hesitated a little。 〃Yes； it sound like
cant；
I know； but sometimes I feel as if I'd like to do some good in
the world；
if father only wouldn't insist upon God's putting it into the
ledger。〃
His mother moved uneasily； and a slight look of bewilderment
came into her face。
〃Isn't that almost irreverent？〃 she asked。 〃Surely the righteous
must have their reward。 And your father is good。 See how much
he gives to all the established charities； how many things he has
founded。
He's always thinking of others； and planning for them。 And
surely；
for us； he does everything。 How well he has planned this trip
to Europe for me and the girlsthe court…presentation at Berlin；
the season on the Riviera； the visits in England with the
Plumptons and
the Halverstones。 He says Lord Halverstone has the finest
old house in Sussex； pure Elizabethan； and all the old customs
are
kept up； toofamily prayers every morning for all the domestics。
By…the…way； you know his son Bertie； I believe。〃
Harold smiled a little to himself as he answered： 〃Yes； I fished
at
Catalina Island last June with the Honorable Ethelbert；
he's rather a decent chap； in spite of his ingrowing mind。
But you？mother； you are simply magnificent！ You are
father's masterpiece。〃 The young man leaned over to kiss her；
and went up to the Riding Club for his afternoon canter in the
Park。
So it came to pass； early in December； that Mrs。 Weightman and
her two daughters sailed for Europe； on their serious pleasure
trip；
even as it had been written in the book of Providence； and John
Weightman；
who had made the entry； was left to pass the rest of the winter
with
his son and heir in the brownstone mansion。
They were comfortable enough。 The machinery of the massive
establishment
ran as smoothly as a great electric dynamo。 They were busy
enough； too。
John Weightman's plans and enterprises were complicated； though
his
principle of action was always simpleto get good value for
every expenditure and effort。 The banking…house of which he was
the chief；
the brain； the will； the absolutely controlling hand； was so
admirably
