a far country-第79章
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〃And Jason agrees？〃 Tallant demanded。
I nodded again。 〃We'll have to outbid the Automatic people。 I haven't
seen Bitter yet about theabout the fee。〃
〃That's all right；〃 said Leonard Dickinson； quickly。 〃I take off my hat
to you。 You've saved us。 You can ask any fee you like；〃 he added
genially。 〃Let's go over toto the Ashuela and get some lunch。〃 He had
been about to say the Club； but he remembered Mr。 Tallant's presence in
time。 〃Nothing's worrying you； Hugh？〃 he added； as we went out； followed
by the glances of his employees。
〃Nothing；〃 I said。。。。
XVIX。
Making money in those days was so ridiculously easy！ The trouble was to
know how to spend it。 One evening when I got home I told Maude I had a
surprise for her。
〃A surprise？〃 she asked； looking up from a little pink smock she was
making for Chickabiddy。
〃I've bought that lot on Grant Avenue； next to the Ogilvys'。〃
She dropped her sewing； and stared at me。
〃Aren't you pleased？〃 I asked。 〃At last we are going to have a house of
our very own。 What's the matter？〃
〃I can't bear the thought of leaving here。 I'm so used to it。 I've
grown to love it。 It's part of me。〃
〃But；〃 I exclaimed； a little exasperated； 〃you didn't expect to live here
always； did you？ The house has been too small for us for years。 I
thought you'd be delighted。〃 （This was not strictly true； for I had
rather expected some such action on her part。） 〃Most women would。 Of
course； if it's going to make such a difference to you as that； I'll sell
the lot。 That won't be difficult。〃
I got up； and started to go into my study。 She half rose； and her sewing
fell to the floor。
〃Oh； why are we always having misunderstandings？ Do sit down a minute；
Hugh。 Don't think I'm not appreciative；〃 she pleaded。 〃It wassuch a
shock。〃
I sat down rather reluctantly。
〃I can't express what I think；〃 she continued； rather breathlessly； 〃but
sometimes I'm actually frightened； we're going through life so fast in
these days； and it doesn't seem as if we were getting the real things out
of it。 I'm afraid of your success； and of all the money you're making。〃
I smiled。
〃I'm not so rich yet； as riches go in these days； that you need be
alarmed；〃 I said。
She looked at me helplessly a moment。
〃I feel that it isn'tright； somehow； that you'll pay for it； that we'll
pay for it。 Goodness knows； we have everything we want； and more too。
This housethis house is real； and I'm afraid that won't be a home；
won't be real。 That we'll be overwhelmed withwith things！〃。。。
She was interrupted by the entrance of the children。 But after dinner；
when she had seen them to bed； as was her custom； she came downstairs
into my study and said quietly： …
〃I was wrong； Hugh。 If you want to build a house； if you feel that you'd
be happier； I have no right to object。 Of course my sentiment for this
house is natural； the children were born here； but I've realized we
couldn't live here always。〃
〃I'm glad you look at it that way；〃 I replied。 〃Why； we're already
getting cramped； Maude； and now you're going to have a governess I don't
know where you'd put her。〃
〃Not too large； a house；〃 she pleaded。 〃I know you think I'm silly； but
this extravagance we see everywhere does make me uneasy。 Perhaps it's
because I'm provincial； and always shall be。〃
〃Well； we must have a house large enough to be comfortable in；〃 I said。
〃There's no reason why we shouldn't be comfortable。〃 I thought it as
well not to confess my ambitions； and I was greatly relieved that she did
not reproach me for buying the lot without consulting her。 Indeed； I was
grateful for this unanticipated acquiescence； I felt nearer to her； than
I had for a long time。 I drew up another chair to my desk。
〃Sit down and we'll make a few sketches； just for fun；〃 I urged。
〃Hugh；〃 she said presently； as we were blacking out prospective rooms；
〃do you remember all those drawings and plans we made in England； on our
wedding trip； and how we knew just what we wanted； and changed our minds
every few days？ And now we're ready to build； and haven't any ideas at
all！〃
〃Yes；〃 I answeredbut I did not look at her。
〃I have the book stillit's in the attic somewhere； packed away in a
box。 I suppose those plans would seem ridiculous now。〃
It was quite true；now that we were ready to build the home that had
been deferred so long； now that I had the money to spend without stint on
its construction； the irony of life had deprived me of those strong
desires and predilections I had known on my wedding trip。 What a joy it
would have been to build then！ But now I found myself： wholly lacking in
definite ideas as to style and construction。 Secretly； I looked forward
to certain luxuries； such as a bedroom and dressing…room and warm tiled
bathroom all to myself bachelor privacies for which I had longed。 Two
mornings later at the breakfast table Maude asked me if I had thought of
an architect。
〃Why； Archie Lammerton； I suppose。 Who else is there？ Have you anyone
else in mind？〃
〃N…no；〃 said Maude。 〃But I heard of such a clever man in Boston； who
doesn't charge Mr。 Lammerton's prices； and who designs such beautiful
private houses。〃
〃But we can afford to pay Lammerton's prices；〃 I replied； smiling。 〃And
why shouldn't we have the best？〃
〃Are you surehe is the best； Hugh？〃
〃Everybody has him；〃 I said。
Maude smiled in return。
〃I suppose that's a good reason；〃 she answered。
〃Of course it's a good reason；〃 I assured her。 〃These peoplethe people
we knowwouldn't have had Lammerton unless he was satisfactory。 What's
the matter with his houses？〃
〃Well；〃 said Maude； 〃they're not very original。 I don't say they're not
good； in away； but they lack a certain imagination。 It's difficult for
me to express what I mean； 'machine made' isn't precisely the idea； but
there should be a certain irregularity in artshouldn't there？ I saw a
reproduction in one of the architectural journals of a house in Boston by
a man named Frey； that seemed to me to have great charm。〃
Here was Lucia； unmistakably。
〃That's all very well；〃 I said impatiently； 〃but when one has to live in
a house； one wants something more than artistic irregularity。 Lammerton
knows how to build for everyday existence； he's a practical man； as well
as a man of taste； he may not be a Christopher Wrenn； but he understands
conveniences and comforts。 His chimneys don't smoke； his windows are
tight； he knows what systems of heating are the best； and whom to go to：
he knows what good plumbing is。 I'm rather surprised you don't
appreciate that； Maude； you're so particular as to what kind of rooms the
children shall have； and you want a schoolroom…nursery with all the
latest devices； with sun and ventilation。 The Berringers wouldn't have
had him； the Hollisters and Dickinsons wouldn't have had him if his work
lacked taste。〃
〃And Nancy wouldn't have had him；〃 added Maude； and she smiled once more。
〃Well； I haven't consulted Nancy； or anyone else；〃 I replieda little
tartly； perhaps。 〃You don't seem to realize that some fashions may have
a basis of reason。 They are not all silly； as Lucia seems to think。 If
Lammerton builds satisfactory houses； he ought to be forgiven for being
the fashion； he ought to have a chance。〃 I got up to leave。 〃Let's see
what kind of a plan he'll draw up； at any rate。〃
Her glance was almost indulgent。
〃Of course； Hugh。 I want you to be satisfied； to be pleased；〃 she said。
〃And you？〃 I questioned； 〃you are to live in the house more than I。〃
〃Oh； I'm sure it will turn out all right；〃 she replied。 〃Now you'd
better run along； I know you're late。〃
〃I am late；〃 I admitted； rather lamely。 〃If you don't care for
Lammerton's drawings； we'll get another architect。〃
Several years before Mr。 Lammerton had arrived among us with a Beaux Arts
moustache and letters of introduction to Mrs。 Durrett and others。 We
found him the most adaptable； the most accommodating of young men； always
ready to donate his talents and his services to private theatricals；
tableaux； and fancy…dress balls； to take a place at a table at the last
moment。
