the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第19节
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wood； some are bronze。 I use a small one in the office for a paper…
weight。 In the Bishop Museum are many gods of coral rock and lava
stone。〃
〃But there is only one God；〃 she announced decisively； stiffening her
ample frame argumentatively。
Ah Chun noted the danger signal and sheered off。
〃What is greater than God； then？〃 he asked。 〃I will tell you。 It is
money。 In my time I have had dealings with Jews and Christians；
Mohammedans and Buddhists； and with little black men from the
Solomons and New Guinea who carried their god about them； wrapped in
oiled paper。 They possessed various gods； these men； but they all
worshipped money。 There is that Captain Higginson。 He seems to
like Henrietta。〃
〃He will never marry her；〃 retorted Mamma Achun。 〃He will be an
admiral before he dies〃
〃A rear…admiral；〃 Ah Chun interpolated。
〃Yes； I know。 That is the way they retire。〃
〃His family in the United States is a high one。 They would not like
it if he married 。 。 。 if he did not marry an American girl。〃
Ah Chun knocked the ashes out of his pipe； thoughtfully refilling the
silver bowl with a tiny pleget of tobacco。 He lighted it and smoked it
out before he spoke。
〃Henrietta is the oldest girl。 The day she marries I will give her
three hundred thousand dollars。 That will fetch that Captain Higginson
and his high family along with him。 Let the word go out to him。 I
leave it to you。〃
And Ah Chun sat and smoked on； and in the curling smoke…wreaths he
saw take shape the face and figure of Toy ShueyToy Shuey； the maid
of all work in his uncle's house in the Cantonese village； whose work
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was never done and who received for a whole year's work one dollar。
And he saw his youthful self arise in the curling smoke； his youthful self
who had toiled eighteen years in his uncle's field for little more。 And
now he； Ah Chun； the peasant； dowered his daughter with three hundred
thousand years of such toil。 And she was but one daughter of a dozen。
He was not elated at the thought。 It struck him that it was a funny；
whimsical world； and he chuckled aloud and startled Mamma Achun
from a revery which he knew lay deep in the hidden crypts of her being
where he had never penetrated。
But Ah Chun's word went forth； as a whisper； and Captain Higginson
forgot his rear…admiralship and his high family and took to wife three
hundred thousand dollars and a refined and cultured girl who was one
thirty…second Polynesian； one…sixteenth Italian； one… sixteenth Portuguese；
eleven thirty…seconds English and Yankee； and one…half Chinese。
Ah Chun's munificence had its effect。 His daughters became
suddenly eligible and desirable。 Clara was the next； but when the
Secretary of the Territory formally proposed for her； Ah Chun informed
him that he must wait his turn； that Maud was the oldest and that she
must be married first。 It was shrewd policy。 The whole family was
made vitally interested in marrying off Maud； which it did in three
months； to Ned Humphreys； the United States immigration
commissioner。 Both he and Maud complained； for the dowry was only
two hundred thousand。 Ah Chun explained that his initial generosity
had been to break the ice； and that after that his daughters could not
expect otherwise than to go more cheaply。
Clara followed Maud； and thereafter； for a space of two years； there
was a continuous round of weddings in the bungalow。 In the meantime
Ah Chun had not been idle。 Investment after investment was called in。
He sold out his interests in a score of enterprises； and step by step； so as
not to cause a slump in the market； he disposed of his large holdings in
real estate。 Toward the last he did precipitate a slump and sold at
sacrifice。 What caused this haste were the squalls he saw already rising
above the horizon。 By the time Lucille was married； echoes of
bickerings and jealousies were already rumbling in his ears。 The air
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was thick with schemes and counter…schemes to gain his favour and to
prejudice him against one or another or all but one of his sons…in…law。
All of which was not conducive to the peace and repose he had planned
for his old age。
He hastened his efforts。 For a long time he had been in
correspondence with the chief banks in Shanghai and Macao。 Every
steamer for several years had carried away drafts drawn in favour of one；
Chun Ah Chun； for deposit in those Far Eastern banks。 The drafts now
became heavier。 His two youngest daughters were not yet married。
He did not wait； but dowered them with a hundred thousand each； which
sums lay in the Bank of Hawaii； drawing interest and awaiting their
wedding day。 Albert took over the business of the firm of Ah Chun and
Ah Yung； Harold； the eldest； having elected to take a quarter of a million
and go to England to live。 Charles； the youngest； took a hundred
thousand； a legal guardian； and a course in a Keeley institute。 To
Mamma Achun was given the bungalow； the mountain House on
Tantalus； and a new seaside residence in place of the one Ah Chun sold
to the government。 Also； to Mamma Achun was given half a million in
money well invested。
Ah Chun was now ready to crack the nut of the problem。 One fine
morning when the family was at breakfasthe had seen to it that all his
sons…in…law and their wives were presenthe announced that he was
returning to his ancestral soil。 In a neat little homily he explained that
he had made ample provision for his family； and he laid down various
maxims that he was sure； he said； would enable them to dwell together
in peace and harmony。 Also； he gave business advice to his sons…in…
law； preached the virtues of temperate living and safe investments； and
gave them the benefit of his encyclopedic knowledge of industrial and
business conditions in Hawaii。 Then he called for his carriage； and； in
the company of the weeping Mamma Achun； was driven down to the
Pacific Mail steamer； leaving behind him a panic in the bungalow。
Captain Higginson clamoured wildly for an injunction。 The daughters
shed copious tears。 One of their husbands； an ex…Federal judge；
questioned Ah Chun's sanity； and hastened to the proper authorities to
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inquire into it。 He returned with the information that Ah Chun had
appeared before the commission the day before； demanded an
examination； and passed with flying colours。 There was nothing to be
done； so they went down and said good…bye to the little old man； who
waved farewell from the promenade deck as the big steamer poked her
nose seaward through the coral reef。
But the little old man was not bound for Canton。 He knew his own
country too well； and the squeeze of the Mandarins； to venture into it
with the tidy bulk of wealth t
