the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第16章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
60
… Page 61…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
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
61
… Page 62…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
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 that remained to him。 He went to Macao。
Now Ah Chun had long exercised the power of a king and he was as
imperious as a king。 When he landed at Macao and went into the office
of the biggest European hotel to register； the clerk closed the book on
him。 Chinese were not permitted。 Ah Chun called for the manager
and was treated with contumely。 He drove away； but in two hours he
was back again。 He called the clerk and manager in； gave them a
month's salary； and discharged them。 He had made himself the owner
of the hotel； and in the finest suite he settled down during the many
months the gorgeous palace in the suburbs was building for him。 In the
meantime； with the inevitable ability that was his； he increased the
earnings of his big hotel from three per cent to thirty。
The troubles Ah Chun had flown began early。 There were sons…in…
law that made bad investments； others that played ducks and drakes with
the Achun dowries。 Ah Chun being out of it； they looked at Mamma Ah
Chun and her half million； and； looking； engendered not the best of
feeling toward one another。 Lawyers waxed fat in the striving to
ascertain the construction of trust deeds。 Suits； cross…suits； and
counter…suits cluttered the Hawaiian courts。 Nor did the police courts
escape。 There were angry encounters in which harsh words and harsher
blows were struck。 There were such things as flower pots being thrown
to add emphasis to winged words。 And suits for libel arose that
dragged their way through the courts and kept Honolulu agog with
excitement over the revelations of the witnesses。
In his palace； surrounded by all dear delights of the Orient； Ah Chun
smokes his placid pipe and listens to the turmoil overseas。 By each
62
… Page 63…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
mail steamer； in faultless English； typewritten on an American machine；
a letter goes from Macao to Honolulu； in which； by admirable texts and
precepts； Ah Chun advises his family to live in unity and harmony。 As
for himself； he is out of it all； and well content。 He has won to peace
and repose。 At times he chuckles and rubs his hands； and his slant little
black eyes twinkle merrily at the thought of the funny world。 For out
of all his living and philosophizing； that remains to himthe conviction
that it is a very funny world。
63
… Page 64…
THE HOUSE OF PRIDE
THE SHERIFF OF KONA
〃You cannot escape liking the climate；〃 Cudworth said； in reply to
my panegyric on the Kona coast。 〃I was a young fellow； just out of
college； when I came here eighteen years ago。 I never went back；
except； of course； to visit。 And I warn you； if you have some spot dear
to you on earth； not to linger here too long； else you will find this
dearer。〃
We had finished dinner； which had been served on the big lanai； the
one with a northerly exposure； though exposure is indeed a misnomer in
so delectable a climate。
The candles had been put out； and a slim； white…clad Japanese
slipped like a ghost through the silvery moonlight； presented us with
cigars； and faded away into the darkness of the bungalow。 I looked
through a screen of banana and lehua trees； and down across the guava
scrub to the quiet sea a thousand feet beneath。 For a week； ever since I
had landed from the tiny coasting…steamer； I had been stopping with
Cudworth； and during that time no wind had ruffled that unvexed sea。
True； there had been breezes； but they were the gentlest zephyrs that
ever blew through summer isles。 They were not winds； they were
sighslong； balmy sighs of a world at rest。
〃A lotus land；〃 I said。
〃Where each day is like every day； and every day is a paradise of
days；〃 he answered。 〃Nothing ever happens。 It is not too hot
