the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第17节
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thirty…second Polynesian； one…sixteenth Italian； one sixteenth Portuguese；
one…half Chinese； and eleven thirty…seconds English and American。 It
might well be that Ah Chun would have refrained from matrimony could
he have foreseen the wonderful family that was to spring from this union。
It was wonderful in many ways。 First； there was its size。 There were
fifteen sons and daughters； mostly daughters。 The sons had come first；
three of them； and then had followed； in unswerving sequence； a round
dozen of girls。 The blend of the race was excellent。 Not alone fruitful
did it prove； for the progeny； without exception； was healthy and without
blemish。 But the most amazing thing about the family was its beauty。
All the girls were beautifuldelicately； ethereally beautiful。 Mamma
Ah Chun's rotund lines seemed to modify papa Ah Chun's lean angles；
so that the daughters were willowy without being lathy； round…muscled
without being chubby。 In every feature of every face were haunting
reminiscences of Asia； all manipulated over and disguised by Old
England； New England； and South of Europe。 No observer； without
information； would have guessed； the heavy Chinese strain in their veins；
nor could any observer； after being informed； fail to note immediately
the Chinese traces。
As beauties； the Ah Chun girls were something new。 Nothing like
them had been seen before。 They resembled nothing so much as they
resembled one another； and yet each girl was sharply individual。 There
was no mistaking one for another。 On the other hand； Maud； who was
blue…eyed and yellow…haired； would remind one instantly of Henrietta；
an olive brunette with large； languishing dark eyes and hair that was
blue…black。 The hint of resemblance that ran through them all；
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reconciling every differentiation； was Ah Chun's contribution。 He had
furnished the groundwork upon which had been traced the blended
patterns of the races。 He had furnished the slim…boned Chinese frame；
upon which had been builded the delicacies and subtleties of Saxon；
Latin； and Polynesian flesh。
Mrs。 Ah Chun had ideas of her own to which Ah Chun gave credence；
though never permitting them expression when they conflicted with his
own philosophic calm。 She had been used all her life to living in
European fashion。 Very well。 Ah Chun gave her a European mansion。
Later； as his sons and daughters grew able to advise； he built a bungalow；
a spacious； rambling affair； as unpretentious as it was magnificent。
Also； as time went by； there arose a mountain house on Tantalus； to
which the family could flee when the 〃sick wind〃 blew from the south。
And at Waikiki he built a beach residence on an extensive site so well
chosen that later on； when the United States government condemned it
for fortification purposes； an immense sum accompanied the
condemnation。 In all his houses were billiard and smoking rooms and
guest rooms galore； for Ah Chun's wonderful progeny was given to
lavish entertainment。 The furnishing was extravagantly simple。
Kings' ransoms were expended without displaythanks to the educated
tastes of the progeny。
Ah Chun had been liberal in the matter of education。 〃Never mind
expense；〃 he had argued in the old days with Parkinson when that slack
mariner could see no reason for making the Vega seaworthy； 〃you sail
the schooner； I pay the bills。〃 And so with his sons and daughters。 It
had been for them to get the education and never mind the expense。
Harold； the eldest…born； had gone to Harvard and Oxford； Albert and
Charles had gone through Yale in the same classes。 And the daughters；
from the eldest down； had undergone their preparation at Mills Seminary
in California and passed on to Vassar； Wellesley； or Bryn Mawr。
Several； having so desired； had had the finishing touches put on in
Europe。 And from all the world Ah Chun's sons and daughters returned
to him to suggest and advise in the garnishment of the chaste
magnificence of his residences。 Ah Chun himself preferred the
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voluptuous glitter of Oriental display； but he was a philosopher； and he
clearly saw that his children's tastes were correct according to Western
standards。
Of course； his children were not known as the Ah Chun children。 As
he had evolved from a coolie labourer to a multi…millionaire； so had his
name evolved。 Mamma Ah Chun had spelled it A'Chun； but her wiser
offspring had elided the apostrophe and spelled it Achun。 Ah Chun did
not object。 The spelling of his name interfered no whit with his
comfort nor his philosophic calm。 Besides； he was not proud。 But
when his children arose to the height of a starched shirt； a stiff collar；
and a frock coat； they did interfere with his comfort and calm。 Ah
Chun would have none of it。 He preferred the loose…flowing robes of
China； and neither could they cajole nor bully him into making the
change。 They tried both courses； and in the latter one failed especially
disastrously。 They had not been to America for nothing。 They had
learned the virtues of the boycott as employed by organized labour； and
he； their father； Chun Ah Chun； they boycotted in his own house；
Mamma Achun aiding and abetting。 But Ah Chun himself； while
unversed in Western culture； was thoroughly conversant with Western
labour conditions。 An extensive employer of labour himself； he knew
how to cope with its tactics。 Promptly he imposed a lockout on his
rebellious progeny and erring spouse。 He discharged his scores of
servants； locked up his stables； closed his houses； and went to live in the
Royal Hawaiian Hotel； in which enterprise he happened to be the
heaviest stockholder。 The family fluttered distractedly on visits about
with friends； while Ah Chun calmly managed his many affairs； smoked
his long pipe with the tiny silver bowl； and pondered the problem of his
wonderful progeny。
This problem did not disturb his calm。 He knew in his philosopher's
soul that when it was ripe he would solve it。 In the meantime he
enforced the lesson that complacent as he might be； he was nevertheless
the absolute dictator of the Achun destinies。 The family held out for a
week； then returned； along with Ah Chun and the many servants； to
occupy the bungalow once more。 And thereafter no question was
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raised when Ah Chun elected to enter his brilliant drawing…room in blue
silk robe； wadded slippers； and black silk skull…cap with red button peak；
or when he chose to draw at his slender…stemmed silver…bowled pipe
among the cigarette… and cigar… smoking officers and civilians on the
broad verandas or in the smoking room。
Ah Chun occupied a unique position in Honolulu。 Though he did not
appear in society； he was eligible anywhere。 Except among the
Chinese merchants of the c
