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Show : \ "It would be much simpler, John, to tear the house down and start from scratch." . "But, Nettie, we're only doing a bit of remodeling." "I don't know who you're fooling, John. But this remodeling, as you call it, involves the construction of a mansion." "My ideas sort of grew," Father admitted, grinuing. "As usual." "Nettie, this will be the nnest house in Farmington!" "And just where will the money come from?" He made a grand gesture. "Don't worry about money." "I've learned to. This is going to be my house, and if we start it we'll see it through. There will be no mortgage, no last-minute scramble for dollars. I can wait. We won't drive a stake or stretch a string until the money is in the bank to nllish it." Father threw back his head and laughed. "Nettie, I have a reputation for putting deals together. But I do declare! I can tie up a proposition for ten million dollars with less actual cash than you're demanding to start a modest mansion." -You won't swing any deals with me, John. Not when it comes to my home. It means too much. The money will be in the bank before we start." He sighed. "All right. The money will be in the bank. Now will you look at the plans?" Mother went over the plans. They were magnincent. Father had given his grand ideas free rein. No expense would be spared. Moth~r's enthusiasm soared and then crashed on the rocks of practicality. "John, we can't do it." "I promise you the money will be in the bank." "Yes ... but what about Nellie? What about May?" He winked. "Well, that's why we don't start from scratch. Nobody could pOSSibly object to me nxing over a small house for you. But if the idea grows a bit-well, Nellie and May know that my ideas always grow." "It will be quite apparent from the moment the foundation [160 1 is staked off," Mother pointed out. "There will be an explosion, John. Two explosions." "It's just pOSSible," Father said, "that Nellie and May ~on't have to know." "Of course they won't have to know," Mother said acidly. "Nellie is right across the street. You can just pull down her window shades so she won't notice." "Nettie, I am going to build this home for you," he said with that look in his eye. "I promised you the best house in town, and this is it. Anyway, I need such a house to maintain my position in public and business life." "I understand, John. But will Nellie and May?" He winked again, grinning. "As I said, Nettie, perhaps they won't have to know. Your father made quite a bit of money with that ranch I sold him in Alberta." He paused signiflcant1y. "What's that got to do with it?" she asked. "Nettie, you're the apple of your father's eye. Everybody knows that. The oldest daughter of his favorite wife. And Brother Samuel Woolley is known far and wide as a generous and open-handed man. Now, Nettie," F.'ather said severely, "you know very well I never resort to falsehood. So we won't tell any lies. On the other hand, Nettie, harmony in the family is of utmost importance. So I think we should be kind to Nellie and May and save their feelings." He leaned back reHectively, cocking an eye at the ceiling. "Nettie, I have a hunch that Nellie and May might get the idea, without being told in so many words, that your father is building a nne home for you." And then he roared with laughter. Mother felt she had earned the big house. If Father phoned late at uight that he was arriving for breakfast with eighteen friends, she never embarrassed him. The breakfast was a masterpiece if she had to stay up all night in the preparation. She had seen from the nrst that her role was to provide John a home. She [ 161] |
