TherewasanairofcalmandreservedopulenceabouttheWeightmanmansionthatspokenotofmoneysquandered，butofwealthprudentlyapplied。StandingonacorneroftheAvenuenolongerfashionableforresidence，itlookedupontheswellingtideofbusinesswithanexpressionofcomplacencyandhalf-disdain。
　　Thehousewasnotbeautiful。Therewasnothinginitsstraightfrontofchocolate-coloredstone，itsheavycornices，itsbroad，staringwindowsofplateglass，itscarvedandbronze-bedeckedmahoganydoorsatthetopofthewidestoop，tocharmtheeyeorfascinatetheimagination。
　　Butitwaseminentlyrespectable，andinitswayimposing。
　　Itseemedtosaythattheglitteringshopsofthejewelers，themilliners，theconfectioners，theflorists，thepicture-dealers，thefurriers，themakersofrareandcostlyantiquities，retailtradersinluxuriesoflife，werebeneaththenoticeofahousethathaditsfoundationsinthehighfinance，andwasbuiltliterallyandfigurativelyintheshadowofSt。Petronius'Church。
　　Atthesametimetherewassomethingself-pleasedandcongratulatoryinthewayinwhichthemansionhelditsownamidthechangingneighborhood。
　　Italmostseemedtobeliftedupalittle，amongthetallbuildingsnearathand，asifitfelttherisingvalueofthelandonwhichitstood。
　　JohnWeightmanwaslikethehouseintowhichhehadbuilthimselfthirtyyearsago，andinwhichhisidealsandambitionswereincrusted。
　　Hewasaself-mademan。Butinmakinghimselfhehadchosenahighlyesteemedpatternandworkedaccordingtotheapprovedrules。
　　Therewasnothingirregular，questionable，flamboyantabouthim。
　　Hewassolid，correct，andjustlysuccessful。
　　Hisminortastes，ofcourse，hadbeencarefullykeptuptodate。
　　Atthepropertime，picturesoftheBarbizonmasters，oldEnglishplateandportraits，bronzesbyBaryeandmarblesbyRodin，PersiancarpetsandChineseporcelains，hadbeenintroducedtothemansion。
　　ItcontainedaLouisQuinzereception-room，anEmpiredrawing-room，aJacobeandining-room，andvariousapartmentsdimlyreminiscentofthestylesoffurnitureaffectedbydeceasedmonarchs。Thatthehallwaysweretooshortforthehistoricperspectivedidnotmakemuchdifference。
　　Americandecorativeartiscapabledetout，itabsorbsallperiods。
　　OfeachperiodMr。Weightmanwishedtohavesomethingofthebest。
　　Heunderstooditsvalue，presentasacertificate，andprospectiveasaninvestment。
　　Itwasonlyinthearchitectureofhistownhousethatheremainedconservative，immovable，onemightalmostsayEarly-Victorian-Christian。HiscountryhouseatDulwich-on-the-SoundwasapalaceoftheItalianRenaissance。Butintownheadheredtoanarchitecturewhichhadmoralassociations，theNineteenth-Century-Brownstoneepoch。Itwasasymbolofhissocialposition，hisreligiousdoctrine，andeven，inaway，ofhisbusinesscreed。
　　"Amanoffixedprinciples，"hewouldsay，"shouldexpresstheminthelooksofhishouse。NewYorkchangesitsdomesticarchitecturetoorapidly。Itislikedivorce。Itisnotdignified。Idon'tlikeit。
　　Extravaganceandficklenessareadvertisedinmostofthesenewhouses。
　　Iwishtobeknownfordifferentqualities。Dignityandprudencearethethingsthatpeopletrust。EveryoneknowsthatIcanaffordtoliveinthehousethatsuitsme。Itisaguaranteetothepublic。
　　Itinspiresconfidence。Ithelpsmyinfluence。ThereisatextintheBibleabout'ahousethathathfoundations。'Thatistheproperkindofamansionforasolidman。"
　　HaroldWeightmanhadoftenlistenedtohisfatherdiscoursinginthisfashiononthefundamentalprinciplesoflife，andalwayswithadividedmind。Headmiredimmenselyhisfather'stalentsandthesingle-mindedenergywithwhichheimprovedthem。
　　Butinthepaternalphilosophytherewassomethingthatdisquietedandoppressedtheyoungman，andmadehimgaspinwardlyforfreshairandfreeaction。
　　Attimes，duringhiscollegecourseandhisyearsatthelawschool，hehadyieldedtothisimpulseandbrokenaway——nowtowardextravaganceanddissipation，andthen，whenthereactioncame，towardaromanticdevotiontoworkamongthepoor。Hehadfelthisfather'sdisapprovalforbothoftheseformsofimprudence；butiswasneverexpressedinaharshorviolentway，alwayswithacertaintolerantpatience，suchasonemightshowforthemistakesandvagariesoftheveryyoung。
　　JohnWeightmanwasnothasty，impulsive，inconsiderate，eventowardhisownchildren。Withthem，aswiththerestoftheworld，hefeltthathehadareputationtomaintain，atheorytovindicate。Hecouldaffordtogivethemtimetoseethathewasabsolutelyright。
　　OneofhisfavoriteScripturequotationswas，"WaitontheLord。"
　　Hehadappliedittorealestateandtopeople，withprofitableresults。
　　Buttohumanpersonsthesensationofbeingwaitedforisnotalwaysagreeable。Sometimes，especiallywiththeyoung，itproducesavaguerestlessness，adumbresentment，whichisincreasedbythefactthatonecanhardlyexplainorjustifyit。OfthisJohnWeightmanwasnotconscious。Itlaybeyondhishorizon。
　　Hedidnottakeitintoaccountintheplanoflifewhichhemadeforhimselfandforhisfamilyasthesharersandinheritorsofhissuccess。
　　"Fatherplaysus，"saidHarold，inamomentofirritation，tohismother，"likepiecesinagameofchess。
　　"Mydear，"saidthatlady，whosefaithinherhusbandwasreligious，"yououghtnottospeaksoimpatiently。Atleasthewinsthegame。
　　HeisoneofthemostrespectedmeninNewYork。Andheisverygenerous，too。"
　　"Iwishhewouldbemoregenerousinlettingusbeourselves，"
　　saidtheyoungman。"Healwayshassomethinginviewforusandexpectstomoveusuptoit。"
　　"Butisn'titalwaysforourbenefit？"repliedhismother。
　　"Lookwhatapositionwehave。Noonecansaythereisanytaintonourmoney。Therearenorumorsaboutyourfather。HehaskeptthelawsofGodandofman。Hehasnevermadeanymistakes。"
　　Haroldgotupfromhischairandpokedthefire。Thenhecamebacktotheample，well-gowned，firm-lookinglady，andsatbesideheronthesofa。
　　Hetookherhandgentlyandlookedatthetworings——athinbandofyellowgold，andasmallsolitairediamond——whichkepttheirplaceonherthirdfingerinmodestdignity，asifnotshamed，butratherjustified，bythesplendoroftheemeraldwhichglitteredbesidethem。
　　"Mother，"hesaid，"youhaveawonderfulhand。Andfathermadenomistakewhenhewonyou。Butareyousurehehasalwaysbeensoinerrant？"
　　"Harold，"sheexclaimed，alittlestiffly，"whatdoyoumean？
　　Hislifeisanopenbook。"
　　"Oh，"heanswered，"Idon'tmeananythingbad，motherdear。
　　Iknowthegovernor'slifeisanopenbook——aledger，ifyoulike，keptinthebestbookkeepinghand，andalwaysreadyforinspection——everypagecorrect，andshowingahandsomebalance。