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The Egotist Considers
Hehadconformed,hehadsucceeded,butashisimaginationwasneithersatisfiednorgraspedbyhisownsuccess,hehadlistlessly,half-accidentallychuckedthewholethingandbecomeagain:
6.ThefundamentalAmory.
FINANCIAL
HisfatherdiedquietlyandinconspicuouslyatThanksgiving.TheincongruityofdeathwitheitherthebeautiesofLakeGenevaorwithhismother’sdignified,reticentattitudedivertedhim,andhelookedatthefuneralwithanamusedtolerance.Hedecidedthatburialwasafterallpreferabletocremation,andhesmiledathisoldboyhoodchoice,slowoxidationinthetopofatree.Thedayaftertheceremonyhewasamusinghimselfinthegreatlibrarybysinkingbackonacouchingracefulmortuaryattitudes,tryingtodeterminewhetherhewould,whenhisdaycame,befoundwithhisarmscrossedpiouslyoverhischest(MonsignorDarcyhadonceadvocatedthispostureasbeingthemostdistinguished),orwithhishandsclaspedbehindhishead,amorepaganandByronicattitude.
Whatinterestedhimmuchmorethanthefinaldepartureofhisfatherfromthingsmundanewasatri-corneredconversationbetweenBeatrice,Mr.Barton,ofBartonandKrogman,theirlawyers,andhimself,thattookplaceseveraldaysafterthefuneral.Forthefirsttimehecameintoactualcognizanceofthefamilyfinances,andrealizedwhatatidyfortunehadoncebeenunderhisfather’smanagement.Hetookaledgerlabelled"1906"andranthroughitrathercarefully.Thetotalexpenditurethatyearhadcometosomethingoveronehundredandtenthousanddollars.
