Summary: Chapter 21, “The Smallweed Family”
The narrator describes the home of Mr. Smallweed, whose
first name is Bart. There have been no true children in the Smallweed family
for several generations—all of the children act like adults. Only
Mr. Smallweed’s grandmother acts childlike because she is so old.
His grandfather is old too, and even though his body is falling apart,
his mind is active. The grandfather’s father was obsessed with money,
which he wound up losing. The family motto is to “go out early and
marry late,” and the grandfather became a clerk in a scrivener’s
office when he was twelve. His son is the father of Bart and his twin
sister, Judy. There is no amusement in the Smallweed home. Grandfather
Smallweed sits in a chair, a drawer under which is reported to hold
a large fortune. He and Grandmother Smallweed bicker endlessly.
Judy has never played with toys, and she doesn’t know
how to laugh. Bart also never engaged in childish pastimes. Judy
calls for the maid, Charley, and reprimands her for no reason. Bart
comes home, and Grandfather Smallweed praises him for having someone else
pay for lunch. The two grandparents, Judy, and Bart have tea. Grandfather
Smallweed discusses Bart and Judy’s parents, who died a long time
ago.
Judy is slated to enter the flower business, and Bart
is supposed to go into law with the money Grandfather Smallweed
has saved. Both twins are impatient for their grandfather to die.
Judy calls Charley and gives her some tea, then quickly sends her
back to work.
George arrives at the Smallweed home. He asks Grandfather Smallweed
for a pipe, referring to an agreement they have—a pipe out of two
months’ interest. He gives Grandfather Smallweed the money, then
he smokes the pipe. He asks if Grandfather Smallweed just sits there
all day. Grandfather Smallweed says he hates reading.
The two men discuss Grandfather Smallweed’s friend in
the city, who lent George some money. Grandfather Smallweed says
he knows this friend will be hard on George if the money is not
repaid. He then swears at Grandmother Smallweed and asks George
to shake him out of it. George does so.
Grandfather Smallweed asks if George has relatives who
can help him pay off the loan, but he says he doesn’t want to do
that. Grandfather Smallweed says he regrets that George was not
willing to be “made.” Judy enters the room, and George seems fascinated by
her. The two men then talk about a business opportunity from long
ago that George never engaged in. George discusses Captain Hawdon,
who never repaid money he owed to Grandfather Smallweed, wound up
poor, and was perhaps intentionally drowned.
