man of property-第13章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃I　knew　it　already。〃

He　looked　at　her　sharply。

〃Who　told　you？〃

〃June。〃

〃How　did　she　know？〃

Irene　did　not　answer。　　Baffled　and　uncomfortable；　he　said：

〃It's　a　fine　thing　for　Bosinney；　it'll　be　the　making　of　him。　　I　suppose　she's　told　you　all　about　it？〃

〃Yes。〃

There　was　another　pause；　and　then　Soames　said：

〃I　suppose　you　don't　want　to；　go？〃

Irene　made　no　reply。

〃Well；　I　can't　tell　what　you　want。　　You　never　seem　contented　here。〃

〃Have　my　wishes　anything　to　do　with　it？〃

She　took　the　vase　of　roses　and　left　the　room。　　Soames　remained　seated。　　Was　it　for　this　that　he　had　signed　that　contract？　　Was　it　for　this　that　he　was　going　to　spend　some；　ten　thousand　pounds？　Bosinney〃s　phrase　came　back　to　him：　〃Women　are　the　devil！〃

But　presently　he　grew　calmer。　　It　might　have；　been　worse。　　She　might　have　flared　up。　　He　had　expected　something　more　than　this。　It　was　lucky；　after　all；　that　June　had　broken　the　ice　for　him。　She　must　have　wormed　it　out　of　Bosinney；　he　might　have　known　she　would。

He　lighted　his　cigarette。　　After　all；　Irene　had　not　made　a　scene！　She　would　come　roundthat　was　the　best　of　her；　she　was　cold；　but　not　sulky。　　And；　puffing　the　cigarette　smoke　at　a　lady…bird　on　the　shining　table；　he　plunged　into　a　reverie　about　the　house。　　It　was　no　good　worrying；　he　would　go　and　make　it　up　presently。　　She　would　be　sitting　out　there　in　the　dark；　under　the　Japanese　sunshade；　knitting。　　A　beautiful；　warm　night。。。。

In　truth；　June　had　come　in　that　afternoon　with　shining　eyes；　and　the　words：　〃Soames　is　a　brick！　　It's　splendid　for　Philthe　very　thing　for　him！〃

Irene's　face　remaining　dark　and　puzzled；　she　went　on：

〃Your　new　house　at　Robin　Hill；　of　course。　　What？　　Don't　you　know？〃

Irene　did　not　know。

〃Oh！　then；　I　suppose　I　oughtn't　to　have　told　you！〃　Looking　impatiently　at　her　friend；；　she　cried：　〃You　look　as　if　you　didn't　care。　　Don't　you　see；　it's　what　I've'　been　praying　forthe　very　chance　he's　been　wanting　all　this　time。　　Now　you'll　see　what　he　can　do；〃　and　thereupon　she　poured　out　the　whole　story。

Since　her　own　engagement　she　had　not　seemed　much　interested　in　her　friend's　position；　the　hours　she　spent　with　Irene　were　given　to　confidences　of　her　own；　and　at　times；　for　all　her　affectionate　pity；　it　was　impossible　to　keep　out　of　her　smile　a　trace　of　compassionate　contempt　for　the　woman　who　had　made　such　a　mistake　in　her　lifesuch　a　vast；　ridiculous　mistake。

〃He's　to　have　all　the　decorations　as　wella　free　hand。　　It's　perfect〃June　broke　into　laughter；　her　little　figure　quivered　gleefully；　she　raised　her　hand；　and　struck　a　blow　at　a　muslin　curtain。　　〃Do　you；　know　I　even　asked　Uncle　James。。。。〃　But；　with　a　sudden　dislike　to　mentioning　that　incident；　she　stopped；　and　presently；　finding　her　friend　so　unresponsive；　went　away。　　She　looked　back　from　the　pavement；　and　Irene　was　still　standing　in　the　doorway。　　In　response　to　her　farewell　wave；　Irene　put　her　hand　to　her　brow；　and；　turning　slowly；　shut　the　door。。。。

Soames　went　to　the　drawing…room　presently；　and　peered　at　her　through　the　window。

Out　in　the　shadow　of　the　Japanese　sunshade　she　was　sitting　very　still；　the　lace　on　her　white　shoulders　stirring　with　the　soft　rise　and　fall　of　her　bosom。

But　about　this　silent　creature　sitting　there　so　motionless；　in　the　dark；　there　seemed　a　warmth；　a　hidden　fervour　of　feeling；　as　if　the　whole　of　her　being　had　been　stirred；　and　some　change　were　taking　place　in　its　very　depths。

He　stole　back　to　the　dining…room　unnoticed。




CHAPTER　VI

JAMES　AT　LARGE


It　was　not　long　before　Soames's　determination　to　build　went　the　round　of　the　family；　and　created　the　flutter　that　any　decision　connected　with　property　should　make　among　Forsytes。

It　was　not　his　fault；　for　he　had　been　determined　that　no　one　should　know。　　June；　in　the　fulness　of　her　heart　had　told　Mrs。　Small；　giving　her　leave　only　to　tell　Aunt　Annshe　thought　it　would　cheer　her；　the　poor　old　sweet！　for　Aunt　Ann　had　kept　her　room　now　for　many　days。

Mrs。　Small　told　Aunt　Ann　at　once；　who；　smiling　as　she　lay　back　on　her　pillows；　said　in　her　distinct；　trembling　old　voice：

〃It's　very　nice　for　dear　June；　but　I　hope　they　will　be　careful　it's　rather　dangerous！〃

When　she　was　left　alone　again；　a　frown；　like　a　cloud　presaging　a　rainy　morrow；　crossed　her　face。

While　she　was　lying　there　so　many　days　the　process　of　recharging　her　will　went　on　all　the　time；　it　spread　to　her　face；　too；　and　tightening　movements　were　always　in　action　at　the　corners　of　her　lips。

The　maid　Smither；　who　had　been　in　her　service　since　girlhood；　and　was　spoken　of　as　〃Smithera　good　girlbut　so　slow！〃the　maid　Smither　performed　every　morning　with　extreme　punctiliousness　the　crowning　ceremony　of　that　ancient　toilet。　　Taking　from　the　recesses　of　their；　pure　white　band…box　those　flat；　grey　curls；　the　insignia　of　personal　dignity；　she　placed　them　securely　in　her　mistress's　hands；　and　turned　her　back。

And　every　day　Aunts　Juley　and　Hester　were　required　to　come　and　report　on　Timothy；　what　news　there　was　of　Nicholas；　whether　dear　June　had　succeeded　in　getting　Jolyon　to　shorten　the　engagement；　now　that　Mr。　Bosinney　was　building　Soames　a　house；　whether　young　Roger's　wife　was　reallyexpecting；　how　the　operation　on　Archie　had　succeeded；　and　what　Swithin。　　had　done　about　that　empty　house　in　Wigmore　Street；　where　the　tenant　had　lost　all　his　money　and　treated　him　so　badly；　above　all；　about　Soames；　was　Irene　still　still　asking　for　a　separate　room？　　And　every　morning　Smither　was　told：　〃I　shall　be　coming　down　this　afternoon；　Smither；　about　two　o'clock。　　I　shall　want　your　arm；　after　all　these　days　in　bed！〃

After　telling　Aunt　Ann；　Mrs。　Small　had　spoken　of　the　house　in　the　strictest　confidence　to　Mrs。　Nicholas；　who　in　her　turn　had　asked　Winifred　Dartie　for　confirmation；　supposing；　of　course；　that；　being　Soames's　sister；　she　would　know　all　about　it。　　Through　her　it　had　in　due　course　come　round　to　the　ears　of　James。　He　had　been　a　good　deal　agitated。

〃Nobody；〃　he　said；　〃told　him　anything。〃　And；　rather　than　go　direct　to　Soames　himself；　of　whose　taciturnity　he　was　afraid；　he　took　his　umbrella　and　went　round　to　Timothy's。

He　found　Mrs。　Septimus　and　Hester　（who　had　been　toldshe　was　so　safe；　she　found　it　tiring　to　talk）　ready；　and　indeed　eager；　to　discuss　the　news。　　It　was　very　good　of　dear　Soames；　they　thought；　to　employ　Mr。　Bosinney；　but　rather　risky。　　What　had　George　named　him？　'The　Buccaneer'　How　droll！　　But　George　was　always　droll！　However；　it　would　be　all　in　the　family　they　supposed　they　must　really　look　upon　Mr。　Bosinney　as　belonging　to　the　family；　though　it　seemed　strange。

James　here　broke　in：

〃Nobody　knows　anything　about　him。　　I　don't　see　what　Soames　wants　with　a　young　man　like　that。　　I　shouldn't　be　surprised　if　Irene　had　put　her　oar　in。　　I　shall　speak　to。。。。〃

〃Soames；〃　interposed　Aunt　Juley；　〃told　Mr。　Bosinney　that　he　didn't　wish　it　mentioned。　　He　wouldn't　like　it　to　be　talked　about；　I'm　sure；　and　if　Timothy　knew　he　would　be　very　vexed；　I。。。。〃

James　put　his　hand　behind　his　ear：

〃What？〃　he　said。　　〃I'm　getting　very　deaf。　　I　suppose　I　don't　hear　people。　　Emily's　got　a　bad　toe。　　We　shan't　be　able　to　start　for　Wales　till　the　end　of　the　month。　　There'　s　always　something！〃　And；　having　got　what　he　wanted；　he　took　his　hat　and　went　away。

It　was　a　fine　afternoon；　and　he　walked　across　the　Park　towards　Soames's；　where　he　intended　to　dine；　for　Emily's　toe　kept　her　in　bed；　and　Rachel　and　Cicely　were　on　a　visit　to　the　country。　　He　took　the　slanting　path　from　the　Bayswater　side　of　the　Row　to　the　Knightsbridge　Gate；　across　a　pasture　of　short；　burnt　grass；　dotted　with　blackened　sheep；　strewn　with　seated　couples　and　strange　waifs；　lying　prone　on　their　faces；　like　corpses　on　a　field　over　which　the　wave　of　battle　has　rolled。

He　walked　rapidly；　his　head　bent；　looking　neither　to　right　nor；　left。　　The　appearance　of　this　park；　the　centre　of　his　own　battle…field；　where　he　had　all　his　life　been　fighting；　excited　no　thought　or　speculation　in　his；　mind。　　These　corpses　flung　down；　there；　from　out　the　press　and　turmoil　of　the　struggle；　these　pairs　of　lovers　sitting　cheek　by　jowl　for　an　hour　of　idle　Elysium　snatched　from　the　monotony　of　their　treadmill；　awakened　no　fancies　in　his　mind；　he　had　outlived　that　kind　of　imagination；　his　nose；　like　the　nose　of　a　sheep；　was　fastened　to　the　pastures　on　which　he　browsed。

One　of　his　tenants　had　lately　shown　a　disposition　to　be　behind…hand　in　his　rent；　and　it　had　become　a　grave　question　whether　he　had　not　better　turn　him　out　at　once；　and　so　run　the　risk　of　not　re…letting　before　Christmas。　　Swithin　had　just　been　let　in　very　badly；　but　it　had　served　him　righthe　had　held　on　too　long。

He　pondered　this　as　he　walked　steadily；　holding　his　umbrella　carefully　by　the　wood；　just　below　the　crook　of　the　handle；　so　as　to　keep　the　ferule　off　the　ground；　and　not　fray　the　silk　in　the　middle。　　And；　with　his　thin；　high　shoulders　stooped；　his　long　legs　moving　with　swift　mechanical　precision；　this　passage　through　the　Park；　where　the　sun　shone　with　a　clear　flame　on　so　much　idlenesson　so　many　human　evidences　of　the　remorseless　battle　of　Property；　raging　beyond　its　ringwas　like　the　flight　of　some　land　bird　across　the　sea。

He　felt　atouch　on　the　arm　as　he　came　out　at；　Albert　Gate。

It　was　Soames；　who；　crossing　from　the　shady　side　of　Piccadilly；　where　he　had　been　walking　home　from　the　office；　had　suddenly　appeared　alongside。

〃Your　mother's　in　bed；〃　said　James；　〃I　was；　just　coming　to　you；　but　I　suppose　I　shall　be　in　the　way。〃

The　outward　relations　between　James　and　his　son　were　marked　by　a　lack　of　sentiment　peculiarly　Forsytean；　but　for　all　that　the　two　were　by　no　means　unattached。　　Perhaps　they　regarded　one　another　as　an　investment；　certainly　they　were　solicitous　of　each　other's　welfare；　glad　of　each　other's　company。　　They　had　never　exchanged　two　words　upon　the　more　intimate　problems　of　life；　or　revealed　in　each　other's　presence　the　existence　of　any　deep　feeling。

Something　beyond　the　power　of　word…analysis　bound　them　together；　something　hidden　deep　in　the　fibre　of　nations　and　familiesfor　blood；　they　say；　is　thicker　than　waterand　neither　of　them　was　a　cold…blooded　man。　　Indeed；　in　James　love　of　his　children　was　now　the　prime　motive　of　his　existence。　　To　have　creatures　who　were　parts　of　himself；　to　whom　he　might　transmit　the　money　he　saved；　was　at　the　root　of　his　saving；　and；　at　seventy…five；　what　was　left　that　could　give　him　pleasure；　butsaving？　　The　kernel　of　life　was　in　this　saving　for　his　children。

Than　James　Forsyte；　notwithstanding　all　his　'Jonah…isms；'　there　was　no　saner　man　（if　the　leading　symptom　of　sanity；　as　we　are　told；　is　self…preservation；　though　without　doubt　Timothy　went　too　far）　in　all　this　London；　of　which　he　owned　so　much；　and　loved　with　such　a　dumb　love；　as　the　centre　of　his　opportunities。　　He　had　the　marvellous　instinctive　sanity　of　the　middle　class。　　In　himmore　than　in　Jolyon；　with　his　masterful　will　and　his　moments　of　tenderness　and　philosophymore　than　in　Swithin；　the　martyr　to　crankinessNicholas；　the　sufferer　from　abilityand　Roger；　the　victim　of　enterprisebeat　the　true　pulse　of　compromise；　of　all　the　brothers　he　was　least　remarkable　in　mind　and　person；　and　for　that　reason　more　likely　to　live　for　ever。

To　James；　more　than　to　any　of　the　others；　was　〃the