man of property-第14章

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To　James；　more　than　to　any　of　the　others；　was　〃the　family'　significant　and　dear。　　There　had　always　been　something　primitive　and　cosy　in　his　attitude　towards　life；　he　loved　the　family　hearth；　he　loved　gossip；　and　he　loved　grumbling。　　All　his　decisions　were　formed　of　a　cream　which　he　skimmed　off　the　family　mind；　and；　through　that　family；　off　the　minds　of　thousands　of　other　families　of　similar　fibre。　　Year　after　year；　week　after　week；　he　went　to　Timothy's；　and　in　his　brother's　front　drawing…roomhis　legs　twisted；　his　long　white　whiskers　framing　his　clean…shaven　mouth　would　sit　watching　the　family　pot　simmer；　the　cream　rising　to　the　top；　and　he　would　go　away　sheltered；　refreshed；　comforted；　with　an　indefinable　sense　of　comfort。

Beneath　the　adamant　of　his　self…preserving　instinct　there　was　much　real　softness　in　James；　a　visit　to　Timothy's　was　like　an　hour　spent　in　the　lap　of　a　mother；　and　the　deep　craving　he　himself　had　for　the　protection　of　the　family　wing　reacted　in　turn　on　his　feelings　towards　his　own　children；　it　was　a　nightmare　to　him　to　think　of　them。　　exposed　to　the　treatment　of　the　world；　in　money；　health；　or　reputation。　　When　his　old　friend　John　Street's　son　volunteered　for　special　service；　he　shook　his　head　querulously；　and　wondered　what　John　Street　was　about　to　allow　it；　and　when　young　Street　was　assagaied；　he　took　it　so　much　to　heart　that　he　made　a　point　of　calling　everywhere　with　the　special　object　of　saying：　He　knew　how　it　would　behe'd　no　patience　with　them！

When　his　son…in…law　Dartie　had　that　financial　crisis；　due　to　speculation　in　Oil　Shares；　James　made　himself　ill　worrying　over　it；　the　knell　of　all　prosperity　seemed　to　have　sounded。　　It　took　him　three　months　and　a　visit　to　Baden…Baden　to　get　better；　there　was　something　terrible　in　the　idea　that　but　for　his；　James's；　money；　Dartie's　name　might　have　appeared　in　the　Bankruptcy　List。

Composed　of　a　physiological　mixture　so　sound　that　if　he　had　an　earache　he　thought　he　was　dying；　he　regarded　the　occasional　ailments　of　his　wife　and　children　as　in　the　nature　of　personal　grievances；　special　interventions　of　Providence　for　the　purpose　of　destroying　his　peace　of　mind；　but　he　did　not　believe　at　all　in　the　ailments　of　people　outside　his　own　immediate　family；　affirming　them　in　every　case　to　be　due　to　neglected　liver。

His　universal　comment　was：　〃What　can　they　expect？　　I　have　it　myself；　if　I'm　not　careful！〃

When　he　went　to　Soames's　that　evening　he　felt　that　life　was　hard　on　him：　There　was　Emily　with　a　bad　toe；　and　Rachel　gadding　about　in　the　country；　he　got　no　sympathy　from　anybody；　and　Ann；　she　was　illhe　did　not　believe　she　would　last　through　the　summer；　he　had　called　there　three　times　now　without　her　being　able　to　see　him！　And　this　idea　of　Soames's；　building　a　house；　that　would　have　to　be　looked　into。　　As　to　the　trouble　with　Irene；　he　didn't　know　what　was　to　come　of　thatanything　might　come　of　it！

He　entered　62；　Montpellier　Square　with　the　fullest　intentions　of　being　miserable。　　It　was　already　half…past　seven；　and　Irene；　dressed　for　dinner；　was　seated　in　the　drawing…　room。　　She　was　wearing　her　gold…coloured　frockfor；　having　been　displayed　at　a　dinner…party；　a　soiree；　and　a　dance；　it　was　now　to　be　worn　at　homeand　she　had　adorned　the　bosom　with　a　cascade　of　lace；　on　which　James's　eyes　riveted　themselves　at　once。

〃Where　do　you　get　your　things？〃　he　said　in　an　aggravated　voice。　〃I　never　see　Rachel　and　Cicely　looking　half　so　well。　　That　rose…point；　nowthat's　not　real！〃

Irene　came　close；　to　prove　to　him　that　he　was　in　error。

And；　in　spite　of　himself；　James　felt　the　influence　of　her　deference；　of　the　faint　seductive　perfume　exhaling　from　her。　　No　self…respecting　Forsyte　surrendered　at　a　blow；　so　he　merely　said：　He　didn't　knowhe　expected　she　was　spending　a　pretty　penny　on　dress。

The　gong　sounded；　and；　putting　her　white　arm　within　his；　Irene　took　him　into　the　dining…room。　　She　seated　him　in　Soames's　usual　place；　round　the　corner　on　her　left。　　The　light　fell　softly　there；　so　that　he　would　not　be　worried　by　the　gradual　dying　of　the　day；　and　she　began　to　talk　to　him　about　himself。

Presently；　over　James　came　a　change；　like　the　mellowing　that　steals　upon　a　fruit　in　the；　sun；　a　　sense　of　being　caressed；　and　praised；　and　petted；　and　all　without　the　bestowal　of　a　single　caress　or　word　of　praise。　　He　felt　that　what　he　was　eating　was　agreeing　with　him；　he　could　not　get　that　feeling　at　home；　he　did　not　know　when　he　had　enjoyed　a　glass　of　champagne　so　much；　and；　on　inquiring　the　brand　and　price；　was　surprised　to　find　that　it　was　one　of　which　he　had　a　large　stock　himself；　but　could　never　drink；　he　instantly　formed　the　resolution　to　let　his　wine　merchant　know　that　he　had　been　swindled。

Looking　up　from　his　food；　he　remarked：

〃You've　a　lot　of　nice　things　about　the　place。　　Now；　what　did　you　give　for　that　sugar…sifter？　　Shouldn't　wonder　if　it　was　worth　money！〃

He　was　particularly　pleased　with　the　appearance　of　a　picture；　on　the　wall　opposite；　which　he　himself　had　given　them：

〃I'd　no　idea　it　was　so　good！〃　he　said。

They　rose　to　go　into　the　drawing…room；　and　James　followed　Irene　closely。

〃That's　what　I　call　a　capital　little　dinner；〃　he　murmured；　breathing　pleasantly　down　on　her　shoulder；　〃nothing　heavyand　not　too　Frenchified。　　But　I　can't　get　it　at　home。　　I　pay　my　cook　sixty　pounds　a　year；　but　she　can't　give　me　a　dinner　like　that！〃

He　had　as　yet　made　no　allusion　to　the　building　of　the　house；　nor　did　he　when　Soames；　pleading　the　excuse　of　business；　betook　himself　to　the　room　at　the　top；　where　he　kept　his　pictures。

James　was　left　alone　with　his　daughter…in…law。　　The　glow　of　the　wine；　and　of　an　excellent　liqueur；　was　still　within　him。　　He　felt　quite　warm　towards　her。　　She　was　really　a　taking　little　thing；　she　listened　to　you；　and　seemed　to　understand　what　you　were　saying；　and；　while　talking；　he　kept　examining　her　figure；　from　her　bronze…coloured　shoes　to　the　waved　gold　of　her　hair。　　She　was　leaning　back　in　an　Empire　chair；　her　shoulders　poised　against　the　topher　body；　flexibly　straight　and　unsupported　from　the　hips；　swaying　when　she　moved；　as　though　giving　to　the　arms　of　a　lover。　Her　lips　were　smiling；　her　eyes　half…closed。

It　may　have　been　a　recognition　of　danger　in　the　very　charm　of　her　attitude；　or　a　twang　of　digestion；　that　caused　a　sudden　dumbness　to　fall　on　James。　　He　did　not　remember　ever　having；　been　quite　alone　with　Irene　before。　　And；　as　he　looked　at　her；　an　odd　feeling　crept　over　him；　as　though　he　had　come　across　something　strange　and　foreign。

Now　what　was　she　thinking　aboutsitting　back　like　that？

Thus　when　he　spoke　it　was　in　a　sharper　voice；　as　if　he　had　been　awakened　from　a　pleasant　dream。

〃What　d'you　do　with　yourself　all　day？〃　he　said。　　〃You　never　come　round　to　Park　Lane！〃

She　seemed　to　be　making　very　lame　excuses；　and　James　did　not　look

at　her。　　He　did　not　want　to　believe　that　she　was　really　avoiding　themit　would　mean　too　much。

〃I　expect　the　fact　is；　you　haven't　time；〃　he　said；　〃You're　always　about　with　June。　　I　expect　you're　useful　to　her　with　her　young　man；　chaperoning；　and　one　thing　and　another。　　They　tell　me　she's　never　at　home　now；　your　Uncle　Jolyon　he　doesn't　like　it；　I　fancy；　being　left　so　much　alone　as　he　is。　　They　tell　me　she's　always　hanging　about　for　this　young　Bosinney；　I　suppose　he　comes　here　every　day。　　Now；　what　do　you　think　of　him？　　D'you　think　he　knows　his　own　mind？　　He　seems　to　me　a　poor　thing。　　I　should　say　the　grey　mare　was　the　better　horse！〃

The　colour　deepened　in　Irene's　face；　and　James　watched　her　suspiciously。

〃Perhaps　you　don't　quite　understand　Mr。　Bosinney；〃　she　said。

〃Don't　understand　him！〃　James　humied　out：　〃Why　not？you　can　see　he's　one　of　these　artistic　chaps。　　They　say　he's　cleverthey　all　think　they're　clever。　　You　know　more　about　him　than　I　do；〃　he　added；　and　again　his　suspicious　glance　rested　on　her。

〃He　is　designing　a　house　for　Soames；〃　she　said　softly；　evidently　trying　to　smooth　things　over。

〃That　brings　me　to　what　I　was　going　to　say；〃　continued　James；　〃I　don't　know　what　Soames　wants　with　a　young　man　like　that；　why　doesn't　he　go　to　a　first…rate　man？〃

〃Perhaps　Mr。　Bosinney　is　first…rate！〃

James　rose；　and　took　a　turn　with　bent　head。

〃That's　it'；〃　he　said；　〃you　young　people；　you　all　stick　together；　you　all　think　you　know　best！〃

Halting　his　tall；　lank　figure　before　her；　he　raised　a　finger；　and　levelled　it　at　her　bosom；　as　though　bringing　an　indictment　against　her　beauty：

〃All　I　can　say　is；　these　artistic　people；　or　whatever　they　call　themselves；　they're　as　unreliable　as　they　can　be；　and　my　advice　to　you　is；　don't　you　have　too　much　to　do　with　him！〃

Irene　smiled；　and　in　the　curve　of　her　lips　was　a　strange　provocation。　　She　seemed　to　have　lost　her　deference。　　Her　breast　rose　and　fell　as　though　with　secret　anger；　she　drew　her　hands　inwards　from　their　rest　on　the　arms　of　her　chair　until　the　tips　of　her　fingers　met；　and　her　dark　eyes　looked　unfathomably　at　James。

The　latter　gloomily　scrutinized　the　floor。

〃I　tell　you　my　opinion；〃　he　said；　〃it's　a　pity　you　haven't　got　a　child　to　think　about；　and　occupy　you！

A　brooding　look　came　instantly　on　Irene's　face；　and　even　James　became　conscious　of　the　rigidity　that　took　possession　of　her　whole　figure　beneath　the　softness　of　its　silk　and　lace　clothing。

He　was　frightened　by　the　effect　he　had　produced；　and　like　most　men　with　but　little　courage；　he　sought　at　once　to　justify　himself　by　bullying。

〃You　don't　seem　to　care　about　going　about。　　Why　don't　you　drive　down　to　Hurlingham　with　us？　　And　go　to　the　theatre　now　and　then。　At　your　time　of　life　you　ought　to　take　an　interest　in　things。　You're　a　young　woman！〃

The　brooding　look　darkened　on　her　face；　he　grew　nervous。

〃Well；　I　know　nothing　about　it；〃　he　said；　〃nobody　tells　me　anything。　　Soames　ought　to　be　able　to　take　care　of　himself。　　If　he　can't　take　care　of　himself　he　mustn't　look　to　methat's　all。〃

Biting　the　corner　of　his　forefinger　he　stole　a　cold；　sharp　look　at　his　daughter…in…law。

He　encountered　her　eyes　fixed　on　his　own；　so　dark　and　deep；　that　he　stopped；　and　broke　into　a　gentle　perspiration。

〃Well；　I　must　be　going；〃　he　said　after　a　short　pause；　and　a　minute　later　rose；　with　a　slight　appearance　of　surprise；　as　though　he　had　expected　to　be　asked　to　stop。　　Giving　his　hand　to　Irene；　he　allowed　himself　to　be　conducted　to　the　door；　and　let　out　into　the　street。　　He　would　not　have　a　cab；　he　would　walk；　Irene　was　to　say　good…night　to　Soames　for　him；　and　if　she　wanted　a　little　gaiety；　well；　he　would　drive　her　down　to　Richmond　any　day。

He　walked　home；　and　going　upstairs；　woke　Emily　out　of　the　first　sleep　she　had　had　for　four　and　twenty　hours；　to　tell　her　that　it　was　his　impression　things　were　in　a　bad　way　at　Soames's；　on　this　theme　he　descanted　for　half　an　hour；　until　at　last；　saying　that　he　would　not　sleep　a　wink；　he　turned　on　his　side　and　instantly　began　to　snore。

In　Montpellier　Square　Soames；　who　had　come　from　the　picture　room；　stood　invisible　at　the　top　of　the　stairs；　watching　Irene　sort　the　letters　brought　by　the　last　post。　　She　turned　back　into　the　drawing…room；　but　in　a　minute　came　out；　and　stood　as　if　listening。　　Then　she　came　stealing　up　the　stairs；　with　a　kitten　in　her　arms。　　He　could　see　her　face　bent　over　the　little　beast；　which　was　purring　against　her　neck。　　W