man of property-第16章

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In　the　next　house　someone　was　playing　over　and　over　again：　'La　Donna　　mobile'　on　an　untuned　piano；　and　the　little　garden　had　fallen　into　shade；　the　sun　now　only　reached　the　wall　at　the　end；　whereon　basked　a　crouching　cat；　her　yellow　eyes　turned　sleepily　down　on　the　dog　Balthasar。　　There　was　a　drowsy　hum　of　very　distant　traffic；　the　creepered　trellis　round　the　garden　shut　out　everything　but　sky；　and　house；　and　pear…tree；　with　its　top　branches　still　gilded　by　the　sun。

For　some　time　they　sat　there；　talking　but　little。　　Then　old　Jolyon　rose　to　go；　and　not　a　word　was　said　about　his　coming　again。

He　walked　away　very　sadly。　　What　a　poor　miserable　place；　and　he　thought　of　the　great；　empty　house　in　Stanhope　Gate；　fit　residence　for　a　Forsyte；　with　its　huge　billiard…room　and　drawing…room　that　no　one　entered　from　one　week's　end　to　another。

That　woman；　whose　face　he　had　rather　liked；　was　too　thin…skinned　by　half；　she　gave　Jo　a　bad　time　he　knew！　　And　those　sweet　children！　　Ah！　what　a　piece　of　awful　folly！

He　walked　towards　the　Edgware　Road；　between　rows　of　little　houses；　all　suggesting　to　him　（erroneously　no　doubt；　but　the　prejudices　of　a　Forsyte　are　sacred）　shady　histories　of　some　sort　or　kind。

Society；　forsooth；　the　chattering　hags　and　jackanapeshad　set　themselves　up　to　pass　judgment　on　his　flesh　and　blood！　　A　parcel　of　old　women！　　He　stumped　his　umbrella　on　the　ground；　as　though　to　drive　it　into　the　heart　of　that　unfortunate　body；　which　had　dared　to　ostracize　his　son　and　his　son's　son；　in　whom　he　could　have　lived　again！

He　stumped　his　umbrella　fiercely；　yet　he　himself　had　followed　Society's　behaviour　for　fifteen　yearshad　only　today　been　false　to　it！

He　thought　of　June；　and　her　dead　mother；　and　the　whole　story；　with　all　his　old　bitterness。　　A　wretched　business！

He　was　a　long　time　reaching　Stanhope　Gate；　for；　with　native　perversity；　being　extremely　tired；　he　walked　the　whole　way。

After　washing　his　hands　in　the　lavatory　downstairs；　he　went　to　the　dining…room　to　wait　for　dinner；　the　only　room　he　used　when　June　was　outit　was　less　lonely　so。　　The　evening　paper　had　not　yet　come；　he　had　finished　the　Times；　there　was　therefore　nothing　to　do。

The　room　faced　the　backwater　of　traffic；　and　was　very　silent。　　He　disliked　dogs；　but　a　dog　even　would　have　been　company。　　His　gaze；　travelling　round　the　walls；　rested　on　a　'picture　entitled：　'Group　of　Dutch　fishing　boats　at　sunset；　the　chef　d'oeuvre　of　his　collection。　　It　gave　him　no　pleasure。　　He　closed　his　eyes。　　He　was　lonely！　　He　oughtn't　to　complain；　he　knew；　but　he　couldn't　help　it：　He　was　a　poor　thinghad　always　been　a　poor　thingno　pluck！　　Such　was　his　thought。

The　butler　came　to　lay　the　table　for　dinner；　and　seeing　his　master　apparently　asleep；　exercised　extreme　caution　in　his　movements。　　This　bearded　man　also　wore　a　moustache；　which　had　given　rise　to　grave　doubts　in　the　minds　of　many　membersof　the　family；　especially　those　who；　like　Soames；　had　been　to　public　schools；　and　were　accustomed　to　niceness　in　such　matters。　　Could　he　really　be　considered　a　butler？　　Playful　spirits　alluded　to　him　as：　'Uncle　Jolyon's　Nonconformist'；　George；　the　acknowledged　wag；　had　named　him：　'Sankey。'

He　moved　to　and　fro　between　the　great　polished　sideboard　and　the　great　polished　table　inimitably　sleek　and　soft。

Old　Jolyon　watched　him；　feigning　sleep。　　The　fellow　was　a　sneak　he　had　always　thought　sowho　cared　about　nothing　but　rattling　through　his　work；　and　getting　out　to　his　betting　or　his　woman　or　goodness　knew　what！　　A　slug！　　Fat　too！　And　didn't　care　a　pin　about　his　master！

But　then　against　his　will；　came　one　of　those　moments　of　philosophy　which　made　old　Jolyon　different　from　other　Forsytes：

After　all　why　should　the　man　care？　　He　wasn't　paid　to　care；　and　why　expect　it？　　In　this　world　people　couldn't　look　for　affection　unless　they　paid　for　it。　　It　might　be　different　in　the　nexthe　didn't　knowcouldn't　tell！　　And　again　he　shut　his　eyes。

Relentless　and　stealthy；　the　butler　pursued　his　labours；　taking　things　from　the　various　compartments　of　the　sideboard。　　His　back　seemed　always　turned　to　old　Jolyon；　thus；　he　robbed　his　operations　of　the　unseemliness　of　being　carried　on　in　his　master's　presence；　now　and　then　he　furtively　breathed　on　the　silver；　and　wiped　it　with　a　piece　of　chamois　leather。　　He　appeared　to　pore　over　the　quantities　of　wine　in　the　decanters；　which　he　carried　carefully　and　rather　high；　letting　his　heard　droop　over　them　protectingly。　　When　he　had　finished；　he　stood　for　over　a　minute　watching　his　master；　and　in　his　greenish　eyes　there　was　a　look　of　contempt：

After　all；　this　master　of　his　was　an　old　buffer；　who　hadn't　much　left　in　him！

Soft　as　a　tom…cat；　he　crossed　the　room　to　press　the　bell。　　His　orders　were　'dinner　at　seven。'　What　if　his　master　were　asleep；　he　would　soon　have　him　out　of　that；　there　was　the　night　to　sleep　in！　He　had　himself　to　think　of；　for　he　was　due　at　his　Club　at　half…past　eight！

In　answer　to　the　ring；　appeared　a　page　boy　with　a　silver　soup　tureen。　　The　butler　took　it　from　his　hands　and　placed　it　on　the。　table；　then；　standing　by　the　open　door；　as　though　about　to　usher　company　into　the　room；　he　said　in　a　solemn　voice：

〃Dinner　is　on　the　table；　sir！

Slowly　old　Jolyon　got　up　out　of　his　chair；　and　sat　down　at　the　table　to　eat　his　dinner。




CHAPTER　VIII

PLANS　OF　THE　HOUSE


Forsytes；　as　is　generally　admitted；　have　shells；　like　that　extremely　useful　little　animal　which　is　made　into　Turkish　delight；　in　other　words；　they　are　never　seen；　or　if　seen　would　not　be　recognised；　without　habitats；　composed　of　circumstance；　property；　acquaintances；　and　wives；　which　seem　to　move　along　with　them　in　their　passage　through　a　world　composed　of　thousands　of　other　Forsytes　with　their　habitats。　　Without　a　habitat　a　Forsyte　is　inconceivablehe　would　be　like　a　novel　without　a　plot；　which　is　well…known　to　be　an　anomaly。

To　Forsyte　eyes　Bosinney　appeared　to　have　no　habitat；　he　seemed　one　of　those　rare　and　unfortunate　men　who　go　through　life　surrounded　by　circumstance；　property；　acquaintances；　and　wives　that　do　not　belong　to　them。

His　rooms　in　Sloane　Street；　on　the　top　floor；　outside　which；　on　a　plate；　was　his　name；　'Philip　Baynes　Bosinney；　Architect；'　were　not　those　of　a　Forsyte。He　had　no　sitting…room　apart　from　his　office；　but　a　large　recess　had　been　screened　off　to　conceal　the　necessaries　of　lifea　couch；　an　easy　chair；　his　pipes；　spirit　case；　novels　and　slippers。　　The　business　part　of　the　room　had　the　usual　furniture；　an　open　cupboard　with　pigeon…holes；　a　round　oak　table；　a　folding　wash…stand；　some　hard　chairs；　a　standing　desk　of　large　dimensions　covered　with　drawings　and　designs。　　June　had　twice　been　to　tea　there　under　the　chaperonage　of　his　aunt。

He　was　believed　to　have　a　bedroom　at　the　back。

As　far　as　the　family　had　been　able　to　ascertain　his　income；　it　consisted　of　two　consulting　appointments　at　twenty　pounds　a　year；　together　with　an　odd　fee　once　in　a　way；　andmore　worthy　itema　private　annuity　under　his　father's　will　of　one　hundred　and　fifty　pounds　a　year。

What　had　transpired　concerning　that　father　was　not　so　reassuring。　It　appeared　that　he　had　been　a　Lincolnshire　country　doctor　of　Cornish　extraction；　striking　appearance；　and　Byronic　tendencies　a　well…known　figure；　in　fact；　in　his　county。　　Bosinney's　uncle　by　marriage；　Baynes；　of　Baynes　and　Bildeboy；　a　Forsyte　in　instincts　if　not　in　name；　had　but　little　that　was　worthy　to　relate　of　his　brother…in…law。

〃An　odd　fellow！'　he　would　say：　'always　spoke　of　his　three　eldest　boys　as　'good　creatures；　but　so　dull'；　they're　all　doing　capitally　in　the　Indian　Civil！　　Philip　was　the　only　one　he　liked。　I've　heard　him　talk　in　the　queerest　way；　he　once　said　to　me：　'My　dear　fellow；　never　let　your　poor　wife　know　what　you're　thinking　of！　　But　I　didn't　follow　his　advice；　not　I！　　An　eccentric　man！　He　would　say　to　Phil：　'Whether　you　live　like　a　gentleman　or　not；　my　boy；　be　sure　you　die　like　one！　　and　he　had　himself　embalmed　in　a　frock　coat　suit；　with　a　satin　cravat　and　a　diamond　pin。　　Oh；　quite　an　original；　I　can　assure　you　I〃

Of　Bosinney　himself　Baynes　would　speak　warmly；　with　a　certain　compassion：　〃He's　got　a　streak　of　his　father's　Byronism。　　Why；　look　at　the　way　he　threw　up　his　chances　when　he　left　my　office；　going　off　like　that　for　six　months　with　a　knapsack；　and　all　for　what？to　study　foreign　architectureforeign！　　What　could　he　expect？　　And　there　he　isa　clever　young　fellowdoesn't　make　his　hundred　a　year！　　Now　this　engagement　is　the　best　thing　that　could　have　happenedkeep　him　steady；　he's　one　of　those　that　go　to　bed　all　day　and　stay　up　all　night；　simply　because　they've　no　method；　but　no　vice　about　himnot　an　ounce　of　vice。　　Old　Forsyte's　a　rich　man！〃

Mr。　Baynes　made　himself　extremely　pleasant　to　June；　who　frequently　visited　his　house　in　Lowndes　Square　at　this　period。

〃This　house　of　your　cousin'swhat　a　capital　man　of　businessis　the　very　thing　for　Philip；〃　he　would　say　to　her；　〃you　mustn't　expect　to　see　too　much　of　him　just　now；　my　dear　young　lady。　　The　good　causethe　good　cause！　　The　young　man　must　make　his　way。　When　I　was　his　age　I　was　at　work　day　and　night。　　My　dear　wife　used　to　say　to　me；　'Bobby；　don't　work　too　hard；　think　of　your　health'；　but　I　never　spared　myself！〃

June　had　complained　that　her　lover　found　no　time　to　come　to　Stanhope　Gate。

The　first　time　he　came　again　they　had　not　been　together　a　quarter　of　an　hour　before；　by　one　of　those　coincidences　of　which　she　was　a　mistress；　Mrs。　Septimus　Small　arrived。　　Thereon　Bosinney　rose　and　hid　himself；　according　to　previous　arrangement；　in　the　little　study；　to　wait　for　her　departure。

〃My　dear；〃　said　Aunt　Juley；　〃how　thin　he　is！　　I've　often　noticed　it　with　engaged　people；　but　you　mustn't　let　it　get　worse。　There's　Barlow's　extract　of　veal；　it　did　your　Uncle　Swithin　a　lot　of　good。〃

June；　her　little　figure　erect　before　the　hearth；　her　small　face　quivering　grimly；　for　she　regarded　her　aunt's　untimely　visit　in　the　light　of　a　personal　injury；　replied　with　scorn：

〃It's　because　he's　busy；　people　who　can　do　anything　worth　doing　are　never　fat！〃

Aunt　Juley　pouted；　she　herself　had　always　been　thin；　but　the　only　pleasure　she　derived　from　the　fact　was　the　opportunity　of　longing　to　be　stouter。

I　don't　think；〃　she　said　mournfully；　〃that　you　ought　to　let　them　call　him　'The　Buccaneer'；　people　might　think　it　odd；　now　that　he's　going　to　build　a　house　for　Soames。　　I　do　hope　he　will　be　careful；　it's　so　important　for　him。　　Soames　has　such　good　taste！〃

〃Taste！〃　cried　June；　flaring　up　at　once；　〃wouldn't　give　that　for　his　taste；　or　any　of　the　family's！〃

Mrs。　Small　was　taken　aback。

〃Your　Uncle　Swithin；〃　she　said；　〃always　had　beautiful　taste！　　And　Soames's　little　house　is　lovely；　you　don't　mean　to　say　you　don't　think　so！〃

〃H'mph！〃　said　June；　〃that's　only　because　Irene's　there！〃

Aunt　Juley　tried　to　say　something　pleasant：

〃And　how　will　dear　Irene　like　living　in　the　country？〃

June　gazed　at　her　intently；　with　a　look　in　her　eyes　as　if　her　conscience　had　suddenly　leaped　up　into　them；　it　passed；　and　an　even　more　intent　look　took　its　place；　as　if　she　had　stared　that　conscience　out　of　countenance。　　She　replied　imperiously：

Of　course　she'll　like　it；　why　shouldn't　she？〃

Mrs。　Small　grew　nervous。

〃I　didn't　know；〃　she　said；　〃I　thought　she　mightn't　like　to　leav