man of property-第17章

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Mrs。　Small　grew　nervous。

〃I　didn't　know；〃　she　said；　〃I　thought　she　mightn't　like　to　leave　her　friends。　　Your　Uncle　James　says　she　doesn't　take　enough　interest　in　life。　　We　thinkI　mean　Timothy　thinksshe　ought　to　go　out　more。　　I　expect　you'll　miss　her　very　much！〃

June　clasped　her　hands　behind　her　neck。

〃I　do　wish；　〃she　cried；　〃Uncle　Timothy　wouldn't　talk　about　what　doesn't　concern　him！〃

Aunt　Juley　rose　to　the　full　height　of　her　tall　figure。

〃He　never　talks　about　what　doesn't　concern　him；　she　said。

June　was　instantly　compunctious；　she　ran　to　her　aunt　and　kissed　her。

〃I'm　very　sorry；　auntie；　but　I　wish　they'd　let　Irene　alone。〃

Aunt　Juley；　unable　to　think　of　anything　further　on　the　subject　that　would　be　suitable；　was　silent；　she　prepared　for　departure；　hooking　her　black　silk　cape　across　her　chest；　and；　taking　up　her　green　reticule：

〃And　how　is　your　dear　grandfather？〃　she　asked　in　the　hall；　〃I　expect　he's　very　lonely　now　that　all　your　time　is　taken　up　with　Mr。　Bosinney。〃

She　bent　and　kissed　her　niece　hungrily；　and　with　little；　mincing　steps　passed　away。

The　tears　sprang　up　in　June's　eyes；　running　into　the　little　study；　where　Bosinney　was　sitting　at　the　table　drawing　birds　on　the　back　of　an　envelope；　she　sank　down；　by　his　side　and　cried：

〃Oh；　Phil！　it's　all　so　horrid！〃　　Her　heart　was　as　warm　as　the　colour　of　her　hair。

On　the　following　Sunday　morning；　while　Soames　was　shaving；　a　message　was　brought　him　to　the　effect　that　Mr。　Bosinney　was　below；　and　would　be　glad　to　see　him。　　Opening　the　door　into　his　wife's　room；　he　said：

〃Bosinney's　downstairs。　　Just　go　and　entertain　him　while　I　finish　shaving。　　I'll　be　down　in　a　minute。　　It's　about　the　plans；　I　expect。〃

Irene　looked　at　him；　without　reply；　put　the　finishing　touch　to　her　dress　and　went　downstairs。　　He　could　not　make　her　out　about　this　house。　　She　had　said　nothing　against　it；　and；　as　far　as　Bosinney　was　concerned；　seemed　friendly　enough。

》From　the　window　of　his　dressing…room　he　could　see　them　talking　together　in　the　little　court　below。　　He　hurried　on　with　his　shaving；　cutting　his　chin　twice。　　He　heard　them　laugh；　and　thought　to　himself：　〃Well；　they　get　on　all　right；　anyway！〃

As　he　expected；　Bosinney　had　come　round　to　fetch；　him　to　look　at　the　plans。

He　took　his　hat　and　went　over。

The　plans　were　spread　on　the　oak　table　in　the　architect's　room；　and　pale；　imperturbable；　inquiring；　Soames　bent　over　them　for　a　long　time　without　speaking。

He　said　at　last　in　a　puzzled　voice：

〃It's　an　odd　sort　of　house！〃

A　rectangular　house　of　two　stories　was　designed　in　a　quadrangle　round　a　covered…in　court。　　This　court；　encircled　by　a　gallery　on　the　upper　floor；　was　roofed　with　a　glass　roof；　supported　by　eight　columns　running　up　from　the　ground。

It　was　indeed；　to　Forsyte　eyes；　an　odd　house。

〃There's　a　lot　of　room　cut　to　waste；〃　pursued　Soames。

Bosinney　began　to　walk　about；　and　Soames　did　not　like　the　expression　on　his　face。

〃The　principle　of　this　house；〃　said　the　architect；　〃was　that　you　should　have　room　to　breathelike　a　gentleman！〃

Soames　extended　his　finger　and　thumb；　as　if　measuring　the　extent　of　the　distinction　he　should　acquire；　and　replied：

〃Oh！　yes；　I　see。〃

The　peculiar　look　came　into　Bosinney's　face　which　marked　all；　his　enthusiasms。

〃I've　tried　to　plan　you　a　house　here　with　some　self…respect　of　its　own。　　If　　you　don't　like　it；　you'd　better　say　so。　　It's　certainly　the　last　thing　to　be　consideredwho　wants　self…respect　in　a　house；　when　you　can　squeeze　in　an　extra　lavatory？〃　　He　put　his　finger　suddenly　down　on　the　left　division　of　the　centre　oblong：　〃You　can　swing　a　cat　here。　　This　is　for　your　pictures；　divided　from　this　court　by　curtains；　draw　them　back　and　you'll　have　a　space　of　fifty…one　by　twenty…three　six。　　This　double…faced　stove　in　the　centre；　here；　looks　one　way　towards　the　court；　one　way　towards　the　picture　room；　this　end　wall　is　all　window；　You've　a　southeast　light　from　that；　a　north　light　from　the　court。　　The　rest　of　your　pictures　you　can　hang　round　the　gallery　upstairs；　or　in　the　other　rooms。　　〃In　architecture；〃　he　went　onand　though　looking　at　Soames　he　did　not　seem　to　see　him；　which　gave　Soames　an　unpleasant　feeling〃as　in　life；　you'll　get　no　self…respect　without　regularity。　　Fellows　tell　you　that's　old　fashioned。　　It　appears　to　be　peculiar　any　way；　it　never　occurs　to　us　to　embody　the　main　principle　of　life　in　our　buildings；　we　load　our　houses　with　decoration；　gimcracks；　corners；　anything　to　distract　the　eye。　　On　the　contrary　the　eye　should　rest；　get　your　effects　with　a　few　strong　lines。　　The　whole　thing　is　regularity　there's　no　self…respect　without　it。〃

Soames；　the　unconscious　ironist；　fixed　his　gaze　on　Bosinney's　tie；　which　was　far　from　being　in　the　perpendicular；　he　was　unshaven　too；　and　his　dress　not　remarkable　for　order。　Architecture　appeared　to　have　exhausted　his　regularity。

〃Won't　it　look　like　a　barrack？〃　he　inquired。

He　did　not　at　once　receive　a　reply。

〃I　can　see　what　it　is；〃　said　Bosinney；　〃you　want　one　of　Little…　master's　housesone　of　the　pretty　and　commodious　sort；　where　the　servants　will　live　in　garrets；　and　the　front　door　be　sunk　so　that　you　may　come　up　again。　　By　all　means　try　Littlemaster；　you'll　find　him　a　capital　fellow；　I've　known　him　all　my　life！〃

Soames　was　alarmed。　　He　had　really　been　struck　by　the　plans；　and　the　concealment　of　his　satisfaction　had　been　merely　instinctive。　It　was　difficult　for　him　to　pay　a　compliment。　　He　despised　people　who　were　lavish　with　their　praises。

He　found　himself　now　in　the　embarrassing　position　of　one　who　must　pay　a　compliment　or　run　the　risk　of　losing　a　good　thing。　Bosinney　was　just　the　fellow　who　might　tear　up　the　plans　and　refuse　to　act　for　him；　a　kind　of　grown…up　child！

This　grown…up　childishness；　to　which　he　felt　so　superior；　exercised　a　peculiar　and　almost　mesmeric　effect　on　Soames；　for　he　had　never　felt　anything　like　it　in　himself。

〃Well；〃　he　stammered　at　last；　〃it'sit's；　certainly　original。〃

He　had　such　a　private　distrust　and　even　dislike　of　the　word=original'　that　he　felt　he　had　not　really　given　himself　away　by　this　remark。

Bosinney　seemed　pleased。　　It　was　the　sort　of　thing　that　would　please　a　fellow　like　that！　　And　his　success　encouraged　Soames。

〃It'sa　big　place；〃　he　said。

〃Space；　air；　light；〃　he　heard　Bosinney　murmur；　〃you　can't　live　like　a　gentleman　in　one　of　Littlemaster'she　builds　for　manufacturers。〃

Soames　made　a　deprecating　movement；　he　had　been　identified　with　a　gentleman；　not　for　a　good　deal　of　money　now　would　he　be　classed　with　manufacturers。　　But　his　innate　distrust　of　general　principles　revived。　　What　the　deuce　was　the　good　of　talking　about　regularity　and　self…respect？　　It　looked　to　him　as　if　the　house　would　be　cold。

〃Irene　can't　stand　the　cold！〃　he　said。

〃Ah！〃　said　Bosinney　sarcastically。　　〃Your　wife？　　She　doesn't　like　the　cold？　　I'll　see　to　that；　she　shan't　be　cold。　　Look　here！〃　he　pointed；　to　four　marks　at　regular　intervals　on　the　walls　of　the　court。　　〃I've　given　you　hot…water　pipes　in　aluminium　casings；　you　can　get　them　with　very　good　designs。〃

Soames　looked　suspiciously　at　these　marks。

〃It's　all　very　well；　all　this；〃　he'　said；　〃but　what's　it　going　to　cost？'

The　architect　took　a　sheet　of　paper　from　his　pocket：

〃The　house；　of　course；　should　be　built　entirely　of　stone；　but；　as　I　thought　you　wouldn't　stand　that；　I've　compromised　for　a　facing。　It　ought　to　have　a　copper　roof；　but　I've　made　it　green　slate。　　As　it　is；　including　metal　work；　it'll　cost　you　eight　thousand　five　hundred。〃

〃Eight　thousand　five　hundred？〃　said　Soames。　　〃Why；　I　gave　you　an　outside　limit　of　eight！〃

〃Can't　be　done　for　a　penny　less；〃　replied　Bosinney　coolly。

〃You　must　take　it　or　leave　it！〃

It　was　the　only　way；　probably；　that　such　a　proposition　could　have　been　made　to　Soames。　　He　was　nonplussed。　　Conscience　told　him　to　throw　the　whole　thing　up。　　But　the　design　was　good；　and　he　knew　itthere　was　completeness　about　it；　and　dignity；　the　servants'　apartments　were　excellent　too。　　He　would　gain　credit　by　living　in　a　house　like　thatwith　such　individual　features；　yet　perfectly。　well…arranged。

He　continued　poring　over　the　plans；　while　Bosinney　went　into　his　bedroom　to　shave　and　dress。

The　two　walked　back　to　Montpellier　Square　in　silence；　Soames　watching　him　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。

The　Buccaneer　was　rather　a　good…looking　fellowso　he　thought　when　he　was　properly　got　up。

Irene　was　bending　over　her　flowers　when　the　two　men　came　in。

She　spoke　of　sending　across　the　Park　to　fetch　June。

〃No；　no；〃　said　Soames；　〃we've　still　got　business　to　talk　over！〃

At　lunch　he　was　almost　cordial；　and　kept　pressing　Bosinney　to　eat。　　He　was　pleased　to　see　the　architect　in　such　high　spirits；　and　left　him　to　spend　the　afternoon　with　Irene；　while　he　stole　off　to　his　pictures；　after　his　Sunday　habit。　　At　tea…time　he　came　down　to　the　drawing…room；　and　found　them　talking；　as　he　expressed　it；　nineteen　to　the　dozen。

Unobserved　in　the　doorway；　he　congratulated　himself　that　things　were　taking　the　right　turn。　　It　was　lucky　she　and　Bosinney　got　on；　she　seemed　to　be　falling　into　line　with　the　idea　of　the　new　house。

Quiet　meditation　among　his　pictures　had　decided　him　to　spring　the　five　hundred　if　necessary；　but　he　hoped　that　the　afternoon　might　have　softened　Bosinney's　estimates。　　It　was　so　purely　a　matter　which　Bosinney　could　remedy　if　he　liked；　there　must　be　a　dozen　ways　in　which　he　could　cheapen　the　production　of　a　house　without　spoiling　the　effect。

He　awaited；　therefore；　his　opportunity　till　Irene　was　handing　the　architect　his　first　cup　of　tea。　　A　chink　of　sunshine　through　the　lace　of　the　blinds　warmed　her　cheek；　shone　in　the　gold　of　her　hair；　and　in　her　soft　eyes。　　Possibly　the　same　gleam　deepened　Bosinney's　colour；　gave　the　rather　startled　look　to　his　face。

Soames　hated　sunshine；　and　he　at　once　got　up；　to　draw　the　blind。　Then　he　took　his　own　cup　of　tea　from　his　wife；　and　said；　more　coldly　than　he　had　intended：

〃Can't　you　see　your　way　to　do　it　for　eight　thousand　after　all？　There　must　be　a　lot　of　little　things　you　could　alter。〃

Bosinney　drank　off　his　tea　at　a　gulp；　put　down　his　cup；　and　answered：

〃Not　one！〃

Soames　saw　that　his　suggestion　had　touched　some　unintelligible　point　of　personal　vanity。

〃Well；〃　he　agreed；　with　sulky　resignation；　〃you　must　have　it　your　own　way；　I　suppose。〃

A　few　minutes　later　Bosinney　rose　to　go；　and　Soames　rose　too；　to　see　him　off　the　premises。　　The　architect　seemed　in　absurdly　high　spirits。　　After　watching　him　walk　away　at　a　swinging　pace；　Soames　returned　moodily　to　the　drawing…room；　where　Irene　was　putting　away　the　music；　and；　moved　by　an　uncontrollable　spasm　of　curiosity；　he　asked：

〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　'The　Buccaneer'？〃

He　looked　at　the　carpet　while　waiting　for　her　answer；　and　he　had　to　wait　some　time。

〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said　at　last。

〃Do　you　think　he's　good…looking？〃

Irene　smiled。　　And　it　seemed　to　Soames　that　she　was　mocking　him。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　〃very。〃




CHAPTER　IX

DEATH　OF　AUNT　ANN


There　came　a　morning　at　the　end　of　September　when　Aunt　Ann　was　unable　to　take　from　Smither's　hands　the　insignia　of　personal　dignity。　　After　one　look　at　the　old　face；　the　doctor；　hurriedly　sent　for；　announced　that　Miss　Forsyte　had　passed　away　in　her　sle