man of property-第2章

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nd　maintain　an　average；　brooded　over　the　scene　with　his　permanent　stoop；　his　grey　eyes　had　an　air　of　fixed　absorption　in　some　secret　worry；　broken　at　intervals　by　a　rapid；　shifting　scrutiny　of　surrounding　facts；　his　cheeks；　thinned　by　two　parallel　folds；　and　a　long；　clean…shaven　upper　lip；　were　framed　within　Dundreary　whiskers。　　In　his　hands　he　turned　and　turned　a　piece　of　china。　　Not　far　off；　listening　to　a　lady　in　brown；　his　only　son　Soames；　pale　and　well…shaved；　dark…haired；　rather　bald；　had　poked　his　chin　up　sideways；　carrying　his　nose　with　that　aforesaid　appearance　of　'sniff；'　as　though　despising　an　egg　which　he　knew　he　could　not　digest。　　Behind　him　his　cousin；　the　tall　George；　son　of　the　fifth　Forsyte；　Roger；　had　a　Quilpish　look　on　his　fleshy　face；　pondering　one　of　his　sardonic　jests。　　Something　inherent　to　the　occasion　had　affected　them　all。

Seated　in　a　row　close　to　one　another　were　three　　ladiesAunts　Ann；　Hester　（the　two　Forsyte　maids）；　and　Juley　（short　for　Julia）；　who　not　in　first　youth　had　so　far　forgotten　herself　as　to　marry　Septimus　Small；　a　man　of　poor　constitution。　　She　had　survived　him　for　many　years。　　With　her　elder　and　younger　sister　she　lived　now　in　the　house　of　Timothy；　her　sixth　and　youngest　brother；　on　the　Bayswater　Road。　　Each　of　these　ladies　held　fans　in　their　hands；　and　each　with　some　touch　of　Colour；　some　emphatic　feather　or　brooch；　testified　to　the　solemnity　of　the　opportunity。

In　the　centre　of　the　room；　under　the　chandelier；　as　became　a　host；　stood　the　head　of　the　family；　old　Jolyon　himself。　　Eighty　years　of　age；　with　his　fine；　white　hair；　his　dome…like　forehead；　his　little；　dark　grey　eyes；　and　an　immense　white　moustache；　which　drooped　and　spread　below　the　level　of　his　strong　jaw；　he　had　a　patriarchal　look；　and　in　spite　of　lean　cheeks　and　hollows　at　his　temples；　seemed　master　of　perennial　youth。　　He　held　him　self　extremely　upright；　and　his　shrewd；　steady　　eyes　had　lost　none　of　their　clear　shining。　　Thus　　he　gave　an　impression　of　superiority　to　the　　doubts　and　dislikes　of　smaller　men。　　Having　had　　his　own　way　for　innumerable　years；　he　had　　earned　a　prescriptive　right　to　it。　　It　would　never　have　occurred　to　old　Jolyon　that　it　was　necessary　to　wear　a　look　of　doubt　or　of　defiance。

Between　him　and　the　four　other　brothers　who　were　present；　James；　Swithin；　Nicholas；　and　Roger；　there　was　much　difference；　much　similarity。　　In　turn；　each　of　these　four　brothers　was　very　different　from　the　other；　yet　they；　too；　were　alike。

Through　the　varying　features　and　expression　　of　those　five　faces　could　be　marked　a　certain　　steadfastness　of　chin；　underlying　surface　distinctions；　marking　a　racial　stamp；　too　prehistoric　to　trace；　too　remote　and　permanent　to　discussthe　　very　hall…mark　and　guarantee　of　the　family　for　tunes。

Among　the　younger　generation；　in　the　tall；　bull…like　George；　in　pallid　strenuous　Archibald；　in　young　Nicholas　with　his　sweet　and　tentative　obstinacy；　in　the　grave　and　foppishly　determined　Eustace；　there　was　this　same　stampless　meaningful　perhaps；　but　unmistakablea　sign　of　something　ineradicable　in　the　family　soul。　At　one　time　or　another　during　the　afternoon；　all　these　faces；　so　dissimilar　and　so　alike；　had　worn　an　expression　of　distrust；　the　object　of　which　was　undoubtedly　the　man　whose　acquaintance　they　were　thus　assembled　to　make。　　Philip　Bosinney　was　known　to　be　a　young　man　without　fortune；　but　Forsyte　girls　had　become　engaged　to　such　before；　and　had　actually　married　them。　It　was　not　altogether　for　this　reason；　therefore；　that　the　minds　of　the　Forsytes　misgave　them。　　They　could　not　have　explained　the　origin　of　a　misgiving　obscured　by　the　mist　of　family　gossip。　　A　story　was　undoubtedly　told　that　he　had　paid　his　duty　call　to　Aunts　Ann；　Juley；　and　Hester；　in　a　soft　grey　hata　soft　grey　hat；　not　even　a　new　onea　dusty　thing　with　a　shapeless　crown。　〃So；　extraordinary；　my　dearso　odd；〃　Aunt　Hester；　passing　through　the　little；　dark　hall　（she　was　rather　short…sighted）；　had　tried　to　'shoo'　it　off　a　chair；　taking　it　for　a　strange；　disreputable　catTommy　had　such　disgraceful　friends！　　She　was　disturbed　when　it　did　not　move。　　Like　an　artist　for　ever　seeking　to　discover　the　significant　trifle　which　embodies　the　whole　character　of　a　scene；　or　place；　or　person；　so　those　unconscious　artiststhe　Forsytes　had　fastened　by　intuition　on　this　hat；　it　was　their　significant　trifle；　the　detail　in　which　was　embedded　the　meaning　of　the　whole　matter；　for　each　had　asked　himself：　〃Come；　now；　should　I　have　paid　that　visit　in　that　hat？〃　and　each　had　answered　〃No！〃　and　some；　with　more　imagination　than　others；　had　added：　〃It　would　never　have　come　into　my　head！〃

George；　on　hearing　the　story；　grinned。　　The　hat　had　obviously　been　worn　as　a　practical　joke！　　He　himself　was　a　connoisseur　of　such。　〃Very　haughty！〃　he　said；　〃the　wild　Buccaneer。〃

And　this　mot；　the　'Buccaneer；'　was　bandied　from　mouth　to　mouth；　till　it　became　the　favourite　mode　of　alluding　to　Bosinney。

Her　aunts　reproached　June　afterwards　about　the　hat。

〃We　don't　think　you　ought　to　let　him；　dear！〃　they　had　said。

June　had　answered　in　her　imperious　brisk　way；　like　the　little　embodiment　of　will　she　was：　　〃Oh！　what　does　it　matter？　　Phil　never　knows　what　he's　got　on！〃

No　one　had　credited　an　answer　so　outrageous。　　A　man　not　to　know　what　he　had　on？　　No；　no！　　What　indeed　was　this　young　man；　who；　in　becoming　engaged　to　June；　old　Jolyon's　acknowledged　heiress；　had　done　so　well　for　himself？　　He　was　an　architect；　not　in　itself　a　sufficient　reason　for　wearing　such　a　hat。　　None　of　the　Forsytes　happened　to　be　architects；　but　one　of　them　knew　two　architects　who　would　never　have　worn　such　a　hat　upon　a　call　of　ceremony　in　the　London　season。

Dangerousah；　dangerous！　　June；　of　course；　had　not　seen　this；　but；　though　not　yet　nineteen；　she　was　notorious。　　Had　she　not　said　to　Mrs。　Soameswho　was　always　so　beautifully　dressedthat　feathers　were　vulgar？　　Mrs。　Soames　had　actually　given　up　wearing　feathers；　so　dreadfully　downright　was　dear　June！

These　misgivings；　this　disapproval；　and　perfectly　genuine　distrust；　did　not　prevent　the　Forsytes　from　gathering　to　old　Jolyon's　invitation。　　An　'At　Home'　at　Stanhope　Gate　was　a　great　rarity；　none　had　been　held　for　twelve　years；　not　indeed；　since　old　Mrs。　Jolyon　had　died。

Never　had　there　been　so　full　an　assembly；　for；　mysteriously　united　in　spite　of　all　their　differences；　they　had　taken　arms　against　a　common　peril。　　Like　cattle　when　a　dog　comes　into　the　field；　they　stood　head　to　head　and　shoulder　to　shoulder；　prepared　to　run　upon　and　trample　the　invader　to　death。　　They　had　come；　too；　no　doubt；　to　get　some　notion　of　what　sort　of　presents　they　would　ultimately　be　expected　to　give；　for　though　the　question　of　wedding　gifts　was　usually　graduated　in　this　way：　'What　are　you　givin？　　Nicholas　is　givin'　spoons！〃so　very　much　depended　on　the　bridegroom。　　If　he　were　sleek；　well…brushed；　prosperous…looking；　it　was　more　necessary　to　give　him　nice　things；　he　would　expect　them。　　In　the　end　each　gave　exactly　what　was　right　and　proper；　by　a　species　of　family　adjustment　arrived　at　as　prices　are　arrived　at　on　the　Stock　Exchangethe　exact　niceties　being　regulated　at　Timothy's　commodious；　red…brick　residence　in　Bayswater；　overlooking　the　Park；　where　dwelt　Aunts　Ann；　Juley；　and　Hester。

The　uneasiness　of　the　Forsyte　family　has　been　justified　by　the　simple　mention　of　the　hat。　　How　impossible　and　wrong　would　it　have　been　for　any　family；　with　the　regard　for　appearances　which　should　ever　characterize；　the　great　upper　middle…class；　to　feel　otherwise　than　uneasy！

The　author　of　the　uneasiness　stood　talking　to　June　by　the　further　door；　his　curly　hair　had　a　rumpled　appearance；　as　though　he　found　what　was　going　on　around　him　unusual。　　He　had　an　air；　too；　of　having　a　joke　all　to　himself。　　George；　speaking　aside　to　his　brother；　Eustace；　said：

〃Looks　as　if　he　might　make　a　bolt　of　itthe　dashing　Buccaneer！〃

This　'very　singular…looking　man；'　as　Mrs。　Small　afterwards　called　him；　was　of　medium　height　and　strong　build；　with　a　pale；　brown　face；　a　dust…coloured　moustache；　very　prominent　cheek…bones；　and　hollow　checks。　　His　forehead　sloped　back　towards　the　crown　of　his　head；　and　bulged　out　in　bumps　over　the　eyes；　like　foreheads　seen　in　the　Lion…house　at　the　Zoo。　　He　had　sherry…coloured　eyes；　disconcertingly　inattentive　at　times。　　Old　Jolyon's　coachman；　after　driving　June　and　Bosinney　to　the　theatre；　had　remarked　to　the　butler：

〃I　dunno　what　to　make　of　'im。　　Looks　to　me　for　all　the　world　like　an　'alf…tame　leopard。〃　And　every　now　and　then　a　Forsyte　would　come　up；　sidle　round；　and　take　a　look　at　him。

June　stood　in　front；　fending　off　this　idle　curiositya　little　bit　of　a　thing；　as　somebody　once　said；　'all　hair　and　spirit；'　with　fearless　blue　eyes；　a　firm　jaw；　and　a　bright　colour；　whose　face　and　body　seemed　too　slender　for　her　crown　of　red…gold　hair。

A　tall　woman；　with　a　beautiful　figure；　which　some　member　of　the　family　had　once　compared　to　a　heathen　goddess；　stood　looking　at　these　two　with　a　shadowy　smile。

Her　hands；　gloved　in　French　grey；　were　crossed　one　over　the　other；　her　grave；　charming　face　held　to　one　side；　and　the　eyes　of　all　men　near　were　fastened　on　it。　　Her　figure　swayed；　so　balanced　that　the　very　air　seemed　to　set　it　moving。　　There　was　warmth；　but　little　colour；　in　her　cheeks；　her　large；　dark　eyes　were　soft。

But　it　was　at　her　lipsasking　a　question；　giving　an　answer；　with　that　shadowy　smilethat　men　looked；　they　were　sensitive　lips；　sensuous　and　sweet；　and　through　them　seemed　to　come　warmth　and　perfume　like　the　warmth　and　perfume　of　a　flower。

The　engaged　couple　thus　scrutinized　were　unconscious　of　this　passive　goddess。　　It　was　Bosinney　who　first　noticed　her；　and　asked　her　name。

June　took　her　lover　up　to　the　woman　with　the　beautiful　figure。

〃Irene　is　my　greatest　chum；〃　she　said：　〃Please　be　good　friends；　you　two！〃

At　the　little　lady's　command　they　all　three　smiled；　and　while　they　were　smiling；　Soames　Forsyte；　silently　appearing　from　behind　the　woman　with　the　beautiful　figure；　who　was　his　wife；　said：

〃Ah！　　introduce　me　too！〃

He　was　seldom；　indeed；　far　from　Irene's　side　at　public　functions；　and　even　when　separated　by；　the　exigencies　of　social　intercourse；　could　be　seen　following　her　about　with　his　eyes；　in　which　were　strange　expressions　of　watchfulness　and　longing。

At　the　window　his　father；　James；　was　still　scrutinizing　the　marks　on　the　piece　of　china。。

〃I　wonder　at　Jolyon's　allowing　this　engagement；〃　he　said　to　Aunt　Ann。　　〃They　tell　me　there's　no　chance　of　their　getting　married　for　years。　　This　young　Bosinney〃　（he　made　the　word　a　dactyl　in　opposition　to　general　usage　of　a　short　o）　〃has　got　nothing。　　When　Winifred　married　Dartie；　I　made　him　bring　every　penny　into　settlementlucky　thing；　toothey'd　ha'　had　nothing　by　this　time！〃

Aunt　Ann　looked　up　from　her　velvet　chair。　　Grey　curls　banded　her　forehead；　curls　that；　unchanged　for　decades；　had　extinguished　in　the　family　all　sense　of　time。　　She　made　no　reply；　for　she　rarely　spoke；　husbanding　her　aged　voice；　but　to　James；　uneasy　of　conscience；　her　look　was　as　good　as　an　answer。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　couldn't　help　Irene's　having　no　money。　Soames　was　in　such　a　hurry；　he　got　quite　thin　dancing　attendance　on　her。〃

Putting　the　bowl　pettishly　down　on　the　piano；　he　let　his　eyes　wander　to　the　group　by　the　door。