man of property-第25章

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ks　for　the　sake　of　anything　so　recondite；　so　figurative；　as　passion。

Passion！　　He　seemed；　indeed；　to　have　heard　of　it；　and　rules　such　as　'A　young　man　and　a　young　woman　ought　never　to　be　trusted　together'　were　fixed　in　his　mind　as　the　parallels　of　latitude　are　fixed　on　a　map　（for　all　Forsytes；　when　it　comes　to　'bed…rock'　matters　of　fact；　have　quite　a　fine　taste　in　realism）；　but　as　to　anything　elsewell；　he　could　only　appreciate　it　at　all　through　the　catch…word　'scandal。'

Ah！　but　there　was　no　truth　in　itcould　not　be。　　He　was　not　afraid；　she　was　really　a　good　little　thing。　　But　there　it　was　when　you　got　a　thing　like　that　into　your　mind。　　And　James　was　of　a　nervous　temperamentone　of　those　men　whom　things　will　not　leave　alone；　who　suffer　tortures　from　anticipation　and　indecision。　　For　fear　of　letting　something　slip　that　he　might　otherwise　secure；　he　was　physically　unable　to　make　up　his　mind　until　absolutely　certain　that；　by　not　making　it　up；　he　would　suffer　loss。

In　life；　however；　there　were　many　occasions　when　the　business　of　making　up　his　mind　did　not　even　rest　with　himself；　and　this　was　one　of　them。

What　could　he　do？　　Talk　it　over　with　Soames？　　That　would　only　make　matters　worse。　　And；　after　all；　there　was　nothing　in　it；　he　felt　sure。

It　was　all　that　house。　　He　had　mistrusted　the　idea　from　the　first。　　What　did　Soames　want　to　go　into　the　country　for？　　And；　if　he　must　go　spending　a　lot　of　money　building　himself　a　house；　why　not　have　a　first…rate　man；　instead　of　this　young　Bosinney；　whom　nobody　knew　anything　about？　　He　had　told　them；　how　it　would　be。　And　he　had　heard　that　the　house　was　costing　Soames　a　pretty　penny　beyond　what　he　had　reckoned　on　spending。

This　fact；　more　than　any　other；　brought　home　to　James　the　real　danger　of　the　situation。　　It　was　always　like　this　with　these　'artistic'　chaps；　a　sensible　man　should　have　nothing　to　say　to　them。　　He　had　warned　Irene；　too。　　And　see　what　had　come　of　it！

And　it　suddenly　sprang　into　James's　mind　that　he　ought　to　go　and　see　for　himself。　　In　the　midst　of　that　fog　of　uneasiness　in　which　his　mind　was　enveloped　the　notion　that　he　could　go　and　look　at　the　house　afforded　him　inexplicable　satisfaction。　　It　may　have　been　simply　the　decision　to　do　somethingmore　possibly　the　fact　that　he　was　going　to　look　at　a　housethat　gave　him　relief。　He　felt　that　in　staring　at　an　edifice　of　bricks　and　mortar；　of　wood　and　stone；　built　by　the　suspected　man　himself；　he　would　be　looking　into　the　heart　of　that　rumour　about　Irene。

Without　saying　a　word；　therefore；　to　anyone；　he　took　a　hansom　to　the　station　and　proceeded　by　train　to　Robin　Hill；　thencethere　being　no　'flies；'　in　accordance　with　the　custom　of　the　neighbourhoodhe　found　himself　obliged　to　walk。

He　started　slowly　up　the　hill；　his　angular　knees　and　high　shoulders　bent　complainingly；　his　eyes　fixed　on　his　feet；　yet；　neat　for　all　that；　in　his　high　hat　and　his　frock…coat；　on　which　was　the　speckless　gloss　imparted　by　perfect　superintendence。　Emily　saw　to　that；　that　is；　she　did　not；　of　course；　see　to　it　people　of　good　position　not　seeing　to　each　other's　buttons；　and　Emily　was　of　good　positionbut　she　saw　that　the　butler　saw　to　it。

He　had　to　ask　his　way　three　times；　on　each　occasion　he　repeated　the　directions　given　him；　got　the　man　to　repeat　them；　then　repeated　them　a　second　time；　for　he　was　naturally　of　a　talkative　disposition；　and　one　could　not　be　too　careful　in　a　new　neighbourhood。

He　kept　assuring　them　that　it　was　a　new　house　he　was　looking　for；　it　was　only；　however；　when　he　was　shown　the　roof　through　the　trees　that　he　could　feel　really　satisfied　that　he　had　not　been　directed　entirely　wrong。

A　heavy　sky　seemed　to　cover　the　world　with　the　grey　whiteness　of　a　whitewashed　ceiling。　　There　was　no　freshness　or　fragrance　in　the　air。　　On　such　a　day　even　British　workmen　scarcely　cared　to　do　more　then　they　were　obliged；　and　moved　about　their　business　without　the　drone　of　talk　which　whiles　away　the　pangs　of　labour。

Through　spaces　of　the　unfinished　house；　shirt…sleeved　figures　worked　slowly；　and　sounds　arosespasmodic　knockings；　the　scraping　of　metal；　the　sawing　of　wood；　with　the　rumble　of　wheelbarrows　along　boards；　now　and　again　the　foreman's　dog；　tethered　by　a　string　to　an　oaken　beam；　whimpered　feebly；　with　a　sound　like　the　singing　of　a　kettle。

The　fresh…fitted　window…panes；　daubed　each　with　a　white　patch　in　the　centre；　stared　out　at　James　like　the　eyes　of　a　blind　dog。

And　the　building　chorus　went　on；　strident　and　mirthless　under　the　grey…white　sky。　　But　the　thrushes；　hunting　amongst　the　fresh…　turned　earth　for　worms；　were　silent　quite。

James　picked　his　way　among　the　heaps　of　gravelthe　drive　was　being　laidtill　he　came　opposite　the　porch。　　Here　he　stopped　and　raised　his　eyes。　　There　was　but　little　to　see　from　this　point　of　view；　and　that　little　he　took　in　at　once；　but　he　stayed　in　this　position　many　minutes；　and　who　shall　know　of　what　he　thought。

His　china…blue　eyes　under　white　eyebrows　that　jutted　out　in　little　horns；　never　stirred；　the　long　upper　lip　of　his　wide　mouth；　between　the　fine　white　whiskers；　twitched　once　or　twice；　it　was　easy　to　see　from　that　anxious　rapt　expression；　whence　Soames　derived　the　handicapped　look　which　sometimes　came　upon　his　face。　　James　might　have　been　saying　to　himself：　'I　don't　know　life's　a　tough　job。'

In　this　position　Bosinney　surprised　him。

James　brought　his　eyes　down　from　whatever　bird's…nest　they　had　been　looking　for　in　the　sky　to　Bosinney's　face；　on　which　was　a　kind　of　humorous　scorn。

〃How　do　you　do；　Mr。　Forsyte？　　Come　down　to　see　for　yourself？〃

It　was　exactly　what　James；　as　we　know；　had　come　for；　and　he　was　made　correspondingly　uneasy。　　He　held　out　his　hand；　however；　saying：

〃How　are　you？〃　without　looking　at　Bosinney。

The　latter　made　way　for　him　with　an　ironical　smile。

James　scented　something　suspicious　in　this　courtesy。　　〃I　should　like　to　walk　round　the　outside　first；〃　he　said；　〃and　see　what　you've　been　doing！〃

A　flagged　terrace　of　rounded　stones　with　a　list　of　two　or　three　inches　to　port　had　been　laid　round　the　south…east　and　south…west　sides　of　the　house；　and　ran　with　a　bevelled　edge　into　mould；　which　was　in　preparation　for　being　turfed；　along　this　terrace　James　led　the　way。

〃Now　what　did　this　cost？〃　he　asked；　when　he　saw　the　terrace　extending　round　the　corner。

〃What　should　you　think？〃　inquired　Bosinney。

〃How　should　I　know？〃　replied　James　somewhat　nonplussed；　〃two　or　three　hundred；　I　dare　say！〃

〃The　exact　sum！〃

James　gave　him　a　sharp　look；　but　the　architect　appeared　unconscious；　and　he　put　the　answer　down　to　mishearing。

On　arriving　at　the　garden　entrance；　he　stopped　to　look　at　the　view。

〃That　ought　to　come　down；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　oak…tree。

〃You　think　so？　　You　think　that　with　the　tree　there　you　don't　get　enough　view　for　your　money。

Again　James　eyed　him　suspiciouslythis　young　man　had　a　peculiar　way　of　putting　things：　〃Well！〃　he　said；　with　a　perplexed；　nervous；　emphasis；　〃I　don't　see　what　you　want　with　a　tree。〃

〃It　shall　come　down　to…morrow；〃　said　Bosinney。

James　was　alarmed。　　〃Oh；〃　he　said；　〃don't　go　saying　I　said　it　was　to　come　down！　　I　know　nothing　about　it！〃

〃No？〃

James　went　on　in　a　fluster：　〃Why；　what　should　I　know　about　it？　It's　nothing　to　do　with　me！　　You　do　it　on　your　own　responsibility。〃

〃You'll　allow　me　to　mention　your　name？〃

James　grew　more　and　more　alarmed：　〃I　don't　know　what　you　want　mentioning　my　name　for；〃　he　muttered；　〃you'd　better　leave　the　tree　alone。　　It's　not　your　tree！〃

He　took　out　a　silk　handkerchief　and　wiped　his　brow。　　They　entered　the　house。　　Like　Swithin；　James　was　impressed　by　the　inner　court…yard。

You　must　have　spent　a　douce　of　a　lot　of　money　here；〃　he　said；　after　staring　at　the　columns　and　gallery　for　some　time。　　〃Now；　what　did　it　cost　to　put　up　those　columns？〃

〃I　can't　tell　you　off…hand；〃　thoughtfully　answered　Bosinney；　〃but　I　know　it　was　a　deuce　of　a　lot！〃

〃I　should　think　so；〃　said　James。　　〃I　should。。。。〃　　He　caught　the　architect's　eye；　and　broke　off。　　And　now；　whenever　he　came　to　anything　of　which　he　desired　to　know　the　cost；　he　stifled　that　curiosity。

Bosinney　appeared　determined　that　he　should　see　everything；　and　had　not　James　been　of　too　'noticing=a　nature；　he　would　certainly　have　found　himself　going　round　the　house　a　second　time。　He　seemed　so　anxious　to　be　asked　questions；　too；　that　James　felt　he　must　be　on　his　guard。　　He　began　to　suffer　from　his　exertions；　for；　though　wiry　enough　for　a　man　of　his　long　build；　he　was　seventy…five　years　old。

He　grew　discouraged；　he　seemed　no　nearer　to　anything；　had　not　obtained　from　his　inspection　any　of　the　knowledge　he　had　vaguely　hoped　for。　　He　had　merely　increased　his　dislike　and　mistrust　of　this　young　man；　who　had　tired　him　out　with　his　politeness；　and　in　whose　manner　he　now　certainly　detected　mockery。

The　fellow　was　sharper　than　he　had　thought；　and　better…looking　than　he　had　hoped。　　He　had　aa　'don't　care'　appearance　that　James；　to　whom　risk　was　the　most　intolerable　thing　in　life；　did　not　appreciate；　a　peculiar　smile；　too；　coming　when　least　expected；　and　very　queer　eyes。　　He　reminded　James；　as　he　said　afterwards；　of　a　hungry　cat。　　This　was　as　near　as　he　could　get；　in　conversation　with　Emily；　to　a　description　of　the　peculiar　exasperation；　velvetiness；　and　mockery；　of　which　Bosinney's　manner　had　been　composed。

At　last；　having　seen　all　that　was　to　be　seen；　he　came　out　again　at　the　door　where　he　had　gone　in；　and　now；　feeling　that　he　was　wasting　time　and　strength　and　money；　all　for　nothing；　he　took　the　courage　of　a　Forsyte　in　both　hands；　and；　looking　sharply　at　Bosinney；　said：

〃I　dare　say　you　see　a　good　deal　of　my　daughter…in…law；　now；　what　does　she　think　of　the　house？　　But　she　hasn't　seen　it；　I　suppose？〃

This　he　said；　knowing　all　about　Irene's　visit　not；　of　course；　that　there　was　anything　in　the　visit；　except　that　extraordinary　remark　she　had　made　about　'not　caring　to　get　home'and　the　story　of　how　June　had　taken　the　news！

He　had　determined；　by　this　way　of　putting　the　question；　to　give　Bosinney　a　chance；　as　he　said　to　himself。

The　latter　was　long　in　answering；　but　kept　his　eyes　with　uncomfortable　steadiness　on　James。

〃She　has　seen　the　house；　but　I　can't　tell　you　what　she　thinks　of；　it。〃

Nervous　and　baffled；　James　was　constitutionally　prevented　from　letting　the　matter　drop。

〃Oh！〃　he　said；　〃she　has　seen　it？　　Soames　brought　her　down；　I　suppose？〃

Bosinney　smilingly　replied：　〃Oh；　no！〃

〃What；　did　she　come　down　alone？〃

〃Oh；　no！〃

〃Thenwho　brought　her？〃

〃I　really　don't　know　whether　I　ought　to　tell　you　who　brought　her。〃

To　James；　who　knew　that　it　was　Swithin；　this　answer　appeared　incomprehensible。

〃Why！〃　he　stammered；　〃you　know　that。。。。〃　but　he　stopped；　suddenly　perceiving　his　danger。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　don't　want　to　tell　me　I　suppose　you　won't！　　Nobody　tells　me　anything。〃

Somewhat　to　his　surprise　Bosinney　asked　him　a　question。

〃By　the　by；〃　he　said；　〃could　you　tell　me　if　there　are　likely　to　be　any　more　of　you　coming　down？　　I　should　like　to　be　on　the　spot！〃

〃Any　more？〃　said　James　bewildered；　〃who　should　there　be　more？　　I　don't　know　of　any　more。　　Good…bye？〃

Looking　at　the　ground　he　held　out　his　hand；　crossed　the　palm　of　it　with　Bosinney's；　and　taking　his　umbrella　just　above　the　silk；　walked　a