man of property-第3章

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。〃

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

〃It's　my　opinion；〃　he　said　unexpectedly；　〃that　it's　just　as　well

as　it　is。〃

Aunt　Ann　did　not　ask　him　to　explain　this　strange　utterance。　　She　knew　what　he　was　thinking。　　If　Irene　had　no　money　she　would　not　be　so　foolish　as　to　do　anything　wrong；　for　they　saidthey　said　she　had　been　asking　for　a　separate　room；　but；　of　course；　Soames　had　not。。。。

James　interrupted　her　reverie：

〃But　where；〃　he　asked；　〃was　Timothy？　　Hadn't　he　come　with　them？〃

Through　Aunt　Ann's　compressed　lips　a　tender　smile　forced　its　way：

〃No；　he　didn't　think　it　wise；　with　so　much　of　this　diphtheria　about；　and　he　so　liable　to　take　things。〃

James　answered：

〃Well；　be　takes　good　care　of　himself。　　I　can't　afford　to　take　the　care　of　myself　that　he　does。〃

Nor　was　it　easy　to　say　which；　of　admiration；　envy；　or　contempt；　was　dominant　in　that　remark。

Timothy；　indeed；　was　seldom　seen。　　The　baby　of　the　family；　a　publisher　by　profession；　he　had　some　years　before；　when　business　was　at　full　tide；　scented　out　the　stagnation　which；　indeed；　had　not　yet　come；　but　which　ultimately；　as　all　agreed；　was　bound　to　set　in；　and；　selling　his　share　in　a　firm　engaged　mainly　in　the　production　of　religious　books；　had　invested　the　quite　conspicuous　proceeds　in　three　per　cent。　consols。　　By　this　act　he　had　at　once　assumed　an　isolated　position；　no　other　Forsyte　being　content　with　less　than　four　per　cent。　　for　his　money；　and　this　isolation　had　slowly　and　surely　undermined　a　spirit　perhaps　better　than　commonly　endowed　with　caution。　　He　had　become　almost　a　mytha　kind　of　incarnation　of　security　haunting　the　background　of　the　Forsyte　universe。　　He　had　never　committed　the　imprudence　of　marrying；　or　encumbering　himself　in　any　way　with　children。

James　resumed；　tapping　the　piece　of　china：

〃This　isn't　real　old　Worcester。　　I　s'pose　Jolyon's　told　you　something　about　the　young　man。　　From　all　I　can　learn；　he's　got　no　business；　no　income；　and　no　connection　worth　speaking　of；　but　then；　I　know　nothingnobody　tells　me　anything。〃

Aunt　Ann　shook　her　head。　　Over　her　square…chinned；　aquiline　old　face　a　trembling　passed；　the　spidery　fingers　of　her　hands　pressed　against　each　other　and　interlaced；　as　though　she　were　subtly　recharging　her　will。

The　eldest　by　some　years　of　all　the　Forsytes；　she　held　a　peculiar　position　amongst　them。　　Opportunists　and　egotists　one　and　all　though　not；　indeed；　more　so　than　their　neighboursthey　quailed　before　her　incorruptible　figure；　and；　when　opportunities　were　too　strong；　what　could　they　do　but　avoid　her！

Twisting　his　long；　thin　legs；　James　went　on：

〃Jolyon；　he　will　have　his　own　way。　　He's　got　no　children〃and　stopped；　recollecting　the　continued　existence　of　old　Jolyon's　son；　young　Jolyon；　June's　father；　who　had　made　such　a　mess　of　it；　and　done　for　himself　by　deserting　his　wife　and　child　and　running　away　with　that　foreign　governess。　　〃Well；〃　he　resumed　hastily；　〃if　he　likes　to　do　these　things；　I　s'pose　he　can　afford　to。　　Now；　what's　he　going　to　give　her？　　I　s'pose　he'll　give　her　a　thousand　a　year；　he's　got　nobody　else　to　leave　his　money　to。〃

He　stretched　out　his　hand　to　meet　that　of　a　dapper；　clean…shaven　man；　with　hardly　a　hair　on　his　head；　a　long；　broken　nose；　full　lips；　and　cold　grey　eyes　under　rectangular　brows。

〃Well；　Nick；〃　he　muttered；　〃how　are　you？〃

Nicholas　Forsyte；　with　his　bird…like　rapidity　and　the　look　of　a　preternaturally　sage　schoolboy　（he　had　made　a　large　fortune；　quite　legitimately；　out　of　the　companies　of　which　he　was　a　director）；　placed　within　that　cold　palm　the　tips　of　his　still　colder　fingers　and　hastily　withdrew　them。

〃I'm　bad；〃　he　said；　pouting〃been　bad　all　the　week；　don't　sleep　at　night。　　The　doctor　can't　tell　why。　　He's　a　clever　fellow；　or　I　shouldn't　have　him；　but　I　get　nothing　out　of　him　but　bills。〃

〃Doctors！〃　said　James；　coming　down　sharp　on　his　words：　〃I've　had　all　the　doctors　in　London　for　one　or　another　of　us。　　There's　no　satisfaction　to　be　got　out　of　them；　they'll　tell　you　anything。　There's　Swithin；　now。　　What　good　have　they　done　him？　　There　he　is；　he's　bigger　than　ever；　he's　enormous；　they　can't　get　his　weight　down。　　Look　at　him！〃

Swithin　Forsyte；　tall；　square；　and　broad；　with　a　chest　like　a　pouter　pigeon's　in　its　plumage　of　bright　waistcoats；　came　strutting　towards　them。

〃Erhow　are　you？〃　he　said　in　his　dandified　way；　aspirating　the　'h'　strongly　（this　difficult　letter　was　almost　absolutely　safe　in　his　keeping）〃how　are　you？〃

Each　brother　wore　an　air　of　aggravation　as　he　looked　at　the　other　two；　knowing　by　experience　that　they　would　try　to　eclipse　his　ailments。

〃We　were　just　saying；〃　said　James；　〃that　you　don't　get　any　thinner。〃

Swithin　protruded　his　pale　round　eyes　with　the　effort　of　hearing。

〃Thinner？　　I'm　in　good　case；〃　he　said；　leaning　a　little　forward；　〃not　one　of　your　thread…papers　like　you！〃

But；　afraid　of　losing　the　expansion　of　his　chest；　he　leaned　back　again　into　a　state　of　immobility；　for　he　prized　nothing　so　highly　as　a　distinguished　appearance。

Aunt　Ann　turned　her　old　eyes　from　one　to　the　other。　　Indulgent　and　severe　was　her　look。　　In　turn　the　three　brothers　looked　at　Ann。　　She　was　getting　shaky。　　Wonderful　woman！　　Eighty…six　if　a　day；　might　live　another　ten　years；　and　had　never　been　strong。　Swithin　and　James；　the　twins；　were　only　seventy…five；　Nicholas　a　mere　baby　of　seventy　or　so。　　All　were　strong；　and　the　inference　was　comforting。　Of　all　forms　of　property　their　respective　healths　naturally　concerned　them　most。

〃I'm　very　well　in　myself；〃　proceeded　James；　〃but　my　nerves　are　out　of　order。　　The　least　thing　worries　me　to　death。　　I　shall　have　to　go　to　Bath。〃

〃Bath！〃　said　Nicholas。　　〃I've　tried　Harrogate。　　That's　no　good。　What　I　want　is　sea　air。　　There's　nothing　like　Yarmouth。　　Now；　when　I　go　there　I　sleep。。。。〃

〃My　liver's　very　bad；〃　interrupted　Swithin　slowly。　　〃Dreadful　pain　here；〃　and　he　placed　his　hand　on　his　right　side。

〃Want　of　exercise；〃　muttered　James；　his　eyes　on　the　china。　　He　quickly　added：　〃I　get　a　pain　there；　too。〃

Swithin　reddened；　a　resemblance　to　a　turkey…cock　coming　upon　his　old　face。

〃Exercise！〃　he　said。　　〃I　take　plenty：　I　never　use　the　lift　at　the　Club。〃

〃I　didn't　know；〃　James　hurried　out。　　〃I　know　nothing　about　anybody；　nobody　tells　me　anything。。。。〃

Swithin　fixed　him　with　a　stare：

〃What　do　you　do　for　a　pain　there？〃

James　brightened。

〃I　take　a　compound。。。。〃

〃How　are　you；　uncle？〃

June　stood　before　him；　her　resolute　small　face　raised　from　her　little　height　to　his　great　height；　and　her　hand　outheld。

The　brightness　faded　from　James's　visage。

〃How　are　you？〃　he　said；　brooding　over　her。　　〃So　you're　going　to　Wales　to…morrow　to　visit　your　young　man's　aunts？　　You'll　have　a　lot　of　rain　there。　　This　isn't　real　old　Worcester。〃　　He　tapped　the　bowl。　　〃Now；　that　set　I　gave　your　mother　when　she　married　was　the　genuine　thing。〃

June　shook　hands　one　by　one　with　her　three　great…uncles；　and　turned　to　Aunt　Ann。　　A　very　sweet　look　had　come　into　the　old　lady's　face；　she　kissed　the　girl's　check　with　trembling　fervour。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃and　so　you're　going　for；　a　whole　month！〃

The　girl　passed　on；　and　Aunt　Ann　looked　after　her　slim　little　figure。　　The　old　lady's　round；　steel　grey　eyes；　over　which　a　film　like　a　bird's　was　beginning　to　come；　followed　her　wistfully　amongst　the　bustling　crowd；　for　people　were　beginning　to　say　good…bye；　and　her　finger…tips；　pressing　and　pressing　against　each　other；　were　busy　again　with　the　recharging　of　her　will　against　that　inevitable　ultimate　departure　of　her　own。

'Yes；'　she　thought；　'everybody's　been　most　kind；　quite　a　lot　of　people　come　to　congratulate　her。　　She　ought　to　be　very　happy。'　Amongst　the　throng　of　people　by　the　door；　the　well…dressed　throng　drawn　from　the　families　of　lawyers　and　doctors；　from　the　Stock　Exchange；　and　all　the　innumerable　avocations　of　the　upper…middle　classthere　were　only　some　twenty　percent　of　Forsytes；　but　to　Aunt　Ann　they　seemed　all　Forsytesand　certainly　there　was　not　much　differenceshe　saw　only　her　own　flesh　and　blood。　　It　was　her　world；　this　family；　and　she　knew　no　other；　had　never　perhaps　known　any　other。　　All　their　little　secrets；　illnesses；　engagements；　and　marriages；　how　they　were　getting　on；　and　whether　they　were　making　moneyall　this　was　her　property；　her　delight；　her　life；　beyond　this　only　a　vague；　shadowy　mist　offacts　and　persons　of　no　real　significance。　　This　it　was　that　she　would　have　to　lay　down　when　it　came　to　her　turn　　to　die；　this　which　gave　to

her　that　importance；　that　secret　self…importance；　without　which　none　of　us　can　bear　to　live；　and　to　this　she　clung　wistfully；　with　a　greed　that　grew　each　day！　　If　life　were　slipping　away　from　her；　this　she　would　retain　to　the　end。

She　thought　of　June's　father；　young　Jolyon；　who　had　run　away　with　that　foreign　girl。　　And　what　a　sad　blow　to　his　father　and　to　them　all。　　Such　a　promising　young　fellow！　　A　sad　blow；　though　there　had　been　no　public　scandal；　most　fortunately；　Jo's　wife　seeking　for　no　divorce！　　A　long　time　ago！　　And　when　June's　mother　died；　six　years　ago；　Jo　had　married　that　woman；　and　they　had　two　children　now；　so　she　had　heard。　　Still；　he　had　forfeited　his　right　to　be　there；　had　cheated　her　of　the　complete　fulfilment　of　her　family　pride；　deprived　her　of　the　rightful　pleasure　of　seeing　and　kissing　him　of　whom　she　had　been　so　proud；　such　a　promising　young　fellow！　　The　thought　rankled　with　the　bitterness　of　a　long…inflicted　injury　in　her　tenacious　old　heart。　　A　little　water　stood　in　her　eyes。　　With　a　handkerchief　of　the　finest　lawn　she　wiped　them　stealthily。

〃Well；　Aunt　Ann？〃　said　a　voice　behind。

Soames　Forsyte；　flat…shouldered；　clean…shaven；　flat…cheeked；　flat…waisted；　yet　with　something　round　and　secret　about　his　whole　appearance；　looked　downwards　and　aslant　at　Aunt　Ann；　as　though　trying　to　see　through　the　side　of　his　own　nose。

〃And　what　do　you　think　of　the　engagement？〃　he　asked。

Aunt　Ann's　eyes　rested　on　him　proudly；　of　all　the　nephews　since　young　Jolyon's　departure　from　the　family　nest；　he　was　now　her　favourite；　for　she　recognised　in　him　a　sure　trustee　of　the　family　soul　that　must　so　soon　slip　beyond　her　keeping。

〃Very　nice　for　the　young　man；〃　she　said；　〃and　he's　a　good…looking　young　fellow；　but　I　doubt　if　he's　quite　the　right　lover　for　dear　June。〃

Soames　touched　the　edge　of　a　gold…lacquered　lustre。

〃She'll　tame　him；〃　he　said；　stealthily　wetting　his　finger　and　rubbing　it　on　the　knobby　bulbs。　　〃That's　genuine　old　lacquer；　you　can't　get　it　nowadays。　　It'd　do　well　in　a　sale　at　Jobson's。〃　He　spoke　with　relish；　as　though　he　felt　that　he　was　cheering　up　his　old　aunt。　　It　was　seldom　he　was　so　confidential。　　〃I　wouldn't　mind　having　it　myself；〃　he　added；　〃you　can　always　get　your　price　for　old　lacquer。〃

〃You're　so　clever　with　all　those　things；〃　said　Aunt　Ann。　　〃And　how　is　dear　Irene？〃

Soames's　smile　died。

〃Pretty　well；〃　he　said。　　〃Complains　she　can't　sleep；　she　sleeps　a　great　deal　better　than　I　do；〃　and　he　looked　at　his　wife；　who　was　talking　to　Bosinney　by　the　door。

Aunt　Ann　sighed。

〃Perhaps；〃　she　said；　〃it　will　be　just　as　well　for　her　not　to　see　so　much　of　June。　　She's　such　a　decided　character；　dear　June！〃

Soames　flushed；　his　flushes　passed　rapidly　over　his　flat　cheeks　and