man of property-第30章

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made　his　way　upstairs。

He　found　the　front　drawing…room　full。　　It　was　full　enough　at　the　best　of　timeswithout　visitorswithout　any　one　in　itfor　Timothy　and　his　sisters；　following　the　tradition　of　their　generation；　considered　that　a　room　was　not　quite　'nice'　unless　it　was　'properly'　furnished。　　It　held；　therefore；　eleven　chairs；　a　sofa；　three　tables；　two　cabinets；　innumerable　knicknacks；　and　part　of　a　large　grand　piano。　　And　now；　occupied　by　Mrs。　Small；　Aunt　Hester；　by　Swithin；　James；　Rachel；　Winifred；　Euphemia；　who　had　come　in　again　to　return　'Passion　and　Paregoric'　which　she　had　read　at　lunch；　and　her　chum　Frances；　Roger's　daughter　（the　musical　Forsyte；　the　one　who　composed　songs）；　there　was　only　one　chair　left　unoccupied；　except；　of　course；　the　two　that　nobody　ever　sat　onand　the　only　standing　room　was　occupied　by　the　cat；　on　whom　old　Jolyon　promptly　stepped。

In　these　days　it　was　by　no　means　unusual　for　Timothy　to　have　so　many　visitors。　　The　family　had　always；　one　and　all；　had　a　real　respect　for　Aunt　Ann；　and　now　that　she　was　gone；　they　were　coming　far　more　frequently　to　The　Bower；　and　staying　longer。

Swithin　had　been　the　first　to　arrive；　and　seated　torpid　in　a　red　satin　chair　with　a　gilt　back；　he　gave　every　appearance　of　lasting　the　others　out。　　And　symbolizing　Bosinney's　name　'the　big　one；'　with　his　great　stature　and　bulk；　his　thick　white　hair；　his　puffy　immovable　shaven　face；　he　looked　more　primeval　than　ever　in　the　highly　upholstered　room。

His　conversation；　as　usual　of　late；　had　turned　at　once　upon　Irene；　and　he　had　lost　no　time　in　giving　Aunts　Juley　and　Hester　his　opinion　with　regard　to　this　rumour　he　heard　was　going　about。　Noas　he　saidshe　might　want　a　bit　of　flirtationa　pretty　woman　must　have　her　fling；　but　more　than　that　he　did　not　believe。　Nothing　open；　she　had　too　much　good　sense；　too　much　proper　appreciation　of　what　was　due　to　her　position；　and　to　the　family！　No　sc。。。；　　he　was　going　to　say　'scandal'　but　the　very　idea　was　so　preposterous　that　he　waved　his　hand　as　though　to　say'but　let　that　pass！'

Granted　that　Swithin　took　a　bachelor's　view　of　the　situation　still　what　indeed　was　not　due　to　that　family　in　which　so　many　had　done　so　well　for　themselves；　had　attained　a　certain　position？　　If　he　had　heard　in　dark；　pessimistic　moments　the　words　'yeomen'　and　'very　small　beer'　used　in　connection　with　his　origin；　did　he　believe　them？

No！　　he　cherished；　hugging　it　pathetically　to　his　bosom；　the　secret　theory　that　there　was　something　distinguished　somewhere　in　his　ancestry。

〃Must　be；〃　he　once　said　to　young　Jolyon；　before　the　latter　went　to　the　bad。　　〃Look　at　us；　we've　got　on！　　There　must　be　good　blood　in　us　somewhere。〃

He　had　been　fond　of　young　Jolyon：　the　boy　had　been　in　a　good　set　at　College；　had；　known　that　old　ruffian　Sir　Charles　Fiste's　sonsa　pretty　rascal　one　of　them　had　turned　out；　too；　and　there　was　style　about　himit　was　a　thousand　pities　he　had　run　off　with　that　half…foreign　governess！　　If　he　must　go　off　like　that　why　couldn't　he　have　chosen　someone　who　would　have　done　them　credit！　And　what　was　he　now？an　underwriter　at　Lloyd's；　they　said　he　even　painted　picturespictures！　　Damme！　he　might　have　ended　as　Sir　Jolyon　Forsyte；　Bart。；　with　a　seat　in　Parliament；　and　a　place　in　the　country！

It　was　Swithin　who；　following　the　impulse　which　sooner　or　later　urges　thereto　some　member　of　every　great　family；　went　to　the　Heralds'　Office；　where　they　assured　him　that　he　was　undoubtedly　of　the　same　family　as　the　well…known　Forsites　with　an　'i；'　whose　arms　were　'three　dexter　buckles　on　a　sable　ground　gules；'　hoping　no　doubt　to　get　him　to　take　them　up。

Swithin；　however；　did　not　do　this；　but　having　ascertained　that　the　crest　was　a　'pheasant　proper；'　and　the　motto　'For　Forsite；'　he　had　the　pheasant　proper　placed　upon　his　carriage　and　the　buttons　of　his　coachman；　and　both　crest　and　motto　on　his　writing…paper。　　The　arms　he　hugged　to　himself；　partly　because；　not　having　paid　for　them；　he　thought　it　would　look　ostentatious　to　put　them　on　his　carriage；　and　he　hated　ostentation；　and　partly　because　he；　like　any　practical　man　all　over　the　country；　had　a　secret　dislike　and　contempt　for　things　he　could　not　understand　he　found　it　hard；　as　anyone　might；　to　swallow　'three　dexter　buckles　on　a　sable　ground　gules。'

He　never　forgot；　however；　their　having　told　him　that　if　he　paid　for　them　he　would　be　entitled　to　use　them；　and　it　strengthened　his　conviction　that　he　was　a　gentleman。　　Imperceptibly　the　rest　of　the　family　absorbed　the　'pheasant　proper；'　and　some；　more　serious　than　others；　adopted　the　motto；　old　Jolyon；　however；　refused　to　use　the　latter；　saying　that　it　was　humbug　meaning　nothing；　so　far　as　he　could　see。

Among　the　older　generation　it　was　perhaps　known　at　bottom　from　what　great　historical　event　they　derived　their　crest；　and　if　pressed　on　the　subject；　sooner　than　tell　a　liethey　did　not　like　telling　lies；　having　an　impression　that　only　Frenchmen　and　Russians　told　themthey　would　confess　hurriedly　that　Swithin　had　got　hold　of　it　somehow。

Among　the　younger　generation　the　matter　was　wrapped　in　a　discretion　proper。　　They　did　not　want　to　hurt　the　feelings　of　their　elders；　nor　to　feel　ridiculous　themselves；　they　simply　used　the　crest。。。。

〃No；〃　said　Swithin；　〃he　had　had　an　opportunity　of　seeing　for　himself；　and　what　he　should　say　was；　that　there　was　nothing　in　her　manner　to　that　young　Buccaneer　or　Bosinney　or　whatever　his　name　was；　different　from　her　manner　to　himself；　in　fact；　he　should　rather　say。。。。〃　But　here　the　entrance　of　Frances　and　Euphemia　put　an　unfortunate　stop　to　the　conversation；　for　this　was　not　a　subject　which　could　be　discussed　before　young　people。

And　though　Swithin　was　somewhat　upset　at　being　stopped　like　this　on　the　point　of　saying　something　important；　he　soon　recovered　his　affability。　　He　was　rather　fond　of　FrancesFrancie；　as　she　was　called　in　the　family。　　She　was　so　smart；　and　they　told　him　she　made　a　pretty　little　pot　of　pin…money　by　her　songs；　he　called　it　very　clever　of　her。

He　rather　prided　himself　indeed　on　a　liberal　attitude　towards　women；　not　seeing　any　reason　why　they　shouldn't　paint　pictures；　or　write　tunes；　or　books　even；　for　the　matter　of　that；　especially　if　they　could　turn　a　useful　penny　by　it；　not　at　allkept　them　out　of　mischief。　　It　was　not　as　if　they　were　men！

'Little　Francie；'　as　she　was　usually　called　with　good…natured　contempt；　was　an　important　personage；　if　only　as　a　standing　illustration　of　the　attitude　of　Forsytes　towards　the　Arts。　　She　was　not　really　'little；'　but　rather　tall；　with　dark　hair　for　a　Forsyte；　which；　together　with　a　grey　eye；　gave　her　what　was　called　'a　Celtic　appearance。'　She　wrote　songs　with　titles　like　'Breathing　Sighs；'　or　'Kiss　me；　Mother；　ere　I　die；'　with　a　refrain　like　an　anthem：


'Kiss　me；　Mother；　ere　I　die；　Kiss　me…kiss　me；　Mother；　ah！　Kiss；　ah！　　kiss　me　e…ere　I…　Kiss　me；　Mother；　ere　I　d…d…die！'


She　wrote　the　words　to　them　herself；　and　other　poems。　　In　lighter　moments　she　wrote　waltzes；　one　of　which；　the　'Kensington　Coil；'　was　almost　national　to　Kensington；　having　a　sweet　dip　in　it。

It　was　very　original。　　Then　there　were　her　'Songs　for　Little　People；'　at　once　educational　and　witty；　especially　'Gran'ma's　Porgie；'　and　that　ditty；　almost　prophetically　imbued　with　the　coming　Imperial　spirit；　entitled　'Black　him　in　his　little　eye。'

Any　publisher　would　take　these；　and　reviews　like　'High　Living；'　and　the　'Ladies'　Genteel　Guide'　went　into　raptures　over：　'Another　of　Miss　Francie　Forsyte's　spirited　ditties；　sparkling　and　pathetic。　　We　ourselves　were　moved　to　tears　and　laughter。　　Miss　Forsyte　should　go　far。'

With　the　true　instinct　of　her　breed；　Francie　had　made　a　point　of　knowing　the　right　peoplepeople　who　would　write　about　her；　and　talk　about　her；　and　people　in　Society；　tookeeping　a　mental　register　of　just　where　to　exert　her　fascinations；　and　an　eye　on　that　steady　scale　of　rising　prices；　which　in　her　mind's　eye　represented　the　future。　　In　this　way　she　caused　herself　to　be　universally　respected。

Once；　at　a　time　when　her　emotions　were　whipped　by　an　attachment　for　the　tenor　of　Roger's　life；　with　its　whole…hearted　collection　of　house　property；　had　induced　in　his　only　daughter　a　tendency　towards　passionshe　turned　to　great　and　sincere　work；　choosing　the　sonata　form；　for　the　violin。　　This　was　the　only　one　of　her　productions　that　troubled　the　Forsytes。　　They　felt　at　once　that　it　would　not　sell。

Roger；　who　liked　having　a　clever　daughter　well　enough；　and　often　alluded　to　the　amount　of　pocket…money　she　made　for　herself；　was　upset　by　this　violin　sonata。

〃Rubbish　like　that！〃　he　called　it。　　Francie　had　borrowed　young　Flageoletti　from　Euphemia；　to　play　it　in　the　drawing…room　at　Prince's　Gardens。

As　a　matter　of　fact　Roger　was　right。　　It　was　rubbish；　but　annoying！　the　sort　of　rubbish　that　wouldn't　sell。　　As　every　Forsyte　knows；　rubbish　that　sells　is　not　rubbish　at　allfar　from　it。

And　yet；　in　spite　of　the　sound　common　sense　which　fixed　the　worth　of　art　at　what　it　would　fetch；　some　of　the　ForsytesAunt　Hester；　for　instance；　who　had　always　been　musicalcould　not　help　regretting　that　Francie's　music　was　not　'classical'；　the　same　with　her　poems。　　But　then；　as　Aunt　Hester　said；　they　didn't　see　any　poetry　nowadays；　all　the　poems　were　'little　light　things。'

There　was　nobody　who　could　write　a　poem　like　'Paradise　Lost；'　or　'Childe　Harold'；　either　of　which　made　you　feel　that　you　really　had　read　something。　　Still；　it　was　nice　for　Francie　to　have　something　to　occupy　her；　while　other　girls　were　spending　money　shopping　she　was　making　it！

And　both　Aunt　Hester　and　Aunt　Juley　were　always　ready　to　listen　to　the　latest　story　of　how　Francie　had　got　her　price　increased。

They　listened　now；　together　with　Swithin；　who　sat　pretending　not　to；　for　these　young　people　talked　so　fast　and　mumbled　so；　he　never　could　catch　what　they　said。

〃And　I　can't　think；〃　said　Mrs。　Septimus；　〃how　you　do　it。　　I　should　never　have　the　audacity！〃

Francie　smiled　lightly。　　〃I'd　much　rather　deal　with　a　man　than　a　woman。　　Women　are　so　sharp！〃

〃My　dear；〃　cried　Mrs。　Small；　〃I'm　sure　we're　not。〃

Euphemia　went　off　into　her　silent　laugh；　and；　ending　with　the　squeak；　said；　as　though　being　strangled：　〃Oh；　you'll　kill　me　some　day；　auntie。〃

Swithin　saw　no　necessity　to　laugh；　he　detested　people　laughing　when　he　himself　perceived　no　joke。　　Indeed；　he　detested　Euphemia　altogether；　to　whom　he　always　alluded　as　'Nick's　daughter；　what's　she　calledthe　pale　one？'　　He　had　just　missed　being　her　god…　fatherindeed；　would　have　been；　had　he　not　taken　a　firm　stand　against　her　outlandish　name。　　He　hated　becoming　a　godfather。　Swithin　then　said　to　Francie　with　dignity：　〃It's　a　fine　day　erfor　the　time　of　year。〃　But　Euphemia；　who　knew　perfectly　well　that　he　had　refused　to　be　her　godfather；　turned　to　Aunt　Hester；　and　began　telling　her　how　she　had　seen　IreneMrs。　Soamesat　the　Church　and　Commercial　Stores。

〃And　Soames　was　with　her？〃　said　Aunt　Hester；　to　whom　Mrs。　Small　had　as　yet　had　no　opportunity　of　relating　the　incident。

〃Soames　with　her？　　Of　course　not！〃

〃But　was　she　all　alone　in　London？〃

〃Oh；　no；　there　was　Mr。　Bosinney　with　her。　　She　was　perfectly　dressed。〃

But　Swithin；　hearing　the　name　Irene；　looked　severely　at　Euphemia；　who；　it　is　true；　never　did　look　well　in　a　dress；　whatever　she　may　have　done　on　other　occ