man of property-第34章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


elt　hats　chic　was　only　another　instance　of　Winifred's　extravagant　way　of　running　after　something　new。

It　was　that　famous　summer　when　extravagance　was　fashionable；　when　the　very　earth　was　extravagant；　chestnut…trees　spread　with　blossom；　and　flowers　drenched　in　perfume；　as　they　had　never　been　before；　when　roses　blew　in　every　garden；　and　for　the　swarming　stars　the　nights　had　hardly　space；　when　every　day　and　all　day　long　the　sun；　in　full　armour；　swung　his　brazen　shield　above　the　Park；　and　people　did　strange　things；　lunching　and　dining　in　the　open　air。　　Unprecedented　was　the　tale　of　cabs　and　carriages　that　streamed　across　the　bridges　of　the　shining　river；　bearing　the　upper…middle　class　in　thousands　to　the　green　glories　of　Bushey；　Richmond；　Kew；　and　Hampton　Court。　　Almost　every　family　with　any　pretensions　to　be　of　the　carriage…class　paid　one　visit　that　year　to　the　horse…chestnuts　at　Bushey；　or　took　one　drive　amongst　the　Spanish　chestnuts　of　Richmond　Park。　　Bowling　smoothly；　if　dustily；　along；　in　a　cloud　of　their　own　creation；　they　would　stare　fashionably　at　the　antlered　heads　which　the　great　slow　deer　raised　out　of　a　forest　of　bracken　that　promised　to　autumn　lovers　such　cover　as　was　never　seen　before。　　And　now　and　again；　as　the　amorous　perfume　of　chestnut　flowers　and　of　fern　was　drifted　too　near；　one　would　say　to　the　other：　〃My　dear！　　What　a　peculiar　scent！〃

And　the　lime…flowers　that　year　were　of　rare　prime；　near　honey…coloured。　　At　the　corners　of　London　squares　they　gave　out；　as　the　sun　went　down；　a　perfume　sweeter　than　the　honey　bees　had　takena　perfume　that　stirred　a　yearning　unnamable　in　the　hearts　of　Forsytes　and　their　peers；　taking　the　cool　after　dinner　in　the　precincts　of　those　gardens　to　which　they　alone　had　keys。

And　that　yearning　made　them　linger　amidst　the　dim　shapes　of　flower…beds　in　the　failing　daylight；　made　them　turn；　and　turn；　and　turn　again；　as　though　lovers　were　waiting　for　themwaiting　for　the　last　light　to　die　away　under　the　shadow　of　the　branches。

Some　vague　sympathy　evoked　by　the　scent　of　the　limes；　some　sisterly　desire　to　see　for　herself；　some　idea　of　demonstrating　the　soundness　of　her　dictum　that　there　was　'nothing　in　it'；　or　merely　the　craving　to　drive　down　to　Richmond；　irresistible　that　summer；　moved　the　mother　of　the　little　Darties　（of　little

Publius；　of　Imogen；　Maud；　and　Benedict）　to　write　the　following　note　to　her　sister…in…law：


'DEAR　IRENE；　'June　30。

'I　hear　that　Soames　is　going　to　Henley　tomorrow　for　the　night。　　I　thought　it　would　be　great　fun　if　we　made　up　a　little　party　and　drove　down　to；　Richmond。　　Will　you　ask　Mr。　Bosinney；　and　I　will　get　young　Flippard。

'Emily　（they　called　their　mother　Emilyit　was　so　chic）　will　lend　us　the　carriage。　　I　will　call　for　you　and　your　young　man　at　seven　o'clock。

'Your　affectionate　sister；

'WINIFRED　DARTIE。

'Montague　believes　the　dinner　at　the　Crown　and　Sceptre　to　be　quite　eatable。'


Montague　was　Dartie's　second　and　better　known　namehis　first　being　Moses；　for　he　was　nothing　if　not　a　man　of　the　world。

Her　plan　met　with　more　opposition　from　Providence　than　so　benevolent　a　scheme　deserved。　　In　the　first　place　young　Flippard　wrote：


'DEAR　Mrs。　DARTIE；

'Awfully　sorry。　　Engaged　two　deep。

'Yours；

'AUGUSTUS　FLIPPARD。'


It　was　late　to　send　into　the　byeways　and　hedges　to　remedy　this　misfortune。　　With　the　promptitude　and　conduct　of　a　mother；　Winifred　fell　back　on　her　husband。　　She　had；　indeed；　the　decided　but　tolerant　temperament　that　goes　with　a　good　deal　of　profile；　fair　hair；　and　greenish　eyes。　　She　was　seldom　or　never　at　a　loss；　or　if　at　a　loss；　was　always　able　to　convert　it　into　a　gain。

Dartie；　too；　was　in　good　feather。　　Erotic　had　failed　to　win　the　Lancashire　Cup。　　Indeed；　that　celebrated　animal；　owned　as　he　was　by　a　pillar　of　the　turf；　who　had　secretly　laid　many　thousands　against　him；　had　not　even　started。　　The　forty…eight　hours　that　followed　his　scratching　were　among　the　darkest　in　Dartie's　life。

Visions　of　James　haunted　him　day　and　night。　　Black　thoughts　about　Soames　mingled　with　the　faintest　hopes。　　On　the　Friday　night　he　got　drunk；　so　greatly　was　he　affected。　　But　on　Saturday　morning　the　true　Stock　Exchange　instinct　triumphed　within　him。　　Owing　some　hundreds；　which　by　no　possibility　could　he　pay；　he　went　into　town　and　put　them　all　on　Concertina　for　the　Saltown　Borough　Handicap。

As　he　said　to　Major　Scrotton；　with　whom　he　lunched　at　the　Iseeum：　〃That　little　Jew　boy；　Nathans；　had　given　him　the　tip。　　He　didn't　care　a　cursh。　　He　wash　ina　mucker。　　If　it　didn't　come　upwell　then；　damme；　the　old　man　would　have　to　pay！〃

A　bottle　of　Pol　Roger　to　his　own　cheek　had　given　him　a　new　contempt　for　James。

It　came　up。　　Concertina　was　squeezed　home　by　her　necka　terrible　squeak！　　But；　as　Dartie　said：　There　was　nothing　like　pluck！

He　was　by　no　means　averse　to　the　expedition　to　Richmond。　　He　would　'stand'　it　himself！　　He　cherished　an　admiration　for　Irene；　and　wished　to　be　on　more　playful　terms　with　her。

At　half…past　five　the　Park　Lane　footman　came　round　to　say：　Mrs。　Forsyte　was　very　sorry；　but　one　of　the　horses　was　coughing！

Undaunted　by　this　further　blow；　Winifred　at　once　despatched　little　Publius　（now　aged　seven）　with　the　nursery　governess　to　Montpellier　Square。

They　would　go　down　in　hansoms　and　meet　at　the　Crown　and　Sceptre　at　7。45。

Dartie；　on　being　told；　was　pleased　enough。　　It　was　better　than　going　down　with　your　back　to　the　horses！　　He　had　no　objection　to　driving　down　with　Irene。　　He　supposed　they　would　pick　up　the　others　at　Montpellier　Square；　and　swop　hansoms　there？

Informed　that　the　meet　was　at　the　Crown　and　Sceptre；　and　that　he　would　have　to　drive　with　his　wife；　he　turned　sulky；　and　said　it　was　d…d　slow！

At　seven　o'clock　they　started；　Dartie　offering　to　bet　the　driver　half…a…crown　he　didn't　do　it　in　the　three…quarters　of　an　hour。

Twice　only　did　husband　and　wife　exchange　remarks　on　the　way。

Dartie　said：　〃It'll　put　Master　Soames's　nose　out　of　joint　to　hear　his　wife's　been　drivin'　in　a　hansom　with　Master　Bosinney！〃

Winifred　replied：　〃Don't　talk　such　nonsense；　Monty！〃

〃Nonsense！〃　repeated　Dartie。　　〃You　don't　know　women；　my　fine　lady！〃

On　the　other　occasion　he　merely　asked：　〃How　am　I　looking？　　A　bit　puffy　about　the　gills？　　That　fizz　old　George　is　so　fond　of　is　a　windy　wine！〃

He　had　been　lunching　with　George　Forsyte　at　the　Haversnake。

Bosinney　and　Irene　had　arrived　before　them。　　They　were　standing　in　one　of　the　long　French　windows　overlooking　the　river。

Windows　that　summer　were　open　all　day　long；　and　all　night　too；　and　day　and　night　the　scents　of　flowers　and　trees　came　in；　the　hot　scent　of　parching　grass；　and　the　cool　scent　of　the　heavy　dews。

To　the　eye　of　the　observant　Dartie　his　two　guests　did　not　appear　to　be　making　much　running；　standing　there　close　together；　without　a　word。　　Bosinney　was　a　hungry…looking　creaturenot　much　go　about　him

He　left　them　to　Winifred；　however；　and　busied　himself　to　order　the　dinner。

A　Forsyte　will　require　good；　if　not　delicate　feeding；　but　a　Dartie　will　tax　the　resources　of　a　Crown　and　Sceptre。　　Living　as　he　does；　from　hand　to　mouth；　nothing　is　too　good　for　him　to　eat；　and　he　will　eat　it。　　His　drink；　too；　will　need　to　be　carefully　provided；　there　is　much　drink　in　this　country　'not　good　enough'　for　a　Dartie；　he　will　have　the　best。　　Paying　for　things　vicariously；　there　is　no　reason　why　he　should　stint　himself。　　To　stint　yourself　is　the　mark　of　a　fool；　not　of　a　Dartie。

The　best　of　everything！　　No　sounder　principle　on　which　a　man　can　base　his　life；　whose　father…in…law　has　a　very　considerable　income；　and　a　partiality　for　his　grandchildren。

With　his　not　unable　eye　Dartie　had　spotted　this　weakness　in　James　the　very　first　year　after　little　Publius's　arrival　（an　error）；　he　had　profited　by　his　perspicacity。　　Four　little　Darties　were　now　a　sort　of　perpetual　insurance。

The　feature　of　the　feast　was　unquestionably　the　red　mullet。　　This　delectable　fish；　brought　from　a　considerable　distance　in　a　state　of　almost　perfect　preservation；　was　first　fried；　then　boned；　then　served　in　ice；　with　Madeira　punch　in　place　of　sauce；　according　to　a　recipe　known　to　a　few　men　of　the　world。

Nothing　else　calls　for　remark　except　the　payment　of　the　bill　by　Dartie。

He　had　made　himself　extremely　agreeable　throughout　the　meal；　his　bold；　admiring　stare　seldom　abandoning　Irene's　face　and　figure。　As　he　was　obliged　to　confess　to　himself；　he　got　no　change　out　of　hershe　was　cool　enough；　as　cool　as　her　shoulders　looked　under　their　veil　of　creamy　lace。　　He　expected　to　have　caught　her　out　in　some　little　game　with　Bosinney；　but　not　a　bit　of　it；　she　kept　up　her　end　remarkably　well。　　As　for　that　architect　chap；　he　was　as　glum　as　a　bear　with　a　sore　headWinifred　could　barely　get　a　word　out　of　him；　he　ate　nothing；　but　he　certainly　took　his　liquor；　and　his　face　kept　getting　whiter；　and　his　eyes　looked　queer。

It　was　all　very　amusing。

For　Dartie　himself　was　in　capital　form；　and　talked　freely；　with　a　certain　poignancy；　being　no　fool。　　He　told　two　or　three　stories　verging　on　the　improper；　a　concession　to　the　company；　for　his　stories　were　not　used　to　verging。　　He　proposed　Irene's　health　in　a　mock　speech。　　Nobody　drank　it；　and　Winifred　said：　〃Don't　be　such　a　clown；　Monty！〃

At　her　suggestion　they　went　after　dinner　to　the　public　terrace　overlooking　the　river。

〃I　should　like　to　see　the　common　people　making　love；〃　she　said；　〃it's　such　fun！〃

There　were　numbers　of　them　walking　in　the　cool；　after　the　day's　heat；　and　the　air　was　alive　with　the　sound　of　voices；　coarse　and　loud；　or　soft　as　though　murmuring　secrets。

It　was　not　long　before　Winifred's　better　senseshe　was　the　only　Forsyte　presentsecured　them　an　empty　bench。　　They　sat　down　in　a　row。　　A　heavy　tree　spread　a　thick　canopy　above　their　heads；　and　the　haze　darkened　slowly　over　the　river。

Dartie　sat　at　the　end；　next　to　him　Irene；　then　Bosinney；　then　Winifred。　　There　was　hardly　room　for　four；　and　the　man　of　the　world　could　feel　Irene's　arm　crushed　against　his　own；　he　knew　that　she　could　not　withdraw　it　without　seeming　rude；　and　this　amused　him；　he　devised　every　now　and　again　a　movement　that　would　bring　her　closer　still。　　He　thought：　'That　Buccaneer　Johnny　shan't　have　it　all　to　himself！　　It's　a　pretty　tight　fit；　certainly！'

》From　far　down　below　on　the　dark　river　came　drifting　the　tinkle　of　a　mandoline；　and　voices　singing　the　old　round：

'A　boat；　a　boat；　unto　the　ferry；　For　we'll　go　over　and　be　merry；　And　laugh；　and　quaff；　and　drink　brown　sherry！'

And　suddenly　the　moon　appeared；　young　and　tender；　floating　up　on　her　back　from　behind　a　tree；　and　as　though　she　had　breathed；　the　air　was　cooler；　but　down　that　cooler　air　came　always　the　warm　odour　of　the　limes。

Over　his　cigar　Dartie　peered　round　at　Bosinney；　who　was　sitting　with　his　arms　crossed；　staring　straight　in　front　of　him；　and　on　his　face　the　look　of　a　man　being　tortured。

And　Dartie　shot　a　glance　at　the　face　between；　so　veiled　by　the　overhanging　shadow　that　it　was　but　like　a　darker　piece　of　the　darkness　shaped　and　breathed　on；　soft；　mysterious；　enticing。

A　hush　had　fallen　on　the　noisy　terrace；　as　if　all　the　strollers　were　thinking　secrets　too　precious　to　be　spoken。

And　Dartie　thought：　'Women！'

The　glow　died　above　the　river；　the　singing　ceased；　the　young　moon　hid　behin