man of property-第37章

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　a　marriage　as　that　of　Soames　and　Irene　quite　fairly　successful；　he　had　money；　she　had　beauty；　it　was　a　case　for　compromise。　There　was　no　reason　why　they　should　not　jog　along；　even　if　they　hated　each　other。　　It　would　not　matter　if　they　went　their　own　ways　a　little　so　long　as　the　decencies　were　observedthe　sanctity　of　the　marriage　tie；　of　the　common　home；　respected。　Half　the　marriages　of　the　upper　classes　were　conducted　on　these　lines：　Do　not　offend　the　susceptibilities　of　Society；　do　not　offend　the　susceptibilities　of　the　Church。　　To　avoid　offending　these　is　worth　the　sacrifice　of　any　private　feelings。　　The　advantages　of　the　stable　home　are　visible；　tangible；　so　many　pieces　of　property；　there　is　no　risk　in　the　statu　quo。　　To　break　up　a　home　is　at　the　best　a　dangerous　experiment；　and　selfish　into　the　bargain。

This　was　the　case　for　the　defence；　and　young　Jolyon　sighed。

'The　core　of　it　all；'　he　thought；　'is　property；　but　there　are　many　people　who　would　not　like　it　put　that　way。　　To　them　it　is　〃the　sanctity　of　the　marriage　tie〃；　but　the　sanctity　of　the　marriage　tie　is　dependent　on　the　sanctity　of　the　family；　and　the　sanctity　of　the　family　is　dependent　on　the　sanctity　of　property。　And　yet　I　imagine　all　these　people　are　followers　of　One　who　never　owned　anything。　　It　is　curious！'

And　again　young　Jolyon　sighed。

'Am　I　going　on　my　way　home　to　ask　any　poor　devils　I　meet　to　share　my　dinner；　which　will　then　be　too　little　for　myself；　or；　at　all　events；　for　my　wife；　who　is　necessary　to　my　health　and　happiness？　It　may　be　that　after　all　Soames　does　well　to　exercise　his　rights　and　support　by　his　practice　the　sacred　principle　of　property　which　benefits　us　all；　with　the　exception　of　those　who　suffer　by　the　process。'

And　so　he　left　his　chair；　threaded　his　way　through　the　maze　of　seats；　took　his　hat；　and　languidly　up　the　hot　streets　crowded　with　carriages；　reeking　with　dusty　odours；　wended　his　way　home。

Before　reaching　Wistaria　Avenue　he　removed　old　Jolyon's　letter　from　his　pocket；　and　tearing　it　carefully　into　tiny　pieces；　scattered　them　in　the　dust　of　the　road。

He　let　himself　in　with　his　key；　and　called　his　wife's　name。　　But　she　had　gone　out；　taking　Jolly　and　Holly；　and　the　house　was　empty；　alone　in　the　garden　the　dog　Balthasar　lay　in　the　shade　snapping　at　flies。

Young　Jolyon　took　his　seat　there；　too；　under　the　pear…tree　that　bore　no　fruit。




CHAPTER　XI

BOSINNEY　ON　PAROLE


The　day　after　the　evening　at　Richmond　Soames　returned　from　Henley　by　a　morning　train。　　Not　constitutionally　interested　in　amphibious　sports；　his　visit　had　been　one　of　business　rather　than

pleasure；　a　client　of　some　importance　having　asked　him　down。

He　went　straight　to　the　City；　but　finding　things　slack；　he　left　at　three　o'clock；　glad　of　this　chance　to　get　home　quietly。　　Irene　did　not　expect　him。　　Not　that　he　had　any　desire　to　spy　on　her　actions；　but　there　was　no　harm　in　thus　unexpectedly　surveying　the　scene。

After　changing　to　Park　clothes　he　went　into　the　drawing…room。　She　was　sitting　idly　in　the　corner　of　the　sofa；　her　favourite　seat；　and　there　were　circles　under　her　eyes；　as　though　she　had　not　slept。

He　asked：　〃How　is　it　you're　in？　　Are　you　expecting　somebody？〃

〃Yes　that　is；　not　particularly。〃

〃Who？〃

〃Mr。　Bosinney　said　he　might　come。〃

〃Bosinney。　　He　ought　to　be　at　work。〃

To　this　she　made　no　answer。

〃Well；〃　said　Soames；　〃I　want　you　to　come　out　to　the　Stores　with　me；　and　after　that　we'll　go　to　the　Park。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　go　out；　I　have　a　headache。〃

Soames　replied：　〃If　ever　I　want　you　to　do　anything；　you've　always　got　a　headache。　　It'll　do　you　good　to　come　and　sit　under　the　trees。〃

She　did　not　answer。

Soames　was　silent　for　some　minutes；　at　last　he　said：　〃I　don't　know　what　your　idea　of　a　wife's　duty　is。　　I　never　have　known！〃

He　had　not　expected　her　to　reply；　but　she　did。

〃I　have　tried　to　do　what　you　want；　it's　not　my　fault　that　I　haven't　been　able　to　put　my　heart　into　it。〃

〃Whose　fault　is　it；　then？〃　He　watched　her　askance。

〃Before　we　were　married　you　promised　to　let　me　go　if　our　marriage　was　not　a　success。　　Is　it　a　success？〃

Soames　frowned。

〃Success；〃　he　stammered〃it　would　be　a　success　if　you　behaved　yourself　properly！〃

〃I　have　tried；〃　said　Irene。　　〃Will　you　let　me　go。

Soames　turned　away。　　Secretly　alarmed；　he　took　refuge　in　bluster。

〃Let　you　go？　　You　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　　Let　you　go？　　How　can　I　let　you　go？　　We're　married；　aren't　we？　　Then；　what　are　you　talking　about？　　For　God's　sake；　don't　let's　have　any　of　this　sort　of　nonsense！　　Get　your　hat　on；　and　come　and　sit　in　the　Park。〃

〃Then；　you　won't　let　me　go？〃

He　felt　her　eyes　resting　on　him　with　a　strange；　touching　look。

〃Let　you　go！〃　he　said；　〃and　what　on　earth　would　you　do　with　yourself　if　I　did？　　You've　got　no　money！〃

〃I　could　manage　somehow。〃

He　took　a　swift　turn　up　and　down　the　room；　then　came　and　stood　before　her。

〃Understand；〃　he　said；　〃once　and　for　all；　I　won't　have　you　say　this　sort　of　thing。　　Go　and　get　your　hat　on！〃

She　did　not　move。

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Soames；　〃you　don't　want　to　miss　Bosinney　if　he　comes！〃

Irene　got　up　slowly　and　left　the　room。　　She　came　down　with　her　hat　on。

They　went　out。

In　the　Park；　the　motley　hour　of　mid…afternoon；　when　foreigners　and　other　pathetic　folk　drive；　thinking　themselves　to　be　in　fashion；　had　passed；　the　right；　the　proper；　hour　had　come；　was　nearly　gone；　before　Soames　and　Irene　seated　themselves　under　the　Achilles　statue。

It　was　some　time　since　he　had　enjoyed　her　company　in　the　Park。　That　was　one　of　the　past　delights　of　the　first　two　seasons　of　his　married　life；　when　to　feel　himself　the　possessor　of　this　gracious　creature　before　all　London　had　been　his　greatest；　though　secret；　pride。　　How　many　afternoons　had　he　not　sat　beside　her；　extremely　neat；　with　light　grey　gloves　and　faint；　supercilious　smile；　nodding　to　acquaintances；　and　now　and　again　removing　his　hat。

His　light　grey　gloves　were　still　on　his　hands；　and　on　his　lips　his　smile　sardonic；　but　where　the　feeling　in　his　heart？

The　seats　were　emptying　fast；　but　still　he　kept　her　there；　silent　and　pale；　as　though　to　work　out　a　secret　punishment。　　Once　or　twice　he　made　some　comment；　and　she　bent　her　head；　or　answered　〃Yes〃　with　a　tired　smile。

Along　the　rails　a　man　was　walking　so　fast　that　people　stared　after　him　when　he　passed。

〃Look　at　that　ass！〃　said　Soames；　〃he　must　be　mad　to　walk　like　that　in　this　heat！〃

He　turned；　Irene　had　made　a　rapid　movement。

〃Hallo！〃　he　said：　〃it's　our　friend　the　Buccaneer！〃

And　he　sat　still；　with　his　sneering　smile；　conscious　that　Irene　was　sitting　still；　and　smiling　too。

〃Will　she　bow　to　him？〃　he　thought。

But　she　made　no　sign。

Bosinney　reached　the　end　of　the　rails；　and　came　walking　back　amongst　the　chairs；　quartering　his　ground　like　a　pointer。　　When　he　saw　them　he　stopped　dead；　and　raised　his　hat。

The　smile　never　left　Soames'　face；　he　also　took　off　his　hat。

Bosinney　came　up；　looking　exhausted；　like　a　man　after　hard　physical　exercise；　the　sweat　stood　in　drops　on　his　brow；　and　Soames'　smile　seemed　to　say：　〃You've　had　a　trying　time；　my　friend　。。。。　　What　are　you　doing　in　the　Park？〃　he　asked。　　〃We　thought　you　despised　such　frivolity！〃

Bosinney　did　not　seem　to　hear；　he　made　his　answer　to　Irene：　〃I've　been　round　to　your　place；　I　hoped　I　should　find　you　in。〃

Somebody　tapped　Soames　on　the　back；　and　spoke　to　him；　and　in　the　exchange　of　those　platitudes　over　his　shoulder；　he　missed　her　answer；　and　took　a　resolution。

〃We're　just　going　in；〃　he　said　to　Bosinney；　〃you'd　better　come　back　to　dinner　with　us。〃　Into　that　invitation　he　put　a　strange　bravado；　a　stranger　pathos：　〃You；　can't　deceive　me；〃　his　look　and　voice　seemed　saying；　〃but　seeI　trust　youI'm　not　afraid　of　you！〃

They　started　back　to　Montpellier　Square　together；　Irene　between　them。　　In　the　crowded　streets　Soames　went　on　in　front。　　He　did　not　listen　to　their　conversation；　the　strange　resolution　of　trustfulness　he　had　taken　seemed　to　animate　even　his　secret　conduct。　　Like　a　gambler；　he　said　to　himself：　'It's　a　card　I　dare　not　throw　awayI　must　play　it　for　what　it's　worth。　　I　have　not　too　many　chances。'

He　dressed　slowly；　heard　her　leave　her　room　and　go　downstairs；　and；　for　full　five　minutes　after；　dawdled　about　in　his　dressing…　room。　　Then　he　went　down；　purposely　shutting　the　door　loudly　to　show　that　he　was　coming。　　He　found　them　standing　by　the　hearth；　perhaps　talking；　perhaps　not；　he　could　not　say。

He　played　his　part　out　in　the　farce；　the　long　evening　through　his　manner　to　his　guest　more　friendly　than　it　had　ever　been　before；　and　when　at　last　Bosinney　went；　he　said：　〃You　must　come　again　soon；　Irene　likes　to　have　you　to　talk　about　the　house！〃　Again　his　voice　had　the　strange　bravado　and　the　stranger　pathos；　but　his　hand　was　cold　as　ice。

Loyal　to　his　resolution；　he　turned　away　from　their　parting；　turned　away　from　his　wife　as　she　stood　under　the　hanging　lamp　to　say　good…nightaway　from　the　sight　of　her　golden　head　shining　so　under　the　light；　of　her　smiling　mournful　lips；　away　from　the　sight　of　Bosinney's　eyes　looking　at　her；　so　like　a　dog's　looking　at　its　master。

And　he　went　to　bed　with　the　certainty　that　Bosinney　was　in　love　with　his　wife。

The　summer　night　was　hot；　so　hot　and　still　that　through　every　opened　window　came　in　but　hotter　air。　　For　long　hours　he　lay　listening　to　her　breathing。

She　could　sleep；　but　he　must　lie　awake。　　And；　lying　awake；　he　hardened　himself　to　play　the　part　of　the　serene　and　trusting　husband。

In　the　small　hours　he　slipped　out　of　bed；　and　passing　into　his　dressing…room；　leaned　by　the　open　window。

He　could　hardly　breathe。

A　night　four　years　ago　came　back　to　himthe　night　but　one　before　his　marriage；　as　hot　and　stifling　as　this。

He　remembered　how　he　had　lain　in　a　long　cane　chair　in　the　window　of　his　sitting…room　off　Victoria　Street。　　Down　below　in　a　side　street　a　man　had　banged　at　a　door；　a　woman　had　cried　out；　he　remembered；　as　though　it　were　now；　the　sound　of　the　scuffle；　the　slam　of　the　door；　the　dead　silence　that　followed。　　And　then　the　early　water…cart；　cleansing　the　reek　of　the　streets；　had　approached　through　the　strange…seeming；　useless　lamp…light；　he　seemed　to　hear　again　its　rumble；　nearer　and　nearer；　till　it　passed　and　slowly　died　away。

He　leaned　far　out　of　the　dressing…room　window　over　the　little　court　below；　and　saw　the　first　light　spread。　　The　outlines　of　dark　walls　and　roofs　were　blurred　for　a　moment；　then　came　out　sharper　than　before。

He　remembered　how　that　other　night　he　had　watched　the　lamps　paling　all　the　length　of　Victoria　Street；　how　he　had　hurried　on　his　clothes　and　gone　down　into　the　street；　down　past　houses　and　squares；　to　the　street　where　she　was　staying；　and　there　had　stood　and　looked　at　the　front　of　the　little　house；　as　still　and　grey　as　the　face　of　a　dead　man。

And　suddenly　it　shot　through　his　mind；　like　a　sick　man's　fancy：　What's　he　doing？that　fellow　who　haunts　me；　who　was　here　this　evening；　who's　in　love　with　my　wifeprowling　out　there；　perhaps；　looking　for　her　as　I　know　he　was　looking　for　her　this　afternoon；　watching　my　house　now；　for　all　I　can　tell！

He　stole　across　the　landing　to　the　front　of　the　house；　stealthily　drew　aside　a　blind；　and　raised　a　window。

The　grey　light　clung　about　the　trees　of　the　sq