man of property-第40章

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　James　had　more　than　his　common　share　of　courage　after　lunch。

On　reaching　home；　he　ordered　out　the　barouche；　with　special　instructions　that　the　groom　was　to　go　too。　　He　wished　to　be　kind　to　her；　and　to　give　her　every　chance。

When　the　door　of　No。62　was　opened　he　could　distinctly　hear　her　singing；　and　said　so　at　once；　to　prevent　any　chance　of　being　denied　entrance。

Yes；　Mrs。　Soames　was　in；　but　the　maid　did　not　know　if　she　was　seeing　people。

James；　moving　with　the　rapidity　that　ever　astonished　the　observers　of　his　long　figure　and　absorbed　expression；　went　forthwith　into　the　drawing…room　without　permitting　this　to　be　ascertained。　　He　found　Irene　seated　at　the　piano　with　her　hands　arrested　on　the　keys；　evidently　listening　to　the　voices　in　the　hall。　　She　greeted　him　without　smiling。

〃Your　mother…in…law's　in　bed；〃　he　began；　hoping　at　once　to　enlist　her　sympathy。　　〃I've　got　the　carriage　here。　　Now；　be　a　good　girl；　and　put　on　your　hat　and　come　with　me　for　a　drive。　　It'll　do　you　good！〃

Irene　looked　at　him　as　though　about　to　refuse；　but；　seeming　to　change　her　mind；　went　upstairs；　and　came　down　again　with　her　hat　on。

〃Where　are　you　going　to　take　me？〃　she　asked。

〃We'll　just　go　down　to　Robin　Hill；〃　said　James；　spluttering　out　his　words　very　quick；　〃the　horses　want　exercise；　and　I　should　like　to　see　what　they've　been　doing　down　there。〃

Irene　hung　back；　but　again　changed　her　mind；　and　went　out　to　the　carriage；　James　brooding　over　her　closely；　to　make　quite　sure。

It　was　not　before　he　had　got　her　more　than　half　way　that　he　began：　〃Soames　is　very　fond　of　youhe　won't　have　anything　said　against　you；　why　don't　you　show　him　more　affection？〃

Irene　flushed；　and　said　in　a　low　voice：　〃I　can't　show　what　I　haven't　got。〃

James　looked　at　her　sharply；　he　felt　that　now　he　had　her　in　his　own　carriage；　with　his　own　horses　and　servants；　he　was　really　in　command　of　the　situation。　　She　could　not　put　him　off；　nor　would　she　make　a　scene　in　public。

〃I　can't　think　what　you're　about；〃　he　said。　　〃He's　a　very　good　husband！〃

Irene's　answer　was　so　low　as　to　be　almost　inaudible　among　the　sounds　of　traffic。　　He　caught　the　words：　〃You　are　not　married　to　him！〃

〃What's　that　got　to　do　with　it？　　He's　given　you　everything　you　want。　　He's　always　ready　to　take　you　anywhere；　and　now　he's　built　you　this　house　in　the　country。　　It's　not　as　if　you　had　anything　of　your　own。〃

〃No。〃

Again　James　looked　at　her；　he　could　not　make　out　the　expression　on　her　face。　　She　looked　almost　as　if　she　were　going　to　cry；　and　yet。。。。

〃I'm　sure；〃　he　muttered　hastily；　〃we've　all　tried　to　be　kind　to　you。〃

Irene's　lips　quivered；　to　his　dismay　James　saw　a　tear　steal　down　her　cheek。　　He　felt　a　choke　rise　in　his　own　throat。

〃We're　all　fond　of　you；〃　he　said；　〃if　you'd　only〃he　was　going　to　say；　〃behave　yourself；〃　but　changed　it　to〃if　you'd　only　be　more　of　a　wife　to　him。〃

Irene　did　not　answer；　and　James；　too；　ceased　speaking。　　There　was　something　in　her　silence　which　disconcerted　him；　it　was　not　the　silence　of　obstinacy；　rather　that　of　acquiescence　in　all　that　he　could　find　to　say。　　And　yet　he　felt　as　if　he　had　not　had　the　last　word。　　He　could　not　understand　this。

He　was　unable；　however；　to　long　keep　silence。

〃I　suppose　that　young　Bosinney；〃　he　said；　〃will　be　getting　married　to　June　now？〃

Irene's　face　changed。　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　〃you　should　ask　her。〃

〃Does　she　write　to　you？〃　No。

〃How's　that？〃　said　James。　　〃I　thought　you　and　she　were　such　great　friends。〃

Irene　turned　on　him。　　〃Again；〃　she　said；　〃you　should　ask　her！〃

〃Well；〃　flustered　James；　frightened　by　her　look；　〃it's　very　odd　that　I　can't　get　a　plain　answer　to　a　plain　question；　but　there　it　is。〃

He　sat　ruminating　over　his　rebuff；　and　burst　out　at　last：

〃Well；　I've　warned　you。　　You　won't　look　ahead。　　Soames　he　doesn't　say　much；　but　I　can　see　he　won't　stand　a　great　deal　more　of　this　sort　of　thing。　　You'll　have　nobody　but　yourself　to　blame；　and；　what's　more；　you'll　get　no　sympathy　from　anybody。〃

Irene　bent　her　head　with　a　little　smiling　bow。　　〃I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you。〃

James　did　not　know　what　on　earth　to　answer。

The　bright　hot　morning　had　changed　slowly　to　a　grey；　oppressive　afternoon；　a　heavy　bank　of　clouds；　with　the　yellow　tinge　of　coming　thunder；　had　risen　in　the　south；　and　was　creeping　up。

The　branches　of　the　trees　dropped　motionless　across　the　road　without　the　smallest　stir　of　foliage。　　A　faint　odour　of　glue　from　the　heated　horses　clung　in　the　thick　air；　the　coachman　and　groom；　rigid　and　unbending；　exchanged　stealthy　murmurs　on　the　box；　without　ever　turning　their　heads。

To　James'　great　relief　they　reached　the　house　at　last；　the　silence　and　impenetrability　of　this　woman　by　his　side；　whom　he　had　always　thought　so　soft　and　mild；　alarmed　him。

The　carriage　put　them　down　at　the　door；　and　they　entered。

The　hall　was　cool；　and　so　still　that　it　was　like　passing　into　a　tomb；　a　shudder　ran　down　James's　spine。　　He　quickly　lifted　the　heavy　leather　curtains　between　the　columns　into　the　inner　court。

He　could　not　restrain　an　exclamation　of　approval。

The　decoration　was　really　in　excellent　taste。　　The　dull　ruby　tiles　that　extended　from　the　foot　of　the　walls　to　the　verge　of　a　circular　clump　of　tall　iris　plants；　surrounding　in　turn　a　sunken　basin　of　white　marble　filled　with　water；　were　obviously　of　the　best　quality。　　He　admired　extremely　the　purple　leather　curtains　drawn　along　one　entire　side；　framing　a　huge　white…tiled　stove。　The　central　partitions　of　the　skylight　had　been　slid　back；　and　the　warm　air　from　outside　penetrated　into　the　very　heart　of　the　house。

He　stood；　his　hands　behind　him；　his　head　bent　back　on　his　high；　narrow　shoulders；　spying　the　tracery　on　the　columns　and　the　pattern　of　the　frieze　which　ran　round　the；　ivory…coloured　walls　under　the　gallery。　　Evidently；　no　pains　had　been　spared。　　It　was　quite　the　house　of　a　gentleman。　　He　went　up　to　the　curtains；　and；　having　discovered　how　they　were　worked；　drew　them　asunder　and　disclosed　the　picture…gallery；　ending　in　a　great　window　taking　up　the　whole　end　of　the　room。　　It　had　a　black　oak　floor；　and　its　walls；　again；　were　of　ivory　white。　　He　went　on　throwing　open　doors；　and　peeping　in。　　Everything　was　in　apple…pie　order；　ready　for　immediate　occupation。

He　turned　round　at　last　to　speak　to　Irene；　and　saw　her　standing　over　in　the　garden　entrance；　with　her　husband　and　Bosinney。

Though　not　remarkable　for　sensibility；　James　felt　at　once　that　something　was　wrong。　　He　went　up　to　them；　and；　vaguely　alarmed；　ignorant　of　the　nature　of　the　trouble；　made　an　attempt　to　smooth　things　over。

〃How　are　you；　Mr。　Bosinney？〃　he　said；　holding　out　his　hand。　〃You've　been　spending　money　pretty　freely　down　here；　I　should　say！〃

Soames　turned　his　back；　and　walked　away。

James　looked　from　Bosinney's　frowning　face　to　Irene；　and；　in　his　agitation；　spoke　his　thoughts　aloud：　〃Well；　I　can't　tell　what's

the　matter。　　Nobody　tells　me　anything！〃　　And；　making　off　after　his　son；　he　heard　Bosinney's　short　laugh；　and　his　〃Well；　thank　God！　You　look　so。。。。〃　Most　unfortunately　he　lost　the　rest。

What　had　happened？　　He　glanced　back。　　Irene　was　very　close　to　the　architect；　and　her　face　not　like　the　face　he　knew　of　her。　　He　hastened　up　to　his　son。

Soames　was　pacing　the　picture…gallery。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　James。　　〃What's　all　this？〃

Soames　looked　at　him　with　his　supercilious　calm　unbroken；　but　James　knew　well　enough　that　he　was　violently　angry。

〃Our　friend；〃　he　said；　〃has　exceeded　his　instructions　again；　that's　all。　　So　much　the　worse　for　him　this　time。〃

He　turned　round　and　walked　back　towards　the　door。　　James　followed　hurriedly；　edging　himself　in　front。　　He　saw　Irene　take　her　finger　from　before　her　lips；　heard　her　say　something　in　her　ordinary　voice；　and　began　to　speak　before　he　reached　them。

〃There's　a　storm　coming　on。　　We'd　better　get　home。　　We　can't　take　you；　I　suppose；　Mr。　Bosinney？　　No；　I　suppose　not。　　Then；　good…bye！〃　　He　held　out　his　hand。　　Bosinney　did　not　take　it；　but；　turning　with　a　laugh；　said：

〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Forsyte。　　Don't　get　caught　in　the　storm！〃　and　walked　away。

〃Well；〃　began　James；　〃I　don't　know。。。。〃

But　the　'sight　of　Irene's　face　stopped　him。　　Taking　hold　of　his　daughter…in…law　by　the　elbow；　he　escorted　her　towards　the　carriage。　　He　felt　certain；　quite　certain；　they　had　been　making　some　appointment　or　other。。。。

Nothing　in　this　world　is　more　sure　to　upset　a　Forsyte　than　the　discovery　that　something　on　which　he　has　stipulated　to　spend　a　certain　sum　has　cost　more。　　And　this　is　reasonable；　for　upon　the　accuracy　of　his　estimates　the　whole　policy　of　his　life　is　ordered。　　If　he　cannot　rely　on　definite　values　of　property；　his　compass　is　amiss；　he　is　adrift　upon　bitter　waters　without　a　helm。

After　writing　to　Bosinney　in　the　terms　that　have　already　been　chronicled；　Soames　had　dismissed　the　cost　of　the　house　from　his　mind。　　He　believed　that　he　had　made　the　matter　of　the　final　cost　so　very　plain　that　the　possibility　of　its　being　again　exceeded　had　really　never　entered　his　head。　　On　hearing　from　Bosinney　that　his　limit　of　twelve　thousand　pounds　would　be　exceeded　by　some…　thing　like　four　hundred；　he　had　grown　white　with　anger。　　His　original　estimate　of　the　cost　of　the　house　completed　had　been　ten　thousand　pounds；　and　he　had　often　blamed　himself　severely　for　allowing　himself　to　be　led　into　repeated　excesses。　　Over　this　last　expenditure；　however；　Bosinney　had　put　himself　completely　in　the　wrong。　　How　on　earth　a　fellow　could　make　such　an　ass　of　himself　Soames　could　not　conceive；　but　he　had　done　so；　and　all　the　rancour　and　hidden　jealousy　that　had　been　burning　against　him　for　so　long　was　now　focussed　in　rage　at　this　crowning　piece　of　extravagance。　　The　attitude　of　the　confident　and　friendly　husband　was　gone。　　To　preserve　propertyhis　wifehe　had　assumed　it；　to　preserve　property　of　another　kind　he　lost　it　now。

〃Ah！〃　he　had　said　to　Bosinney　when　he　could　speak；　〃and　I　suppose　you're　perfectly　contented　with　yourself。　　But　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that　you've　altogether　mistaken　your　man！〃

What　he　meant　by　those　words　he　did　not　quite　know　at　the　time；　but　after　dinner　he　looked　up　the　correspondence　between　himself　and　Bosinney　to　make　quite　sure。　　There　could　be　no　two　opinions　about　itthe　fellow　had　made　himself　liable　for　that　extra　four　hundred；　or；　at　all　events；　for　three　hundred　and　fifty　of　it；　and　he　would　have　to　make　it　good。

He　was　looking　at　his　wife's　face　when　he　came　to　this　conclusion。　Seated　in　her　usual　seat　on　the　sofa；　she　was　altering　the　lace　on　a　collar。　　She　had　not　once　spoken　to　him　all　the　evening。

He　went　up　to　the　mantelpiece；　and　contemplating　his　face　in　the　mirror　said：　〃Your　friend　the　Buccaneer　has　made　a　fool　of　himself；　he　will　have　to　pay　for　it！〃

She　looked　at　him　scornfully；　and　answered：　〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about！〃

〃You　soon　will。　　A　mere　trifle；　quite　beneath　your　contemptfour　hundred　pounds。〃

〃Do　you　mean　that　you　are　going　to　make　him　pay　that　towards　this　hateful；　house？〃

〃I　do。〃

〃And　you　know　he's　got　nothing？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　you　are　meaner　than　I　thought　you。〃

Soames　turned　from　the　mirror；　and　unconsciously　taking　a　china　cup　from　the　mantelpiece；　clasped　his　hands　around　it　as　though　praying。　　He　saw　her　bosom　rise　and