man of property-第43章

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ights　unconsciously；　they　came　natural　to　her；　and　she　knew　exactly　how　to　make　the　most　of　them　without　exciting　anything　but　admiration　amongst　that　great　class　to　whom　she　was　affiliated；　not　precisely　perhaps　by　manner；　but　by　birth；　breeding；　and　the　true；　the　secret　gauge；　a　sense　of　property。

The　daughter　of　a　Bedfordshire　solicitor；　by　the　daughter　of　a　clergyman；　she　had　never；　through　all　the　painful　experience　of　being　married　to　a　very　mild　painter　with　a　cranky　love　of　Nature；　who　had　deserted　her　for　an　actress；　lost　touch　with　the　requirements；　beliefs；　and　inner　feeling　of　Society；　and；　on　attaining　her　liberty；　she　placed　herself　without　effort　in　the　very　van　of　Forsyteism。

Always　in　good　spirits；　and　'full　of　information；'　she　was　universally　welcomed。　　She　excited　neither　surprise　nor　disapprobation　when　encountered　on　the　Rhine　or　at　Zermatt；　either　alone；　or　travelling　with　a　lady　and　two　gentlemen；　it　was　felt　that　she　was　perfectly　capable　of　taking　care　of　herself；　and　the　hearts　of　all　Forsytes　warmed　to　that　wonderful　instinct；　which　enabled　her　to　enjoy　everything　without　giving　anything　away。　　It　was　generally　felt　that　to　such　women　as　Mrs。　MacAnder　should　we　look　for　the　perpetuation　and　increase　of　our　best　type　of　woman。　　She　had　never　had　any　children。

If　there　was　one　thing　more　than　another　that　she　could　not　stand　it　was　one　of　those　soft　women　with　what　men　called　'charm'　about　them；　and　for　Mrs。　Soames　she　always　had　an　especial　dislike。

Obscurely；　no　doubt；　she　felt　that　if　charm　were　once　admitted　as　the　criterion；　smartness　and　capability　must　go　to　the　wall；　and　she　hatedwith　a　hatred　the　deeper　that　at　times　this　so…called　charm　seemed　to　disturb　all　calculationsthe　subtle　seductiveness　which　she　could　not　altogether　overlook　in　Irene。

She　said；　however；　that　she　could　see　nothing　in　the　womanthere　was　no　'go'　about　hershe　would　never　be　able　to　stand　up　for　herselfanyone　could　take　advantage　of　her；　that　was　plainshe　could　not　see　in　fact　what　men　found　to　admire！

She　was　not　really　ill…natured；　but；　in　maintaining　her　position　after　the　trying　circumstances　of　her　married　life；　she　had　found　it　so　necessary　to　be　'full　of　information；'　that　the　idea　of　holding　her　tongue　about　'those　two'　in　the　Park　never　occurred　to　her。

And　it　so　happened　that　she　was　dining　that　very　evening　at　Timothy's；　where　she　went　sometimes　to　'cheer　the　old　things　up；'　as　she　was　wont　to　put　it。　　The　same　people　were　always　asked　to　meet　her：　Winifred　Dartie　and　her　husband；　Francie；　because　she　belonged　to　the　artistic　circles；　for　Mrs。　MacAnder　was　known　to　contribute　articles　on　dress　to　'The　Ladies　Kingdom　Come'；　and　for　her　to　flirt　with；　provided　they　could　be　obtained；　two　of　the　Hayman　boys；　who；　though　they　never　said　anything；　were　believed　to　be　fast　and　thoroughly　intimate　with　all　that　was　latest　in　smart　Society。

At　twenty…five　minutes　past　seven　she　turned　out　the　electric　light　in　her　little　hall；　and　wrapped　in　her　opera　cloak　with　the　chinchilla　collar；　came　out　into　the　corridor；　pausing　a　moment　to　make　sure　she　had　her　latch…key。　　These　little　self…contained　flats　were　convenient；　to　be　sure；　she　had　no　light　and　no　air；　but　she　could　shut　it　up　whenever　she　liked　and　go　away。　　There　was　no　bother　with　servants；　and　she　never　felt　tied　as　she　used　to　when　poor；　dear　Fred　was　always　about；　in　his　mooney　way。　　She　retained　no　rancour　against　poor；　dear　Fred；　he　was　such　a　fool；　but　the　thought　of　that　actress　drew　from　her；　even　now；　a　little；　bitter；　derisive　smile。

Firmly　snapping　the　door　to；　she　crossed　the　corridor；　with　its　gloomy；　yellow…ochre　walls；　and　its　infinite　vista　of　brown；　numbered　doors。　　The　lift　was　going　down；　and　wrapped　to　the　ears　in　the　high　cloak；　with　every　one　of　her　auburn　hairs　in　its　place；　she　waited　motionless　for　it　to　stop　at　her　floor。　　The　iron　gates　clanked　open；　she　entered。　　There　were　already　three　occupants；　a　man　in　a　great　white　waistcoat；　with　a　large；　smooth　face　like　a　baby's；　and　two　old　ladies　in　black；　with　mittened　hands。

Mrs。　MacAnder　smiled　at　them；　she　knew　everybody；　and　all　these　three；　who　had　been　admirably　silent　before；　began　to　talk　at　once。　　This　was　Mrs。　MacAnder's　successful　secret。　　She　provoked　conversation。

Throughout　a　descent　of　five　stories　the　conversation　continued；　the　lift　boy　standing　with　his　back　turned；　his　cynical　face　protruding　through　the　bars。

At　the　bottom　they　separated；　the　man　in　the　white　waistcoat　sentimentally　to　the　billiard　room；　the　old　ladies　to　dine　and　say　to　each　other：　〃A　dear　little　woman！〃　　〃Such　a　rattle！〃　and　Mrs。　MacAnder　to　her　cab。

When　Mrs。　MacAnder　dined　at　Timothy's；　the　conversation　（although　Timothy　himself　could　never　be　induced　to　be　present）　took　that　wider；　man…of…the…world　tone　current　among　Forsytes　at　large；　and　this；　no　doubt；　was　what　put　her　at　a　premium　there。

Mrs。　Small　and　Aunt　Hester　found　it　an　exhilarating　change。　　〃If　only；〃　they　said；　〃Timothy　would　meet　her！〃　　It　was　felt　that　she　would　do　him　good。　　She　could　tell　you；　for　instance；　the　latest　story　of　Sir　Charles　Fiste's　son　at　Monte　Carlo；　who　was　the　real　heroine　of　Tynemouth　Eddy's　fashionable　novel　that　everyone　was　holding　up　their　hands　over；　and　what　they　were　doing　in　Paris　about　wearing　bloomers。　　She　was　so　sensible；　too；　knowing　all　about　that　vexed　question；　whether　to　send　young　Nicholas'　eldest　into　the　navy　as　his　mother　wished；　or　make　him　an　accountant　as　his　father　thought　would　be　safer。　　She　strongly　deprecated　the　navy。　　If　you　were　not　exceptionally　brilliant　or　exceptionally　well　connected；　they　passed　you　over　so　disgracefully；　and　what　was　it　after　all　to　look　forward　to；　even　if　you　became　an　admirala　pittance！　　An　accountant　had　many　more　chances；　but　let　him　be　put　with　a　good　firm；　where　there　was　no　risk　at　starting！

Sometimes　she　would　give　them　a　tip　on　the　Stock　Exchange；　not　that　Mrs。　Small　or　Aunt　Hester　ever　took　it。　　They　had　indeed　no　money　to　invest；　but　it　seemed　to　bring　them　into　such　exciting　touch　with　the　realities　of　life。　　It　was　an　event。　　They　would　ask　Timothy；　they　said。　　But　they　never　did；　knowing　in　advance　that　it　would　upset　him。　　Surreptitiously；　however；　for　weeks　after　they　would　look　in　that　paper；　which　they　took　with　respect　on　account　of　its　really　fashionable　proclivities；　to　see　whether　'Bright's　Rubies'　or　'The　Woollen　Mackintosh　Company'　were　up　or　down。　　Sometimes　they　could　not　find　the　name　of　the　company　at　all；　and　they　would　wait　until　James　or　Roger　or　even　Swithin　came　in；　and　ask　them　in　voices　trembling　with　curiosity　how　that　'Bolivia　Lime　and　Speltrate　was　doingthey　could　not　find　it　in　the　paper。

And　Roger　would　answer：　〃What　do　you　want　to　know　for？　　Some　trash！　　You'll　go　burning　your　fingersinvesting　your　money　in　lime；　and　things　you　know　nothing　about！　　Who　told　you？〃　and　ascertaining　what　they　had　been　told；　he　would　go　away；　and；　making　inquiries　in　the　City；　would　perhaps　invest　some　of　his　own　money　in　the　concern。

It　was　about　the　middle　of　dinner；　just　in　fact　as　the　saddle　of　mutton　had　been　brought　in　by　Smither；　that　Mrs。　MacAnder；　looking　airily　round；　said：　〃Oh！　and　whom　do　you　think　I　passed　to…day　in　Richmond　Park？　　You'll　never　guessMrs。　Soames　and　Mr。　Bosinney。　　They　must　have　been　down　to　look　at　the　house！〃

Winifred　Dartie　coughed；　and　no　one　said　a　word。　　It　was　the　piece　of　evidence　they　had　all　unconsciously　been　waiting　for。

To　do　Mrs。　MacAnder　justice；　she　had　been　to　Switzerland　and　the　Italian　lakes　with　a　party　of　three；　and　had　not　heard　of　Soames'　rupture　with　his　architect。　　She　could　not　tell；　therefore；　the　profound　impression　her　words　would　make。

Upright　and　a　little　flushed；　she　moved　her　small；　shrewd　eyes　from　face　to　face；　trying　to　gauge　the　effect　of　her　words。　　On　either　side　of　her　a　Hayman　boy；　his　lean；　taciturn；　hungry　face　turned　towards　his　plate；　ate　his　mutton　steadily。

These　two；　Giles　and　Jesse；　were　so　alike　and　so　inseparable　that　they　were　known　as　the　Dromios。　　They　never　talked；　and　seemed　always　completely　occupied　in　doing　nothing。　　It　was　popularly　supposed　that　they　were　cramming　for　an　important　examination。　They　walked　without　hats　for　long　hours　in　the　Gardens　attached　to　their　house；　books　in　their　hands；　a　fox…terrier　at　their　heels；　never　saying　a　word；　and　smoking　all　the　time。　　Every　morning；　about　fifty　yards　apart；　they　trotted　down　Campden　Hill　on　two　lean　hacks；　with　legs　as　long　as　their　own；　and　every　morning　about　an　hour　later；　still　fifty　yards　apart；　they　cantered　up　again。　　Every　evening；　wherever　they　had　dined；　they　might　be　observed　about　half…past　ten；　leaning　over　the　balustrade　of　the　Alhambra　promenade。

They　were　never　seen　otherwise　than　together；　in　this　way　passing　their　lives；　apparently　perfectly　content。

Inspired　by　some　dumb　stirring　within　them　of　the　feelings　of　gentlemen；　they　turned　at　this　painful　moment　to　Mrs。　MacAnder；　and　said　in　precisely　the　same　voice：　〃Have　you　seen　the。。。？〃

Such　was　her　surprise　at　being　thus　addressed　that　she　put　down　her　fork；　and　Smither；　who　was　passing；　promptly　removed　her　plate。　　Mrs。　MacAnder；　however；　with　presence　of　mind；　said　instantly：　〃I　must　have　a　little　more　of　that　nice　mutton。〃

But　afterwards　in　the　drawingroom　she　sat　down　by　Mrs。　Small；　determined　to　get　to　the　bottom　of　the　matter。　　And　she　began：

〃What　a　charming　woman；　Mrs。　Soames；　such　a　sympathetic　temperament！　　Soames　is　a　really　lucky　man！〃

Her　anxiety　for　information　had　not　made　sufficient　allowance　for　that　inner　Forsyte　skin　which　refuses　to　share　its　troubles　with　outsiders。

Mrs。　Septimus　Small；　drawing　herself　up　with　a　creak　and　rustle　of　her　whole　person；　said；　shivering　in　her　dignity：

〃My　dear；　it　is　a　subject　we　do　not　talk　about！〃




CHAPTER　II

NIGHT　IN　THE　PARK


Although　with　her　infallible　instinct　Mrs。　Small　had　said　the　very　thing　to　make　her　guest　'more　intriguee　than　ever；'　it　is　difficult　to　see　how　else　she　could　truthfully　have　spoken。

It　was　not　a　subject　which　the　Forsytes　could　talk　about　even　among　themselvesto　use　the　word　Soames　had　invented　to　characterize　to　himself　the　situation；　it　was　'subterranean。'

Yet；　within　a　week　of　Mrs。　MacAnder's　encounter　in　Richmond　Park；　to　all　of　themsave　Timothy；　from　whom　it　was　carefully　keptto　James　on　his　domestic　beat　from　the　Poultry　to　Park　Lane；　to　George　the　wild　one；　on　his　daily　adventure　from　the　bow　window　at　the　Haversnake　to　the　billiard　room　at　the　'Red　Pottle；'　was　it　known　that　'those　two'　had　gone　to　extremes。

George　（it　was　he　who　invented　many　of　those　striking　expressions　still　current　in　fashionable　circles）　voiced　the　sentiment　more　accurately　than　any　one　when　he　said　to　his　brother　Eustace　that　'the　Buccaneer'　was　'going　it'；　he　expected　Soames　was　about　'fed　up。'

It　was　felt　that　he　must　be；　and　yet；　what　could　be　done？　　He　ought　perhaps　to　take　steps；　but　to　take　steps　would　be　deplorable。

Without　an　open　scandal　which　they　could　not　see　their　way　to　recommending；　it　was　difficult　to　see　what　steps　could　be　taken。　In　this　impasse；　the　only　thing　was　to　say　nothing　to　Soames；　and　nothing　to　each　other；　in　fact；　to　pass　it　over。

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