man of property-第52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！


ng　Bosinney；　that's　where　she's　gone。　　I　knew　how　it　would　be。〃

Soames；　in　the　long　silence　that　followed；　felt　his　mother　pressing　his　hand。　　And　all　that　passed　seemed　to　pass　as　though　his　own　power　of　thinking　or　doing　had　gone　to　sleep。

His　father's　face；　dusky　red；　twitching　as　if　he　were　going　to　cry；　and　words　breaking　out　that　seemed　rent　from　him　by　some　spasm　in　his　soul。

〃There'll　be　a　scandal；　I　always　said　so。〃　　Then；　no　one　saying　anything：　〃And　there　you　stand；　you　and　your　mother！〃

And　Emily's　voice；　calm；　rather　contemptuous：　〃Come；　now；　James！　Soames　will　do　all　that　he　can。〃

And　James；　staring　at　the　floor；　a　little　brokenly：　〃Well；　I　can't　help　you；　I'm　getting　old。　　Don't　you　be　in　too　great　a　hurry；　my　boy。〃

And　his　mother's　voice　again：　〃Soames　will　do　all　he　can　to　get　her　back。　　We　won't　talk　of　it。　　It'll　all　come　right；　I　dare　say。〃

And　James：　〃Well；　I　can't　see　how　it　can　come　right。　　And　if　she　hasn't　gone　off　with　that　young　Bosinney；　my　advice　to　you　is　not　to　listen　to　her；　but　to　follow　her　and　get　her　back。〃

Once　more　Soames　felt　his　mother　stroking　his　hand；　in　token　of　her　approval；　and　as　though　repeating　some　form　of　sacred　oath；　he　muttered　between　his　teeth：　〃I　will！〃

All　three　went　down　to　the　drawing…room　together。　　There；　were　gathered　the　three　girls　and　Dartie；　had　Irene　been　present；　the　family　circle　would　have　been　complete。

James　sank　into　his　armchair；　and　except　for　a　word　of　cold　greeting　to　Dartie；　whom　he　both　despised　and　dreaded；　as　a　man　likely　to　be　always　in　want　of　money；　he　said　nothing　till　dinner　was　announced。　　Soames；　too；　was　silent；　Emily　alone；　a　woman　of　cool　courage；　maintained　a　conversation　with　Winifred　on　trivial　subjects。　　She　was　never　more　composed　in　her　manner　and　conversation　than　that　evening。

A　decision　having　been　come　to　not　to　speak　of　Irene's　flight；　no　view　was　expressed　by　any　other　member　of　the　family　as　to　the　right　course　to　be　pursued；　there　can　be　little　doubt；　from　the　general　tone　adopted　in　relation　to　events　as　they　afterwards　turned　out；　that　James's　advice：　〃Don't　you　listen　to　her；　follow…her　and　get　her　back！〃　would；　with　here　and　there　an　exception；　have　been　regarded　as　sound；　not　only　in　Park　Lane；　but　amongst　the　Nicholases；　the　Rogers；　and　at　Timothy's。　　Just　as　it　would　surely　have　been　endorsed　by　that　wider　body　of　Forsytes　all　over　London；　who　were　merely　excluded　from　judgment　by　ignorance　of　the　story。

In　spite　then　of　Emily's　efforts；　the　dinner　was　served　by　Warmson　and　the　footman　almost　in　silence。　　Dartie　was　sulky；　and　drank　all　he　could　get；　the　girls　seldom　talked　to　each　other　at　any　time。　　James　asked　once　where　June　was；　and　what　she　was　doing　with　herself　in　these　days。　　No　one　could　tell　him。　　He　sank　back　into　gloom。　　Only　when　Winifred　recounted　how　little　Publius　had　given　his　bad　penny　to　a　beggar；　did　he　brighten　up。

〃Ah！〃　he　said；　〃that's　a　clever　little　chap。　　I　don't　know　what'll　become　of　him；　if　he　goes　on　like　this。　　An　intelligent　little　chap；　I　call　him！〃　But　it　was　only　a　flash。

The　courses　succeeded　one　another　solemnly；　under　the　electric　light；　which　glared　down　onto　the　table；　but　barely　reached　the　principal　ornament　of　the　walls；　a　so…called　'Sea　Piece　by　Turner；'　almost　entirely　composed　of　cordage　and　drowning　men。

Champagne　was　handed；　and　then　a　bottle　of　James'　prehistoric　port；　but　as　by　the　chill　hand　of　some　skeleton。

At　ten　o'clock　Soames　left；　twice　in　reply　to　questions；　he　had　said　that　Irene　was　not　well；　he　felt　he　could　no　longer　trust　himself。　　His　mother　kissed　him　with　her　large　soft　kiss；　and　he　pressed　her　hand；　a　flush　of　warmth　in　his　cheeks。　　He　walked　away　in　the　cold　wind；　which　whistled　desolately　round　the　corners　of　the　streets；　under　a　sky　of　clear　steel…blue；　alive　with　stars；　he　noticed　neither　their　frosty　greeting；　nor　the　crackle　of　the　curled…up　plane…leaves；　nor　the　night…women　hurrying　in　their　shabby　furs；　nor　the　pinched　faces　of　vagabonds　at　street　corners。　　Winter　was　come！　　But　Soames　hastened　home；　oblivious；　his　hands　trembled　as　he　took　the　late　letters　from　the　gilt　wire　cage　into　which　they　had　been　thrust　through　the　slit　in　the　door。'

None　from　Irene！

He　went　into　the　dining…room；　the　fire　was　bright　there；　his　chair　drawn　up　to　it；　slippers　ready；　spirit　case；　and　carven　cigarette　box　on　the　table；　but　after　staring　at　it　all　for　a　minute　or　two；　he　turned　out　the　light　and　went　upstairs。　There　was　a　fire　too　in　his　dressing…room；　but　her　room　was　dark　and　cold。　　It　was　into　this　room　that　Soames　went。

He　made　a　great　illumination　with　candles；　and　for　a　long　time　continued　pacing　up　and　down　between　the　bed　and　the　door。　　He　could　not　get　used　to　the　thought　that　she　had　really　left　him；　and　as　though　still　searching　for　some　message；　some　reason；　some　reading　of　all　the　mystery　of　his　married　life；　he　began　opening　every　recess　and　drawer。

There　were　her　dresses；　he　had　always　liked；　indeed　insisted；　that　she　should　be　well…dressedshe　had　taken　very　few；　two　or　three　at　most；　and　drawer　after　drawer；　full　of　linen　and　silk　things；　was　untouched。

Perhaps　after　all　it　was　only　a　freak；　and　she　had　gone　to　the　seaside　for　a　few　days'　change。　　If　only　that　were　so；　and　she　were　really　coming　back；　he　would　never　again　do　as　he　had　done　that　fatal　night　before　last；　never　again　run　that　riskthough　it　was　her　duty；　her　duty　as　a　wife；　though　she　did　belong　to　himhe　would　never　again　run　that　risk；　she　was　evidently　not　quite　right　in　her　head！

He　stooped　over　the　drawer　where　she　kept　her　jewels；　it　was　not　locked；　and　came　open　as　he　pulled；　the　jewel　box　had　the　key　in　it。　　This　surprised　him　until　he　remembered　that　it　was　sure　to　be　empty。　　He　opened　it。

It　was　far　from　empty。　　Divided；　in　little　green　velvet　compartments；　were　all　the　things　he　had　given　her；　even　her　watch；　and　stuck　into　the　recess　that　containedthe　watch　was　a　three…cornered　note　addressed　'Soames　Forsyte；'　in　Irene's　handwriting：

'I　think　I　have　taken　nothing　that　you　or　your　people　have　given　me。'　　And　that　was　all。

He　looked　at　the　clasps　and　bracelets　of　diamonds　and　pearls；　at　the　little　flat　gold　watch　with　a　great　diamond　set　in　sapphires；　at　the　chains　and　rings；　each　in　its　nest；　and　the　tears　rushed　up　in　his　eyes　and　dropped　upon　them。

Nothing　that　she　could　have　done；　nothing　that　she　had　done；　brought　home　to　him　like　this　the　inner　significance　of　her　act。　For　the　moment；　perhaps；　he　understood　nearly　all　there　was　to　understandunderstood　that　she　loathed　him；　that　she　had　loathed　him　for　years；　that　for　all　intents　and　purposes　they　were　like　people　living　in　different　worlds；　that　there　was　no　hope　for　him；　never　had　been；　even；　that　she　had　sufferedthat　she　was　to　be　pitied。

In　that　moment　of　emotion　he　betrayed　the　Forsyte　in　himforgot　himself；　his　interests；　his　propertywas　capable　of　almost　anything；　was　lifted　into　the　pure　ether　of　the　selfless　and　unpractical。

Such　moments　pass　quickly。

And　as　though　with　the　tears　he　had　purged　himself　of　weakness；　he　got　up；　locked　the　box；　and　slowly；　almost　trembling；　carried　it　with　him　into　the　other　room。




CHAPTER　VII

JUNE'S　VICTORY


June　had　waited　for　her　chance；　scanning　the　duller　columns　of　the　journals；　morning　and　evening　with　an　assiduity　which　at　first　puzzled　old　Jolyon；　and　when　her　chance　came；　she　took　it　with　all　the　promptitude　and　resolute　tenacity　of　her　character。

She　will　always　remember　best　in　her　life　that　morning　when　at　last　she　saw　amongst　the　reliable　Cause　List　of　the　Times　newspaper；　under　the　heading　of　Court　XIII；　Mr。　Justice　Bentham；　the　case　of　Forsyte　v。　Bosinney。

Like　a　gambler　who　stakes　his　last　piece　of　money；　she　had　prepared　to　hazard　her　all　upon　this　throw；　it　was　not　her　nature　to　contemplate　defeat。　　How；　unless　with　the　instinct　of　a　woman　in　love；　she　knew　that　Bosinney's　discomfiture　in　this　action　was　assured；　cannot　be　toldon　this　assumption；　however；　she　laid　her　plans；　as　upon　a　certainty。

Half　past　eleven　found　her　at　watch　in　the　gallery　of　Court　XIII。；　and　there　she　remained　till　the　case　of　Forsyte　v。　Bosinney　was　over。　　Bosinney's　absence　did　not　disquiet　her；　she　had　felt　instinctively　that　he　would　not　defend　himself。　　At　the　end　of　the　judgment　she　hastened　down；　and　took　a　cab　to　his　rooms。

She　passed　the　open　street…door　and　the　offices　on　the　three　lower　floors　without　attracting　notice；　not　till　she　reached　the　top　did　her　difficulties　begin。

Her　ring　was　not　answered；　she　had　now　to　make　up　her　mind　whether　she　would　go　down　and　ask　the　caretaker　in　the　basement　to　let　her　in　to　await　Mr。　Bosinney's　return；　or　remain　patiently　outside　the　door；　trusting　that　no　one　would；　come　up。　　She　decided　on　the　latter　course。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　had　passed　in　freezing　vigil　on　the　landing；　before　it　occurred　to　her　that　Bosinney　had　been　used　to　leave　the　key　of　his　rooms　under　the　door…mat。　　She　looked　and　found　it　there。　　For　some　minutes　she　could　not　decide　to　make　use　of　it；　at　last　she　let　herself　in　and　left　the　door　open　that　anyone　who　came　might　see　she　was　there　on　business。

This　was　not　the　same　June　who　had　paid　the　trembling　visit　five　months　ago；　those　months　of　suffering　and　restraint　had　made　her　less　sensitive；　she　had　dwelt　on　this　visit　so　long；　with　such　minuteness；　that　its　terrors　were　discounted　beforehand。　　She　was　not　there　to　fail　this　time；　for　if　she　failed　no　one　could　help　her。

Like　some　mother　beast　on　the　watch　over　her　young；　her　little　quick　figure　never　stood　still　in　that　room；　but　wandered　from　wall　to　wall；　from　window　to　door；　fingering　now　one　thing；　now　another。　　There　was　dust　everywhere；　the　room　could　not　have　been　cleaned　for　weeks；　and　June；　quick　to　catch　at　anything　that　should　buoy　up　her　hope；　saw　in　it　a　sign　that　he　had　been　obliged；　for　economy's　sake；　to　give　up　his　servant。

She　looked　into　the　bedroom；　the　bed　was　roughly　made；　as　though　by　the　hand　of　man。　　Listening　intently；　she　darted　in；　and　peered　into　his　cupboards。　　A　few　shirts　and　collars；　a　pair　of　muddy　bootsthe　room　was　bare　even　of　garments。

She　stole　back　to　the　sitting…room；　and　now　she　noticed　the　absence　of　all　the　little　things　he　had　set　store　by。　　The　clock　that　had　been　his　mother's；　the　field…glasses　that　had　hung　over　the　sofa；　two　really　valuable　old　prints　of　Harrow；　where　his　father　had　been　at　school；　and　last；　not　least；　the　piece　of　Japanese　pottery　she　herself　had　given　him。　　All　were　gone；　and　in　spite　of　the　rage　roused　within　her　championing　soul　at　the　thought　that　the　world　should　treat　him　thus；　their　disappearance　augured　happily　for　the　success　of　her　plan。

It　was　while　looking　at　the　spot　where　the　piece　of　Japanese　pottery　had　stood　that　she　felt　a　strange　certainty　of　being　watched；　and；　turning；　saw　Irene　in　the　open　doorway。

The　two　stood　gazing　at　each　other　for　a　minute　in　silence；　then　June　walked　forward　and　held　out　her　hand。　　Irene　did　not　take　it。

When　her　hand　was　refused；　June　put　it　behind　her。　　Her　eyes　grew　steady　with　anger；　she　waited　for　Irene　to　speak；　and　thus　waiting；　took　in；　with　who…knows…what　rage　of　jealousy；　suspicion；　and　curiosity；　every　detail　of　her　frie