man of property-第53章

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g；　took　in；　with　who…knows…what　rage　of　jealousy；　suspicion；　and　curiosity；　every　detail　of　her　friend's　face　and　dress　and　figure。

Irene　was　clothed　in　her　long　grey　fur；　the　travelling　cap　on　her　head　left　a　wave　of　gold　hair　visible　above　her　forehead。　　The　soft　fullness　of　the　coat　made　her　face　as　small　as　a　child's。

Unlike　June's　cheeks；　her　cheeks　had　no　colour　in　them；　but　were　ivory　white　and　pinched　as　if　with　cold。　　Dark　circles　lay　round　her　eyes。　　In　one　hand　she　held　a　bunch　of　violets。

She　looked　back　at　June；　no　smile　on　her　lips；　and　with　those　great　dark　eyes　fastened　on　her；　the　girl；　for　all　her　startled　anger；　felt　something　of　the　old　spell。

She　spoke　first；　after　all。

〃What　have　you　come　for？〃　　But　the　feeling　that　she　herself　was　being　asked　the　same　question；　made　her　add：　〃This　horrible　case。　I　came　to　tell　himhe　has　lost　it。〃

Irene　did　not　speak；　her　eyes　never　moved　from　June's　face；　and　the　girl　cried：

〃Don't　stand　there　as　if　you　were　made　of　stone！〃

Irene　laughed：　〃I　wish　to　God　I　were！〃

But　June　turned　away：　〃Stop！〃　she　cried；　〃don't　tell　me！　　I　don't　want　to　hear！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　what　you've　come　for。　　I　don't　want　to　hear！〃　And　like　some　uneasy　spirit；　she　began　swiftly　walking　to　and　fro。　　Suddenly　she　broke　out：

〃I　was　here　first。　　We　can't　both　stay　here　together！〃

On　Irene's　face　a　smile　wandered　up；　and　died　out　like　a　flicker　of　firelight。　　She　did　not　move。　　And　then　it　was　that　June　perceived　under　the　softness　arid　immobility　of　this　figure　something　desperate　and　resolved；　something　not　to　be　turned　away；　something　dangerous。　　She　tore　off　her　hat；　and；　putting　both　hands　to　her　brow；　pressed　back　the　bronze　mass　of　her　hair。

〃You　have　no　right　here！〃　she　cried　defiantly。

Irene　answered：　〃I　have　no　right　anywhere！

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　have　left　Soames。　　You　always　wanted　me　to！〃

June　put　her　hands　over　her　ears。

〃Don't！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　anythingI　don't　want　to　know　anything。　　It's　impossible　to　fight　with　you！　　What　makes　you　stand　like　that？　　Why　don't　you　go？〃

Irene's　lips　moved；　she　seemed　to　be　saying：　〃Where　should　I　go？〃

June　turned　to　the　window。　　She　could　see　the　face　of　a　clock　down　in　the　street。　　It　was　nearly　four。　　At　any　moment　he　might　come！　　She　looked　back　across　her　shoulder；　and　her　face　was　distorted　with　anger。

But　Irene　had　not　moved；　in　her　gloved　hands　she　ceaselessly　turned　and　twisted　the　little　bunch　of　violets。

The　tears　of　rage　and　disappointment　rolled　down　June's　cheeks。

〃How　could　you　come？〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　been　a　false　friend　to　me！〃

Again　Irene　laughed。　　June　saw　that　she　had　played　a　wrong　card；　and　broke　down。

〃Why　have　you　come？〃　she　sobbed。　　〃You've　ruined　my　life；　and　now　you　want　to　ruin　his！〃

Irene's　mouth　quivered；　her　eyes　met　June's　with　a　look　so　mournful　that　the　girl　cried　out　in　the　midst　of　her　sobbing；　〃No；　no！〃

But　Irene's　head　bent　till　it　touched　her　breast。　　She　turned；　and　went　quickly　out；　hiding　her　lips　with　the　little　bunch　of　violets。

June　ran　to　the　door。　　She　heard　the　footsteps　going　down　and　down。　　She　called　out：　〃Come　back；　Irene！　　Come　back！〃

The　footsteps　died　away。。。。

Bewildered　and　torn；　the　girl　stood　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Why　had　Irene　gone；　leaving　her　mistress　of　the　field？　　What　did　it　mean？　　Had　she　really　given　him　up　to　her？　　Or　had　she。。。？　And　she　was　the　prey　of　a　gnawing　uncertainty。。。。　　Bosinney　did　not　come。。。。

About　six　o'clock　that　afternoon　old　Jolyon　returned　from　Wistaria　Avenue；　where　now　almost　every　day　he　spent　some　hours；　and　asked　if　his　grand…daughter　were　upstairs。　　On　being　told　that　she　had　just　come　in；　he　sent　up　to　her　room　to　request　her　to　come　down　and　speak　to　him。

He　had　made　up　his　mind　to　tell　her　that　he　was　reconciled　with　her　father。　　In　future　bygones　must　be　bygones。　　He　would　no　longer　live　alone；　or　practically　alone；　in　this　great　house；　he　was　going　to　give　it　up；　and　take　one　in　the　country　for　his　son；　where　they　could　all　go　and　live　together。　　If　June　did　not　like　this；　she　could　have　an　allowance　and　live　by　herself。　　It　wouldn't　make　much　difference　to　her；　for　it　was　a　long　time　since　she　had　shown　him　any　affection。

But　when　June　came　down；　her　face　was　pinched　and　piteous；　there　was　a　strained；　pathetic　look　in　her　eyes。　　She　snuggled　up　in　her　old　attitude　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；　and　what　he　said　compared　but　poorly　with　the　clear；　authoritative；　injured　statement　he　had　thought　out　with　much　care。　　His　heart　felt　sore；　as　the　great　heart　of　a　mother…bird　feels　sore　when　its　youngling　flies　and　bruises　its　wing。　　His　words　halted；　as　though　he　were　apologizing　for　having　at　last　deviated　from　the　path　of　virtue；　and　succumbed；　in　defiance　of　sounder　principles；　to　his　more　natural　instincts。

He　seemed　nervous　lest；　in　thus　announcing　his　intentions；　he　should　be　setting　his　granddaughter　a　bad　example；　and　now　that　he　came　to　the　point；　his　way　of　putting　the　suggestion　that；　if　she　didn't　like　it；　she　could　live　by　herself　and　lump　it；　was　delicate　in　the　extreme。'

〃And　if；　by　any　chance；　my　darling；〃　he　said；　〃you　found　you　didn't　get　onwith　them；　why；　I　could　make　that　all　right。　　You　could　have　what　you　liked。　　We　could　find　a　little　flat　in　London　where　you　could　set　up；　and　I　could　be　running　to　continually。　But　the　children；〃　he　added；　〃are　dear　little　things！〃

Then；　in　the　midst　of　this　grave；　rather　transparent；　explanation　of　changed　policy；　his　eyes　twinkled。　　〃This'll　astonish　Timothy's　weak　nerves。　　That　precious　young　thing　will　have　something　to　say　about　this；　or　I'm　a　Dutchman！〃

June　had　not　yet　spoken。　　Perched　thus　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；　with　her　head　above　him；　her　face　was　invisible。　　But　presently　he　felt　her　warm　cheek　against　his　own；　and　knew　that；　at　all　events；　there　was　nothing　very　alarming　in　her　attitude　towards　his　news。　　He　began　to　take　courage。

〃You'll　like　your　father；〃　he　said〃an　amiable　chap。　　Never　was　much　push　about　him；　but　easy　to　get　on　with。　　You'll　find　him　artistic　and　all　that。〃

And　old　Jolyon　bethought　him　of　the　dozen　or　so　water…colour　drawings　all　carefully　locked　up　in　his　bedroom；　for　now　that　his　son　was　going　to　become　a　man　of　property　he　did　not　think　them　quite　such　poor　things　as　heretofore。

〃As　to　youryour　stepmother；〃　he　said；　using　the　word　with　some　little　difficulty；　〃I　call　her　a　refined　womana　bit　of　a　Mrs。　Gummidge；　I　shouldn't　wonderbut　very　fond　of　Jo。　　And　the　children；〃　he　repeatedindeed；　this　sentence　ran　like　music　through　all　his　solemn　self…justification〃are　sweet　little　things！〃

If　June　had　known；　those　words　but　reincarnated　that　tender　love　for　little　children；　for　the　young　and　weak；　which　in　the　past　had　made　him　desert　his　son　for　her　tiny　self；　and　now；　as　the　cycle　rolled；　was　taking　him　from　her。

But　he　began　to　get　alarmed　at　her　silence；　and　asked　impatiently：　〃Well；　what　do　you　say？〃

June　slid　down　to　his　knee；　and　she　in　her　turn　began　her　tale。　She　thought　it　would　all　go　splendidly；　she　did　not　see　any　difficulty；　and　she　did　not　care　a　bit　what　people　thought。

Old　Jolyon　wriggled。　　H'm！　then　people　would　think！　　He　had　thought　that　after　all　these　years　perhaps　they　wouldn't！　　Well；　he　couldn't　help　it！　　Nevertheless；　he　could　not　approve　of　his　granddaughter's　way　of　putting　itshe　ought　to　mind　what　people　thought！

Yet　he　said　nothing。　　His　feelings　were　too　mixed；　too　inconsistent　for　expression。

Nowent　on　June　he　did　not　care；　what　business　was　it　of　theirs？　There　was　only　one　thingand　with　her　cheek　pressing　against　his　knee；　old　Jolyon　knew　at　once　that　this　something　was　no　trifle：　As　he　was　going　to　buy　a　house　in　the　country；　would　he　notto　please　herbuy　that　splendid　house　of　Soames'　at　Robin　Hill？　　It　was　finished；　it　was　perfectly　beautiful；　and　no　one　would　live　in　it　now。　　They　would　all　be　so　happy　there。

Old　Jolyon　was　on　the　alert　at　once。　　Wasn't　the　'man　of　property'　going　to　live　in　his　new　house；　then？　　He　never　alluded　to　Soames　now　but　under　this　title。

〃No〃June　said〃he　was　not；　she　knew　that　he　was　not！〃

How　did　she　know？

She　could　not　tell　him；　but　she　knew。　　She　knew　nearly　for　certain！　　It　was　most　unlikely；　circumstances　had　changed！　Irene's　words　still　rang　in　her　head：　〃I　have　left　Soames。　Where　should　I　go？〃

But　she　kept　silence　about　that。

If　her　grandfather　would　only　buy　it　and　settle　that　wretched　claim　that　ought　never　to　have　been　made　on　Phil！　　It　would　be　the　very　best　thing　for　everybody；　and　everythingeverything　might　come　straight

And　June　put　her　lips　to　his　forehead；　and　pressed　them　close。

But　old　Jolyon　freed　himself　from　her　caress；　his　face　wore　the　judicial　look　which　came　upon　it　when　he　dealt　with　affairs。　　He　asked：　What　did　she　mean？　　There　was　something　behind　all　this　had　she　been　seeing　Bosinney？

June　answered：　〃No；　but　I　have　been　to　his　rooms。〃

〃Been　to　his　rooms？　　Who　took　you　there？〃

June　faced　him　steadily。　　〃I　went　alone。　　He　has　lost　that　case。　I　don't　care　whether　it　was　right　or　wrong。　　I　want　to　help　him；　and　I　will！〃

Old　Jolyon　asked　again：　〃Have　you　seen　him？〃　His　glance　seemed　to　pierce　right　through　the　girl's　eyes　into　her　soul。

Again　June　answered：　〃No；　he　was　not　there。　　I　waited；　but　he　did　not　come。〃

Old　Jolyon　made　a　movement　of　relief。　　She　had　risen　and　looked　down　at　him；　so　slight；　and　light；　and　young；　but　so　fixed；　and　so　determined；　and　disturbed；　vexed；　as　he　was；　he　could　not　frown　away　that　fixed　look。　　The　feeling　of　being　beaten；　of　the　reins　having　slipped；　of　being　old　and　tired；　mastered　him。

〃Ah！〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you'll　get　yourself　into　a　mess　one　of　these　days；　I　can　see。　　You　want　your　own　way　in　everything。〃

Visited　by　one　of　his　strange　bursts　of　philosophy；　he　added：　〃Like　that　you　were　born；　and　like　that　you'll　stay　until　you　die！〃

And　he；　who　in　his　dealings　with　men　of　business；　with　Boards；　with　Forsytes　of　all　descriptions；　with　such　as　were　not　Forsytes；　had　always　had　his　own　way；　looked　at　his　indomitable　grandchild　sadlyfor　he　felt　in　her　that　quality　which　above　all　others　he　unconsciously　admired。

〃Do　you　know　what　they　say　is　going　on？〃　he　said　slowly。

June　crimsoned。

〃Yesno！　　I　knowand　I　don't　knowI　don't　care！〃　and　she　stamped　her　foot。

〃I　believe；〃　said　old　Jolyon；　dropping　his　eyes；　〃that　you'd　have　him　if　he　were　dead！'

There　was　a　long　silence　before　he　spoke　again。

〃But　as　to　buying　this　houseyou　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about！〃

June　said　that　she　did。　　She　knew　that　he　could　get　it　if　he　wanted。　　He　would　only　have　to　give　what　it　cost。

〃What　it　cost！　　You　know　nothing　about　it。　　I　won't　go　to　Soames…　I'll　have　nothing　more　to　do　with　that　young　man。〃

〃But　you　needn't；　you　can　go　to　Uncle　James。　　If　you　can't　buy　the　house；　will　you　pay　his　lawsuit　claim？　　I　know　he　is　terribly　hard　upI've　seen　it。　　You　can　stop　it　out　of　my　money！〃

A　twinkle　came　into　old　Jolyon's　eyes。

〃Stop　it　out　of　your　money！　　A　pretty　way

And　what　will　you　do；　pray；　without　your　money？〃

But　secretly；　the　idea　of　wresting　the　house　from　James　and　his　son　had　begun　to　take　hold　of　him。　　He　had　heard　on　Forsyte　'Change　much　comment；　much　rather　dou