man of property-第9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！


longing　in　fibre　and　instincts　to　that　great　class　which　believes　in　nourishment　and　flavour；　and　yields　to　no　sentimental　craving　for　beauty。

Younger　members　of　the　family　indeed　would　have　done　without　a　joint　altogether；　preferring　guinea…fowl；　or　lobster　salad　something　which　appealed　to　the　imagination；　and　had　less　nourishmentbut　these　were　females；　or；　if　not；　had　been　corrupted　by　their　wives；　or　by　mothers；　who　having　been　forced　to　eat　saddle　of　mutton　throughout　their　married　lives；　had　passed　a　secret　hostility　towards　it　into　the　fibre　of　their　sons。

The　great　saddle…of…mutton　controversy　at　an　end；　a　Tewkesbury　ham　commenced；　together　with　the　least　touch　of　West　Indian　Swithin　was　so　long　over　this　course　that　he　caused　a　block　in　the　progress　of　the　dinner。　　To　devote　himself　to　it　with　better　heart；　he　paused　in　his　conversation。

》From　his　seat　by　Mrs。　Septimus　Small　Soames　was　watching。　　He　had　a　reason　of　his　own　connected　with　a　pet　building　scheme；　for　observing　Bosinney。　　The　architect　might　do　for　his　purpose；　he　looked　clever；　as　he　sat　leaning　back　in　his　chair；　moodily　making　little　ramparts　with　bread…crumbs。　　Soames　noted　his　dress　clothes　to　be　well　cut；　but　too　small；　as　though　made　many　years　ago。

He　saw　him　turn　to　Irene　and　say　something　and　her　face　sparkle　as　he　often　saw　it　sparkle　at　other　peoplenever　at　himself。　　He　tried　to　catch　what　they　were　saying；　but　Aunt　Juley　was　speaking。

Hadn't　that　always　seemed　very　extraordinary　to　Soames？　　Only　last　Sunday　dear　Mr。　Scole；　had　been　so　witty　in　his　sermon；　so　sarcastic；　〃For　what；〃　he　had　said；　〃shall　it　profit　a　mar　if　he　gain　his　own　soul；　but　lose　all　his　property？〃　　That；　he　had　said；　was　the　motto　of　the　middle…class；　now；　what　had　he　meant　by　that？　　Of　course；　it　might　be　what　middle…class　people　believedshe　didn't　know；　what　did　Soames　think？

He　answered　abstractedly：　〃How　should　I　know？　　Scoles　is　a　humbug；　though；　isn't　he？〃　　For　Bosinney　was　looking　round　the　table；　as　if　pointing　out　the　peculiarities　of　the　guests；　and　Soames　wondered　what　he　was　saying。　　By　her　smile　Irene　was　evidently　agreeing　with　his　remarks。　　She　seemed　always　to　agree　with　other　people。

Her　eyes　were　turned　on　himself；　Soames　dropped　his　glance　at　once。　　The　smile　had　died　off　her　lips。

A　humbug？　　But　what　did　Soames　mean？　　If　Mr。　Scoles　was　a　humbug；　a　clergymanthen　anybody　might　beit　was　frightful！

〃Well；　and　so　they　are！〃　said　Soames。

During　Aunt　Juley's　momentary　and　horrified　silence　he　caught　some　words　of　Irene's　that　sounded　like：　'Abandon　hope；　all　ye　who　enter　here！'

But　Swithin　had　finished　his　ham。

〃Where　do　you　go　for　your　mushrooms？〃　he　was　saying　to　Irene　in　a　voice　like　a　courtier's；　〃you　ought　to　go　to　Smileybob's　he'll　give　'em　you　fresh。　　These　little　men；　they　won't　take　the　trouble！〃

Irene　turned　to　answer　him；　and　Soames　saw　Bosinney　watching　her　and　smiling　to　himself。　　A　curious　smile　the　fellow　had。　　A　half…simple　arrangement；　like　a　child　who　smiles　when　he　is　pleased。　　As　for　George's　nickname'The　Buccaneer'he　did　not　think　much　of　that。　　And；　seeing　Bosinney　turn　to　June；　Soames　smiled　too；　but　sardonicallyhe　did　not　like　June；　who　was　not　looking　too　pleased。

This　was　not　surprising；　for　she　had　just　held　the　following　conversation　with　James：

〃I　stayed　on　the　river　on　my　way　home；　Uncle　James；　and　saw　a　beautiful　site　for　a　house。〃

James；　a　slow　and　thorough　eater；　stopped　the　process　of　mastication。

〃Eh？〃　he　said。　　〃Now；　where　was　that？〃

〃Close　to　Pangbourne。〃

James　placed　a　piece　of　ham　in　his　mouth；　and　June　waited。

〃I　suppose　you　wouldn't　know　whether　the　land　about　there　was　freehold？〃　he　asked　at　last。　　〃You　wouldn't　know　anything　about　the　price　of　land　about　there？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　June；　〃I　made　inquiries。〃　Her　little　resolute　face　under　its　copper　crown　was　suspiciously　eager　and　aglow。

James　regarded　her　with　the　air　of　an　inquisitor。

〃What？　　You're　not　thinking　of　buying　land！〃　he　ejaculated；　dropping　his　fork。

June　was　greatly　encouraged　by　his　interest。　　It　had　long　been　her　pet　plan　that　her　uncles　should　benefit　themselves　and　Bosinney　by　building　country…houses。

〃Of　course　not；〃　she　said。　　〃I　thought　it　would　be　such　a　splendid　place　foryou　orsomeone　to　build　a　country…house！〃

James　looked　at　her　sideways；　and　placed　a　second　piece　of　ham　in　his　mouth。。。。

〃Land　ought　to　be　very　dear　about　there；〃　be　said。

What　June　had　taken　for　personal　interest　was　only　the　impersonal　excitement　of　every　Forsyte　who　hears　of　something　eligible　in　danger　of　passing　into　other　hands。　　But　she　refused　to　see　the　disappearance　of　her　chance；　and　continued　to　press　her　point。

〃You　ought　to　go　into　the　country；　Uncle　James。　　I　wish　I　had　a　lot　of　money；　I　wouldn't　live　another　day　in　London。〃

James　was　stirred　to　the　depths　of　his　long　thin　figure；　he　had　no　idea　his　niece　held　such　downright　views。

〃Why　don't　you　go　into　the　country？〃　repeated　June；　〃it　would　do　you　a　lot　of　good。〃

〃Why？〃　began　James　in　a　fluster。　　〃Buying　landwhat　good　d'you　suppose　I　can　do　buying　land；　building　houses？I　couldn't　get　four　per　cent。　for　my　money！〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　　You'd　get　fresh　air。〃

〃Fresh　air！〃　exclaimed　James；　〃what　should　I　do　with　fresh　air；〃

〃I　should　have　thought　anybody　liked　to　have　fresh　air；〃　said　June　scornfully。

James　wiped　his　napkin　all　over　his　mouth。

〃You　don't　know　the　value　of　money；〃　he　said；　avoiding　her　eye。

〃No！　and　I　hope　I　never　shall！〃　and；　biting　her　lip　with　inexpressible　mortification；　poor　June　was　silent。

Why　were　her　own　relations　so　rich；　and　Phil　never　knew　where　the　money　was　coming　from　for　to…morrow's　tobacco。　　Why　couldn't　they　do　something　for　him？　　But　they　were　so　selfish。　　Why　couldn't　they　build　country…houses？　　She　had　all　that　naive　dogmatism　which　is　so　pathetic；　and　sometimes　achieves　such　great　results。　Bosinney；　to　whom　she　turned　in　her；　discomfiture；　was　talking　to　Irene；　and　a　chill　fell　on　June's　spirit。　　Her　eyes　grew　steady　with　　anger；　like　old　Jolyon's　when　his　will　was　crossed。

James；　too；　was　much　disturbed。　　He　felt　as　though　someone　had　threatened　his　right　to　invest　his　money　at　five　per　cent。　Jolyon　had　spoiled　her。　　None　of　his　girls　would　have　said　such　a　thing。　　James　had　always　been　exceedingly　liberal　to　his　children；　and　the　consciousness　of　this　made　him　feel　it　all　the　more　deeply。　　He　trifled　moodily　with　his　strawberries；　then；　deluging　them　with　cream；　he　ate　them　quickly；　they；　at　all　events；　should　not　escape　him。

No　wonder　he　was　upset。　　Engaged　for　fifty…four　years　（he　had　been　admitted　a　solicitor　on　the　earliest　day　sanctioned　by　the　law）　in　arranging　mortgages；　preserving　investments　at　a　dead　level　of　high　and　safe　interest；　conducting　negotiations　on　the　principle　of　securing　the　utmost　possible　out　of　other　people　compatible　with　safety　to　his　clients　and　himself；　in　calculations　as　to　the　exact　pecuniary　possibilities　of　all　the　relations　of　life；　he　had　come　at　last　to　think　purely　in　terms　of　money。　　Money　was　now　his　light；　his　medium　for　seeing；　that　without　which　he　was　really　unable　to　see；　really　not　cognisant　of　phenomena；　and　to　have　this　thing；　〃I　hope　I　shall　never　know　the　value　of　money！〃　said　to　his　face；　saddened　and　exasperated　him。　　He　knew　it　to　be　nonsense；　or　it　would　have　frightened　him。　What　was　the　world　coming　to！　　Suddenly　recollecting　the　story　of　young　Jolyon；　however；（he　felt　a　little　comforted；　for　what　could　you　expect　with　a　father　like　that！　　This　turned　his　thoughts　into　a　channel　still　less　pleasant。　　What　was　all　this　talk　about　Soames　and　Irene？

As　in　all　self…respecting　families；　an　emporium　had　been　established　where　family　secrets　were　bartered；　and　family　stock　priced。　　It　was　known　on　Forsyte　'Change　that　Irene　regretted　her　marriage。　　Her　regret　was　disapproved　of。　　She　ought　to　have　known　her　own　mind；　no　dependable　woman　made　these　mistakes。

James　reflected　sourly　that　they　had　a　nice　house　（rather　small）　in　an　excellent　position；　no　children；　and　no　money　troubles。　Soames　was　reserved　about　his　affairs；　but　he　must　be　getting　a　very　warm　man。　　He　had　a　capital　income　from　the　businessfor　Soames；　like　his　father；　was　a　member　of　that　well…known　firm　of　solicitors；　Forsyte；　Bustard　and　Forsyteand　had　always　been　very　careful。　　He　had　done　quite　unusually　well　with　some　mortgages　he　had　taken　up；　tooa　little　timely　foreclosuremost　lucky　hits！

There　was　no　reason　why　Irene　should　not　be　happy；　yet　they　said　she'd　been　asking　for　a　separate　room。　　He　knew　where　that　ended。　It　wasn't　as　if　Soames　drank；

James　looked　at　his　daughter…in…law。　　That　unseen　glance　of　his　was　cold　and　dubious。　　Appeal　and　fear　were　in　it；　and　a　sense　of　personal　grievance。　　Why　should　he　be　worried　like　this？　　It　was　very　likely　all　nonsense；　women　were　funny　things！　　They　exaggerated　so；　you　didn't　know　what　to　believe；　and　then；　nobody　told　him　anything；　he　had　to　find　out　everything　for　himself。　Again　he　looked　furtively　at　Irene；　and　across　from　her　to　Soames。　　The　latter；　listening　to　Aunt　Juley；　was　looking　up；　under　his　brows　in　the　direction　of　Bosinney。

'He's　fond　of　her；　I　know；'　thought　James。　　'Look　at　the　way　he's　always　giving　her　things。'

And　the　extraordinary　unreasonableness　of　her　disaffection　struck　him　with　increased　force。

It　was　a　pity；　too；　she　was　a　taking　little　thing；　and　he；　James；　would　be　really　quite　fond　of　her　if　she'd　only　let　him。　　She　had　taken　up　lately　with　June；　that　was　doing　her　no　good；　that　was　certainly　doing　her　no　good。　　She　was　getting　to　have　opinions　of　her　own。　　He　didn't　know　what　she　wanted　with　anything　of　the　sort。　　She'd　a　good　home；　and　everything　she　could　wish　for。　　He　felt　that　her　friends　ought　to　be　chosen　for　her。　　To　go　on　like　this　was　dangerous。

June；　indeed；　with　her　habit　of　championing　the　unfortunate；　had　dragged　from　Irene　a　confession；　and；　in　return；　had　preached　the　necessity　of　facing　the　evil；　by　separation；　if　need　be。　　But　in　the　face　of　these　exhortations；　Irene　had　kept　a　brooding　silence；　as　though　she　found　terrible　the　thought　of　this　struggle　carried　through　in　cold　blood。　　He　would　never　give　her　up；　she　had　said　to　June。

〃Who　cares？〃　June　cried；　〃let　him　do　what　he　likesyou've　only　to　stick　to　it！〃　　And　she　had　not　scrupled　to　say　something　of　this　sort　at　Timothy's；　James；　when　he　heard　of　it；　had　felt　a　natural　indignation　and　horror。

What　if　Irene　were　to　take　it　into　her　head　tohe　could　hardly　frame　the　thoughtto　leave　Soames？　　But　he　felt　this　thought　so　unbearable　that　he　at　once　put　it　away；　the　shady　visions　it　conjured　up；　the　sound　of　family　tongues　buzzing　in　his　ears；　the　horror　of　the　conspicuous　happening　so　close　to　him；　to　one　of　his　own　children！　　Luckily；　she　had　no　moneya　beggarly　fifty　pound　a　year！　　And　he　thought　of　the　deceased　Heron；　who　had　had　nothing　to　leave　her；　with　contempt。　　Brooding　over　his　glass；　his　long　legs　twisted　under　the　table；　he　quite　omitted　to　rise　when　the　ladies　left　the　room。　　He　would　have　to　speak　to　Soames…　…would　have　to　put　him　on　his　guard；　they　could　not　go　on　like　this；　now　that　such　a　contingency　had　occurred　to　him。　　And　he　noticed　with　sour　disfavour　that　June　had　left　he