five tales-第39章

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hilosophy　which　ever　intruded　on　his　soul；　he　thought：　'One's　never　had　enough'

With　a　foot　in　the　grave　one'll　want　something；　I　shouldn't　be　surprised！'　　Down　hereaway　from　the　exigencies　of　affairshis　grandchildren；　and　the　flowers；　trees；　birds　of　his　little　domain；　to　say　nothing　of　sun　and　moon　and　stars　above　them；　said；　'Open；　sesame；'　to　him　day　and　night。　　And　sesame　had　openedhow　much；　perhaps；　he　did　not　know。　　He　had　always　been　responsive　to　what　they　had　begun　to　call　'Nature；'　genuinely；　almost　religiously　responsive；　though　he　had　never　lost　his　habit　of　calling　a　sunset　a　sunset　and　a　view　a　view；　however　deeply　they　might　move　him。　　But　nowadays　Nature　actually　made　him　ache；　he　appreciated　it　so。　　Every　one　of　these　calm；　bright；　lengthening　days；　with　Holly's　hand　in　his；　and　the　dog　Balthasar　in　front　looking　studiously　for　what　he　never　found；　he　would　stroll；　watching　the　roses　open；　fruit　budding　on　the　walls；　sunlight　brightening　the　oak　leaves　and　saplings　in　the　coppice；　watching　the　water…lily　leaves　unfold　and　glisten；　and　the　silvery　young　corn　of　the　one　wheat　field；　listening　to　the　starlings　and　skylarks；　and　the　Alderney　cows　chewing　the　cud；　flicking　slow　their　tufted　tails；　and　every　one　of　these　fine　days　he　ached　a　little　from　sheer　love　of　it　all；　feeling　perhaps；　deep　down；　that　he　had　not　very　much　longer　to　enjoy　it。　　The　thought　that　some　day　perhaps　not　ten　years　hence；　perhaps　not　fiveall　this　world　would　be　taken　away　from　him；　before　he　had　exhausted　his　powers　of　loving　it；　seemed　to　him　in　the　nature　of　an　injustice　brooding　over　his　horizon。　　If　anything　came　after　this　life；　it　wouldn't　be　what　he　wanted；　not　Robin　Hill；　and　flowers　and　birds　and　pretty　facestoo　few；　even　now；　of　those　about　him！　With　the　years　his　dislike　of　humbug　had　increased；　the　orthodoxy　he　had　worn　in　the　'sixties；　as　he　had　worn　side…whiskers　out　of　sheer　exuberance；　had　long　dropped　off；　leaving　him　reverent　before　three　things　alonebeauty；　upright　conduct；　and　the　sense　of　property；　and　the　greatest　of　these　now　was　beauty。　　He　had　always　had　wide　interests；　and；　indeed　could　still　read　The　Tines；　but　he　was　liable　at　any　moment　to　put　it　down　if　he　heard　a　blackbird　sing。　　Upright　conduct；　propertysomehow；　they　were　tiring；　the　blackbirds　and　the　sunsets　never　tired　him；　only　gave　him　an　uneasy　feeling　that　he　could　not　get　enough　of　them。　　Staring　into　the　stilly　radiance　of　the　early　evening　and　at　the　little　gold　and　white　flowers　on　the　lawn；　a　thought　came　to　him：　This　weather　was　like　the　music　of　'Orfeo；'　which　he　had　recently　heard　at　Covent　Garden。　　A　beautiful　opera；　not　like　Meyerbeer；　nor　even　quite　Mozart；　but；　in　its　way；　perhaps　even　more　lovely；　some…thing　classical　and　of　the　Golden　Age　about　it；　chaste　and　mellow；　and　the　Ravogli　'almost　worthy　of　the　old　days'highest　praise　he　could　bestow。　　The　yearning　of　Orpheus　for　the　beauty　he　was　losing；　for　his　love　going　down　to　Hades；　as　in　life　love　and　beauty　did　gothe　yearning　which　sang　and　throbbed　through　the　golden　music；　stirred　also　in　the　lingering　beauty　of　the　world　that　evening。　　And　with　the　tip　of　his　cork…soled；　elastic…sided　boot　he　involuntarily　stirred　the　ribs　of　the　dog　Balthasar；　caus…ing　the　animal　to　wake　and　attack　his　fleas；　for　though　he　was　supposed　to　have　none；　nothing　could　persuade　him　of　the　fact。　　When　he　had　finished；　he　rubbed　the　place　he　had　been　scratching　against　his　master's　calf；　and　settled　down　again　with　his　chin　over　the　instep　of　the　disturbing　boot。　　And　into　old　Jolyon's　mind　came　a　sudden　recollectiona　face　he　had　seen　at　that　opera　three　weeks　agoIrene；　the　wife　of　his　precious　nephew　Soames；　that　man　of　property！　Though　he　had　not　met　her　since　the　day　of　　the　'At　Home'　in　his　old　house　at　Stanhope　Gate；　which　celebrated　his　granddaughter　June's　ill…starred　engagement　to　young　Bosinney；　he　had　remembered　her　at　once；　for　he　had　always　admired　hera　very　pretty　creature。　　After　the　death　of　young　Bosinney；　whose　mistress　she　had　so　reprehensibly　become；　he　had　heard　that　she　had　left　Soames　at　once。　　Goodness　only　knew　what　she　had　been　doing　since。　That　sight　of　her　facea　side　viewin　the　row　in　front；　had　been　literally　the　only　reminder　these　three　years　that　she　was　still　alive。　　No　one　ever　spoke　of　her。　　And　yet　Jo　had　told　him　some…thing　oncesomething　which　had　upset　him　completely。　　The　boy　had　got　it　from　George　Forsyte；　he　believed；　who　had　seen　Bosinney　in　the　fog　the　day　he　was　run　oversomething　which　explained　the　young　fellow's　distressan　act　of　Soames　towards　his　wifea　shocking　act。　　Jo　had　seen　her；　too；　that　afternoon；　after　the　news　was　out；　seen　her　for　a　moment；　and　his　description　had　always　lingered　in　old　Jolyon's　mind…　…'wild　and　lost'　he　had　called　her。　　And　next　day　June　had　gone　there　bottled　up　her　feelings　and　gone　there；　and　the　maid　had　cried　and　told　her　how　her　mistress　had　slipped　out　in　the　night　and　vanished。　A　tragic　business　altogether！　One　thing　was　certainSoames　had　never　been　able　to　lay　hands　on　her　again。　　And　he　was　living　at　Brighton；　and　journeying　up　and　downa　fitting　fate；　the　man　of　property！　For　when　he　once　took　a　dislike　to　anyoneas　he　had　to　his　nephewold　Jolyon　never　got　over　it。　　He　remembered　still　the　sense　of　relief　with　which　he　had　heard　the　news　of　Irene's　disappearance。　　It　had　been　shocking　to　think　of　her　a　prisoner　in　that　house　to　which　she　must　have　wandered　back；　when　Jo　saw　her；　wandered　back　for　a　momentlike　a　wounded　animal　to　its　hole　after　seeing　that　news；　'Tragic　death　of　an　Architect；'　in　the　street。　　Her　face　had　struck　him　very　much　the　other　nightmore　beautiful　than　he　had　remem…　bered；　but　like　a　mask；　with　something　going　on　beneath　it。　　A　young　woman　stilltwenty…eight　perhaps。　　Ah；　well！　Very　likely　she　had　another　lover　by　now。　　But　at　this　subversive　thoughtfor　married　women　should　never　love：　once；　even；　had　been　too　muchhis　instep　rose；　and　with　it　the　dog　Balthasar's　head。　　The　sagacious　animal　stood　up　and　looked　into　old　Jolyon's　face。　　'Walk？'　he　seemed　to　say；　and　old　Jolyon　answered：　〃Come　on；　old　chap！〃

Slowly；　as　was　their　wont；　they　crossed　among　the　constellations　of　buttercups　and　daisies；　and　entered　the　fernery。　　This　feature；　where　very　little　grew　as　yet；　had　been　judiciously　dropped　below　the　level　of　the　lawn　so　that　it　might　come　up　again　on　the　level　of　the　other　lawn　and　give　the　impression　of　irregularity；　so　important　in　horticulture。　　Its　rocks　and　earth　were　beloved　of　the　dog　Balthasar；　who　sometimes　found　a　mole　there。　　Old　Jolyon　made　a　point　of　passing　through　it　because；　though　it　was　not　beautiful；　he　intended　that　it　should　be；　some　day；　and　he　would　think：　'I　must　get　Varr　to　come　down　and　look　at　it；　he's　better　than　Beech。'　For　plants；　like　houses　and　human　complaints；　required　the　best　expert　consideration。　　It　was　inhabited　by　snails；　and　if　accompanied　by　his　grandchildren；　he　would　point　to　one　and　tell　them　the　story　of　the　little　boy　who　said：　'Have　plummers　got　leggers；　Mother？　　'No；　sonny。'　　'Then　darned　if　I　haven't　been　and　swallowed　a　snileybob。'　　And　when　they　skipped　and　clutched　his　hand；　thinking　of　the　snileybob　going　down　the　little　boy's　'red　lane；'　his；　eyes　would　twinkle。　　Emerging　from　the　fernery；　he　opened　the　wicket　gate；　which　just　there　led　into　the　first　field；　a　large　and　park…like　area；　out　of　which；　within　brick　walls；　the　vegetable　garden　had　been　carved。　　Old　Jolyon　avoided　this；　which　did　not　suit　his　mood；　and　made　down　the　hill　towards　the　pond。　　Balthasar；　who　knew　a　water…rat　or　two；　gambolled　in　front；　at　the　gait　which　marks　an　oldish　dog　who　takes　the　same　walk　every　day。　Arrived　at　the　edge；　old　Jolyon　stood；　noting　another　water…lily　opened　since　yesterday；　he　would　show　it　to　Holly　to…morrow；　when　'his　little　sweet'　had　got　over　the　upset　which　had　followed　on　her　eating　a　tomato　at　lunchher　little　arrangements　were　very　delicate。　Now　that　Jolly　had　gone　to　schoolhis　first　termHolly　was　with　him　nearly　all　day　long；　and　he　missed　her　badly。　　He　felt　that　pain　too；　which　often　bothered　him　now；　a　little　dragging　at　his　left　side。　　He　looked　back　up　the　hill。　　Really；　poor　young　Bosinney　had　made　an　uncommonly　good　job　of　the　house；　he　would　have　done　very　well　for　himself　if　he　had　lived！　　And　where　was　he　now？　Perhaps；　still　haunting　this；　the　site　of　his　last　work；　of　his　tragic　love　affair。　Or　was　Philip　Bosinney's　spirit　diffused　in　the　general？　　Who　could　say？　　That　dog　was　getting　his　legs　muddy！　　And　he　moved　towards　the　coppice。　　There　had　been　the　most　delightful　lot　of　bluebells；　and　he　knew　where　some　still　lingered　like　little　patches　of　sky　fallen　irk　between　the　trees；　away　out　of　the　sun。　　He　passed　the　cow…houses　and　the　hen…houses　there　installed；　and　pursued　a　path　into　the　thick　of　the　saplings；　making　for　one　of　the　bluebell　plots。　　Balthasar；　preceding　him　once　more；　uttered　a　low　growl。　　Old　Jolyon　stirred　him　with　his　foot；　but　the　dog　remained　motionless；　just　where　there　was　no　room　to　pass；　and　the　hair　rose　slowly　along　the　centre　of　his　woolly　back。　　Whether　from　the　growl　and　the　look　of　the　dog's　stivered　hair；　or　from　the　sensation　which　a　man　feels　in　a　wood；　old　Jolyon　also　felt　something　move　along　his　spine。　　And　then　the　path　turned；　and　there　was　an　old　mossy　log；　and　on　it　a　woman　sitting。　Her　face　was　turned　away；　and　he　had　just　time　to　think：　'She's　trespassingI　must　have　a　board　put　up！'　before　she　turned。　　Powers　above！　　The　face　he　had　seen　at　the　operathe　very　woman　he　had　just　been　thinking　of！　In　that　confused　moment　he　saw　things　blurred；　as　if　a　spiritqueer　effectthe　slant　of　sunlight　perhaps　on　her　violet…grey　frock！　And　then　she　rose　and　stood　smiling；　her　head　a　little　to　one　side。　　Old　Jolyon　thought：　'How　pretty　she　is！'　She　did　not　speak；　neither　did　he；　and　he　realized　why　with　a　certain　admiration。　　She　was　here　no　doubt　because　of　some　memory；　and　did　not　mean　to　try　and　get　out　of　it　by　vulgar　explanation。

〃Don't　let　that　dog　touch　your　frock；〃　he　said；　〃he's　got　wet　feet。　Come　here；　you！〃

But　the　dog　Balthasar　went　on　towards　the　visitor；　who　put　her　hand　down　and　stroked　his　head。　　Old　Jolyon　said　quickly：

〃I　saw　you　at　the　opera　the　other　night；　you　didn't　notice　me。〃

〃Oh；　yes！　I　did。〃

He　felt　a　subtle　flattery　in　that；　as　though　she　had　added：　'Do　you　think　one　could　miss　seeing　you？'

〃They're　all　in　Spain；〃　he　remarked　abruptly。　　〃I'm　alone；　I　drove　up　for　the　opera。　　The　Ravogli's　good。　　Have　you　seen　the　cow…houses？〃

In　a　situation　so　charged　with　mystery　and　something　very　like　emotion　he　moved　instinctively　towards　that　bit　of　property；　and　she　moved　beside　him。　　Her　figure　swayed　faintly；　like　the　best　kind　of　French　figures；　her　dress；　too；　was　a　sort　of　French　grey。　　He　noticed　two　or　three　silver　threads　in　her　amber…coloured　hair；　strange　hair　with　those　dark　eyes　of　hers；　and　that　creamy…pale　face。　A　sudden　sidelong　look　from　the　velvety　brown　eyes　disturbed　him。　　It　seemed　to　come　from　deep　and　far；　from　another　world　almost；　or　at　all　events　from　some　one　not　living　very　much　in　this。　　And　he　said　mechanically

〃Where　are　you　living　now？〃

〃I　have　a　little　flat　in　Chelsea。〃

He　did　not　want　to　hear　what　she　was　doing；　did　not　want　to　hear　an