five tales-第43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！


　by　one　of　those　steady　and　rather　defiant　looks　of　his　deep…set　iron…grey　eyes；　which　seemed　to　say：　'I　know　my　own　business　best。'　　He　always　had　and　always　would。

On　Sunday　morning；　when　Holly　had　gone　with　her　governess　to　church；　he　visited　the　strawberry　beds。　　There；　accompanied　by　the　dog　Balthasar；　he　examined　the　plants　narrowly　and　succeeded　in　finding　at　least　two　dozen　berries　which　were　really　ripe。　　Stooping　was　not　good　for　him；　and　he　became　very　dizzy　and　red　in　the　forehead。　Having　placed　the　strawberries　in　a　dish　on　the　dining…table；　he　washed　his　hands　and　bathed　his　forehead　with　eau　de　Cologne。　　There；　before　the　mirror；　it　occurred　to　him　that　he　was　thinner。　　What　a　'threadpaper'　he　had　been　when　he　was　young！　　It　was　nice　to　be　slim…　…he　could　not　bear　a　fat　chap；　and　yet　perhaps　his　cheeks　were　too　thin！　　She　was　to　arrive　by　train　at　half…past　twelve　and　walk　up；　entering　from　the　road　past　Drage's　farm　at　the　far　end　of　the　coppice。　　And；　having　looked　into　June's　room　to　see　that　there　was　hot　water　ready；　he　set　forth　to　meet　her；　leisurely；　for　his　heart　was　beating。　　The　air　smelled　sweet；　larks　sang；　and　the　Grand　Stand　at　Epsom　was　visible。　　A　perfect　day！　　On　just　such　a　one；　no　doubt；　six　years　ago；　Soames　had　brought　young　Bosinney　down　with　him　to　look　at　the　site　before　they　began　to　build。　　It　was　Bosinney　who　had　pitched　on　the　exact　spot　for　the　houseas　June　had　often　told　him。　In　these　days　he　was　thinking　much　about　that　young　fellow；　as　if　his　spirit　were　really　haunting　the　field　of　his　last　work；　on　the　chance　of　seeingher。　　Bosinneythe　one　man　who　had　possessed　her　heart；　to　whom　she　had　given　her　whole　self　with　rapture！　　At　his　age　one　could　not；　of　course；　imagine　such　things；　but　there　stirred　in　him　a　queer　vague　achingas　it　were　the　ghost　of　an　impersonal　jealousy；　and　a　feeling；　too；　more　generous；　of　pity　for　that　love　so　early　lost。　　All　over　in　a　few　poor　months！　　Well；　well！　　He　looked　at　his　watch　before　entering　the　coppiceonly　a　quarter　past；　twenty…five　minutes　to　wait！　　And　then；　turning　the　corner　of　the　path；　he　saw　her　exactly　where　he　had　seen　her　the　first　time；　on　the　log；　and　realised　that　she　must　have　come　by　the　earlier　train　to　sit　there　alone　for　a　couple　of　hours　at　least。　　Two　hours　of　her　society　missed！　　What　memory　could　make　that　log　so　dear　to　her？　　His　face　showed　what　he　was　thinking；　for　she　said　at　once：

〃Forgive　me；　Uncle　Jolyon；　it　was　here　that　I　first　knew。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　there　it　is　for　you　whenever　you　like。　　You're　looking　a　little　Londony；　you're　giving　too　many　lessons。〃

That　she　should　have　to　give　lessons　worried　him。　　Lessons　to　a　parcel　of　young　girls　thumping　out　scales　with　their　thick　fingers。

〃Where　do　you　go　to　give　them？〃　he　asked。

〃They're　mostly　Jewish　families；　luckily。〃

Old　Jolyon　stared；　to　all　Forsytes　Jews　seem　strange　and　doubtful。

〃They　love　music；　and　they're　very　kind。〃

〃They　had　better　be；　by　George！〃　　He　took　her　armhis　side　always　hurt　him　a　little　going　uphilland　said：

〃Did　you　ever　see　anything　like　those　buttercups？　　They　came　like　that　in　a　night。〃

Her　eyes　seemed　really　to　fly　over　the　field；　like　bees　after　the　flowers　and　the　honey。　　〃I　wanted　you　to　see　themwouldn't　let　them　turn　the　cows　in　yet。〃　　Then；　remembering　that　she　had　come　to　talk　about　Bosinney；　he　pointed　to　the　clock…tower　over　the　stables：

〃I　expect　be　wouldn't　have　let　me　put　that　therehad　no　notion　of　time；　if　I　remember。〃

But；　pressing　his　arm　to　her；　she　talked　of　flowers　instead；　and　he　knew　it　was　done　that　he　might　not　feel　she　came　because　of　her　dead　lover。

〃The　best　flower　I　can　show　you；〃　he　said；　with　a　sort　of　triumph；　〃is　my　little　sweet。　　She'll　be　back　from　Church　directly。　　There's　something　about　her　which　reminds　me　a　little　of　you；〃　and　it　did　not　seem　to　him　peculiar　that　he　had　put　it　thus；　instead　of　saying：　〃There's　something　about　you　which　reminds　me　a　little　of　her。〃　　Ah！　And　here　she　was！

Holly；　followed　closely　by　her　elderly　French　governess；　whose　digestion　had　been　ruined　twenty…two　years　ago　in　the　siege　of　Strasbourg；　came　rushing　towards　them　from　under　the　oak　tree。　　She　stopped　about　a　dozen　yards　away；　to　pat　Balthasar　and　pretend　that　this　was　all　she　had　in　her　mind。　　Old　Jolyon　who　knew　better；　said：

〃Well；　my　darling；　here's　the　lady　in　grey　I　promised　you。〃

Holly　raised　herself　and　looked　up。　　He　watched　the　two　of　them　with　a　twinkle；　Irene　smiling；　Holly　beginning　with　grave　inquiry；　passing　into　a　shy　smile　too；　and　then　to　something　deeper。　　She　had　a　sense　of　beauty；　that　childknew　what　was　what！　　He　enjoyed　the　sight　of　the　kiss　between　them。

〃Mrs。　Heron；　Mam'zelle　Beauce。　　Well；　Mam'zellegood　sermon？〃

For；　now　that　he　had　not　much　more　time　before　him；　the　only　part　of　the　service　connected　with　this　world　absorbed　what　interest　in　church　remained　to　him。　　Mam'zelle　Beauce　stretched　out　a　spidery　hand　clad　in　a　black　kid　gloveshe　had　been　in　the　best　families　and　the　rather　sad　eyes　of　her　lean　yellowish　face　seemed　to　ask：　〃Are　you　well…brrred？〃　Whenever　Holly　or　Jolly　did　anything　unpleasing　to　hera　not　uncommon　occurrence　he　would　say　to　them：　〃The　little　Tayleurs　never　did　thatthey　were　such　well…brrred　little　children。〃　　Jolly　hated　the　little　Tayleurs；　Holly　wondered　dreadfully　how　it　was　she　fell　so　short　of　them。　　'A　thin　rum　little　soul；'　old　Jolyon　thought　herMam'zelle　Beauce。

Luncheon　was　a　successful　meal；　the　mushrooms　which　he　himself　had　picked　in　the　mushroom　house；　his　chosen　strawberries；　and　another　bottle　of　the　Steinberg　cabinet　filled　him　with　a　certain　aromatic　spirituality；　and　a　conviction　that　he　would　have　a　touch　of　eczema　to…morrow。

After　lunch　they　sat　under　the　oak　tree　drinking　Turkish　coffee。　　It　was　no　matter　of　grief　to　him　when　Mademoiselle　Beauce　withdrew　to　write　her　Sunday　letter　to　her　sister；　whose　future　had　been　endangered　in　the　past　by　swallowing　a　pinan　event　held　up　daily　in　warning　to　the　children　to　eat　slowly　and　digest　what　they　had　eaten。　At　the　foot　of　the　bank；　on　a　carriage　rug；　Holly　and　the　dog　Balthasar　teased　and　loved　each　other；　and　in　the　shade　old　Jolyon　with　his　legs　crossed　and　his　cigar　luxuriously　savoured；　gazed　at　Irene　sitting　in　the　swing。　　A　light；　vaguely　swaying；　grey　figure　with　a　fleck　of　sunlight　here　and　there　upon　it；　lips　just　opened；　eyes　dark　and　soft　under　lids　a　little　drooped。　　She　looked　content；　surely　it　did　her　good　to　come　and　see　him！　　The　selfishness　of　age　had　not　set　its　proper　grip　on　him；　for　he　could　still　feel　pleasure　in　the　pleasure　of　others；　realising　that　what　he　wanted；　though　much；　was　not　quite　all　that　mattered。

〃It's　quiet　here；〃　he　said；　〃you　mustn't　come　down　if　you　find　it　dull。　　But　it's　a　pleasure　to　see　you。　　My　little　sweet's　is　the　only　face　which　gives　me　any　pleasure；　except　yours。〃

》From　her　smile　he　knew　that　she　was　not　beyond　liking　to　be　appreciated；　and　this　reassured　him。　　〃That's　not　humbug；〃　he　said。　〃I　never　told　a　woman　I　admired　her　when　I　didn't。　　In　fact　I　don't　know　when　I've　told　a　woman　I　admired　her；　except　my　wife　in　the　old　days；　and　wives　are　funny。〃　　He　was　silent；　but　resumed　abruptly：

〃She　used　to　expect　me　to　say　it　more　often　than　I　felt　it；　and　there　we　were。〃　　Her　face　looked　　mysteriously　troubled；　and；　afraid　that　he　had　said　something　painful；　he　hurried　on：　〃When　my　little　sweet　marries；　I　hope　she'll　find　someone　who　knows　what　women　feel。　　I　shan't　be　here　to　see　it；　but　there's　too　much　　topsy…turvydom　in　marriage；　I　don't　want　her　to　pitch　up　against　that。〃　　And；　aware　that　he　had　made　bad　worse；　he　added：　〃That　dog　will　scratch。〃

A　silence　followed。　　Of　what　was　she　thinking；　this　pretty　creature　whose　life　was　spoiled；　who　had　done　with　love；　and　yet　was　made　for　love？　　Some　day　when　he　was　gone；　perhaps；　she　would　find　another　matenot　so　disorderly　as　that　young　fellow　who　had　got　himself　run　over。　　Ah！　but　her　husband？

〃Does　Soames　never　trouble　you？〃　he　asked。

She　shook　her　head。　　Her　face　had　closed　up　　suddenly。　　For　all　her　softness　there　was　something　irreconcilable　about　her。　　And　a　glimpse　of　light　on　the　inexorable　nature　of　sex　antipathies　strayed　into　a　brain　which；　belonging　to　early　Victorian　civil…isationso　much　older　than　this　of　his　old　agehad　never　thought　about　such　primitive　things。

〃That's　a　comfort；〃　he　said。　　〃You　can　see　the　Grand　Stand　to…day。　Shall　we　take　a　turn　round？〃

Through　the　flower　and　fruit　garden；　against　whose　high　outer　walls　peach　trees　and　nectarines　were　trained　to　the　sun；　through　the　stables；　the　vinery；　the　mushroom　house；　the　asparagus　beds；　the　rosery；　the　summer…house；　he　conducted　hereven　into　the　kitchen　garden　to　see　the　tiny　green　peas　which　Holly　loved　to　scoop　out　of　their　pods　with　her　finger；　and　lick　up　from　the　palm　of　her　little　brown　hand。　　Many　delightful　things　he　showed　her；　while　Holly　and　the　dog　Balthasar　danced　ahead；　or　came　to　them　at　intervals　for　attention。　　It　was　one　of　the　happiest　afternoons　he　had　ever　spent；　but　it　tired　him　and　he　was　glad　to　sit　down　in　the　music　room　and　let　her　give　him　tea。　　A　special　little　friend　of　Holly's　had　come　ina　fair　child　with　short　hair　like　a　boy's。　　And　the　two　sported　in　the　distance；　under　the　stairs；　on　the　stairs；　and　up　in　the　gallery。　　Old　Jolyon　begged　for　Chopin。　　She　played　studies；　mazurkas；　waltzes；　till　the　two　children；　creeping　near；　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　piano　their　dark　and　golden　heads　bent　forward；　listening。　　Old　Jolyon　watched。

〃Let's　see　you　dance；　you　two！〃

Shyly；　with　a　false　start；　they　began。　　Bobbing　and　circling；　earnest；　not　very　adroit；　they　went　past　and　past　his　chair　to　the　strains　of　that　waltz。　　He　watched　them　and　the　face　of　her　who　was　playing　turned　smiling　towards　those　little　dancers　thinking：

'Sweetest　picture　I've　seen　for　ages。'

A　voice　said：

〃Hollee！　Mais　enfinquest…ce　que　tu　fais　ladanser；　le　dimanche！　Viens；　donc！〃

But　the　children　came　close　to　old　Jolyon；　knowing　that　he　would　save　them；　and　gazed　into　a　face　which　was　decidedly　'caught　out。'

〃Better　the　day；　better　the　deed；　Mam'zelle。　　It's　all　my　doing。　Trot　along；　chicks；　and　have　your　tea。〃

And；　when　they　were　gone；　followed　by　the　dog　Balthasar；　who　took　every　meal；　he　looked　at　Irene　with　a　twinkle　and　said：

〃Well；　there　we　are！　Aren't　they　sweet？　Have　you　any　little　ones　among　your　pupils？〃

〃Yes；　threetwo　of　them　darlings。〃

〃Pretty？〃

〃Lovely！〃

Old　Jolyon　sighed；　he　had　an　insatiable　appetite　for　the　very　young。　〃My　little　sweet；〃　he　said；　〃is　devoted　to　music；　she'll　be　a　musician　some　day。　　You　wouldn't　give　me　your　opinion　of　her　playing；　I　suppose？〃

〃Of　course　I　will。〃

〃You　wouldn't　like〃　but　he　stifled　the　words　〃to　give　her　lessons。〃　The　idea　that　she　gave　lessons　was　unpleasant　to　him；　yet　it　would　mean　that　he　would　see　her　regularly。　　She　left　the　piano　and　came　over　to　his　chair。

〃I　would　like；　very　much；　but　there　isJune。　　When　are　they　coming　back？〃

Old　Jolyon　frowned。　　〃Not　till　the　middle　of　next　month。　　What　does　that　matter？〃

〃You　said　June　had　forgiven　me；　but　she　could　never　forget；　Uncle　Jolyon。〃

Forget！　She　must　forget；　if　he　wanted　her　to。

But　as　if　answering；　Irene　shook　h