five tales-第42章

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〃I　was　driving　up；〃　he　said。　　〃Thought　I'd　look　in　on　you；　and　ask　you　how　you　got　up　the　other　night。〃

And；　seeing　her　smile；　he　felt　suddenly　relieved。　　She　was　really　glad　to　see　him；　perhaps。

〃Would　you　like　to　put　on　your　hat　and　come　for　a　drive　in　the　Park？〃

But　while　she　was　gone　to　put　her　hat　on；　he　frowned。　　The　Park！　James　and　Emily！　　Mrs。　Nicholas；　or　some　other　member　of　his　precious　family　would　be　there　very　likely；　prancing　up　and　down。　　And　they　would　go　and　wag　their　tongues　about　having　seen　him　with　her；　afterwards。　　Better　not！　　He　did　not　wish　to　revive　the　echoes　of　the　past　on　Forsyte　'Change。'　　He　removed　a　white　hair　from　the　lapel　of　his　closely…buttoned…up　frock　coat；　and　passed　his　hand　over　his　cheeks；　moustache；　and　square　chin。　　It　felt　very　hollow　there　under　the　cheekbones。　　He　had　not　been　eating　much　latelyhe　had　better　get　that　little　whippersnapper　who　attended　Holly　to　give　him　a　tonic。　　But　she　had　come　back　and　when　they　were　in　the　carriage；　he　said：

〃Suppose　we　go　and　sit　in　Kensington　Gardens　instead？〃　and　added　with　a　twinkle：　〃No　prancing　up　and　down　there；〃　as　if　she　had　been　in　the　secret　of　his　thoughts。

Leaving　the　carriage；　they　entered　those　select　precincts；　and　strolled　towards　the　water。

〃You've　gone　back　to　your　maiden　name；　I　see；〃　he　said：　〃I'm　not　sorry。〃

She　slipped　her　hand　under　his　arm：　〃Has　June　forgiven　me；　Uncle　Jolyon？〃

He　answered　gently：　〃Yesyes；　of　course；　why　not？〃

〃And　have　you？〃

〃I？　　I　forgave　you　as　soon　as　I　saw　how　the　land　really　lay。〃　　And　perhaps　he　had；　his　instinct　had　always　been　to　forgive　the　beautiful。

She　drew　a　deep　breath。　　〃I　never　regrettedI　couldn't。　　Did　you　ever　love　very　deeply；　Uncle　Jolyon？〃

At　that　strange　question　old　Jolyon　stared　before　him。　　Had　he？　　He　did　not　seem　to　remember　that　he　ever　had。　　But　he　did　not　like　to　say　this　to　the　young　woman　whose　hand　was　touching　his　arm；　whose　life　was　suspended；　as　it　were；　by　memory　of　a　tragic　love。　　And　he　thought：　'If　I　had　met　you　when　I　was　young　II　might　have　made　a　fool　of　myself；　perhaps。'　　And　a　longing　to　escape　in　generalities　beset　him。

〃Love's　a　queer　thing；〃　he　said；　〃fatal　thing　often。　　It　was　the　Greekswasn't　it？made　love　into　a　goddess；　they　were　right；　I　dare　say；　but　then　they　lived　in　the　Golden　Age。〃

〃Phil　adored　them。〃

Phil！　The　word　jarred　him；　for　suddenlywith　his　power　to　see　all　round　a　thing；　he　perceived　why　she　was　putting　up　with　him　like　this。　　She　wanted　to　talk　about　her　lover！　　Well！　　If　it　was　any　pleasure　to　her！　　And　he　said：　〃Ah！　There　was　a　bit　of　the　sculptor　in　him；　I　fancy。〃

〃Yes。　　He　loved　balance　and　symmetry；　he　loved　the　whole…hearted　way　the　Greeks　gave　themselves　to　art。〃

Balance！　The　chap　had　no　balance　at　all；　if　he　remembered；　as　for　symmetryclean…built　enough　he　was；　no　doubt；　but　those　queer　eyes　of　his；　and　high　cheek…bonesSymmetry？

〃You're　of　the　Golden　Age；　too；　Uncle　Jolyon。

Old　Jolyon　looked　round　at　her。　　Was　she　chaffing　him？　　No；　her　eyes　were　soft　as　velvet。　　Was　she　flattering　him？　　But　if　so；　why？　　There　was　nothing　to　be　had　out　of　an　old　chap　like　him。

〃Phil　thought　so。　　He　used　to　say：　'But　I　can　never　tell　him　that　I　admire　him。〃'

Ah！　There　it　was　again。　　Her　dead　lover；　her　desire　to　talk　of　him！　And　he　pressed　her　arm；　half　resentful　of　those　memories；　half　grateful；　as　if　he　recognised　what　a　link　they　were　between　herself　and　him。

〃He　was　a　very　talented　young　fellow；〃　he　murmured。　　〃It's　hot；　I　feel　the　heat　nowadays。　　Let's　sit　down。〃

They　took　two　chairs　beneath　a　chestnut　tree　whose　broad　leaves　covered　them　from　the　peaceful　glory　of　the　afternoon。　　A　pleasure　to　sit　there　and　watch　her；　and　feel　that　she　liked　to　be　with　him。　　And　the　wish　to　increase　that　liking；　if　he　could；　made　him　go　on：

〃I　expect　he　showed　you　a　side　of　him　I　never　saw。　　He'd　be　at　his　best　with　you。　　His　ideas　of　art　were　a　little　newto　me　〃he　had　stiffed　the　word　'fangled。'

〃Yes：　but　he　used　to　say　you　had　a　real　sense　of　beauty。〃　　Old　Jolyon　thought：　'The　devil　he　did！'　but　answered　with　a　twinkle：　〃Well；　I　have；　or　I　shouldn't　be　sitting　here　with　you。〃　　She　was　fascinating　when　she　smiled　with　her　eyes；　like　that！

〃He　thought　you　had　one　of　those　hearts　that　never　grow　old。　　Phil　had　real　insight。〃

He　was　not　taken　in　by　this　flattery　spoken　out　of　the　past；　out　of　a　longing　to　talk　of　her　dead　lovernot　a　bit；　and　yet　it　was　precious　to　hear；　because　she　pleased　his　eyes　and　heart　which　quite　true！　had　never　grown　old。　　Was　that　becauseunlike　her　and　her　dead　lover；　he　had　never　loved　to　desperation；　had　always　kept　his　balance；　his　sense　of　symmetry。　　Well！　It　had　left　him　power；　at　eighty…four；　to　admire　beauty。　　And　he　thought；　'If　I　were　a　painter　or　a　sculptor！　　But　I'm　an　old　chap。　　Make　hay　while　the　sun　shines。'

A　couple　with　arms　entwined　crossed　on　the　grass　before　them；　at　the　edge　of　the　shadow　from　their　tree。　　The　sunlight　fell　cruelly　on　their　pale；　squashed；　unkempt　young　faces。　　〃We're　an　ugly　lot！〃　said　old　Jolyon　suddenly。　　〃It　amazes　me　to　see　howlove　triumphs　over　that。〃

〃Love　triumphs　over　everything！〃

〃The　young　think　so；〃　he　muttered。

〃Love　has　no　age；　no　limit；　and　no　death。〃

With　that　glow　in　her　pale　face；　her　breast　heaving；　her　eyes　so　large　and　dark　and　soft；　she　looked　like　Venus　come　to　life！　　But　this　extravagance　brought　instant　reaction；　and；　twinkling；　he　said：　〃Well；　if　it　had　limits；　we　shouldn't　be　born；　for　by　George！　it's　got　a　lot　to　put　up　with。〃

Then；　removing　his　top　hat；　he　brushed　it　round　with　a　cuff。　　The　great　clumsy　thing　heated　his　forehead；　in　these　days　he　often　got　a　rush　of　blood　to　the　headhis　circulation　was　not　what　it　had　been。

She　still　sat　gazing　straight　before　her；　and　suddenly　she　murmured：

〃It's　strange　enough　that　I'm　alive。〃

Those　words　of　Jo's　'Wild　and　lost'　came　back　to　him。

〃Ah！〃　he　said：　〃my　son　saw　you　for　a　momentthat　day。〃

〃Was　it　your　son？　I　heard　a　voice　in　the　hall；　I　thought　for　a　second　it　wasPhil。〃

Old　Jolyon　saw　her　lips　tremble。　　She　put　her　hand　over　them；　took　it　away　again；　and　went　on　calmly：　〃That　night　I　went　to　the　Embankment；　a　woman　caught　me　by　the　dress。　　She　told　me　about　herself。　　When　one　knows　that　others　suffer；　one's　ashamed。〃

〃One　of　those？〃

She　nodded；　and　horror　stirred　within　old　Jolyon；　the　horror　of　one　who　has　never　known　a　struggle　with　desperation。　　Almost　against　his　will　he　muttered：　〃Tell　me；　won't　you？〃

〃I　didn't　care　whether　I　lived　or　died。　　When　you're　like　that；　Fate　ceases　to　want　to　kill　you。　　She　took　care　of　me　three　daysshe　never　left　me。　　I　had　no　money。　　That's　why　I　do　what　I　can　for　them；　now。〃

But　old　Jolyon　was　thinking：　'No　money！'　　What　fate　could　compare　with　that？　　Every　other　was　involved　in　it。

〃I　wish　you　had　come　to　me；〃　he　said。　　〃Why　didn't　you？〃　　But　Irene　did　not　answer。

〃Because　my　name　was　Forsyte；　I　suppose？　　Or　was　it　June　who　kept　you　away？　　How　are　you　getting　on　now？〃　　His　eyes　involuntarily　swept　her　body。　　Perhaps　even　now　she　was！　　And　yet　she　wasn't　thinnot　really！

〃Oh！　with　my　fifty　pounds　a　year；　I　make　just　enough。〃　　The　answer　did　not　reassure　him；　he　had　lost　confidence。　　And　that　fellow　Soames！　　But　his　sense　of　justice　stifled　condemnation。　　No；　she　would　certainly　have　died　rather　than　take　another　penny　from　him。　Soft　as　she　looked；　there　must　be　strength　in　her　somewherestrength　and　fidelity。　　But　what　business　had　young　Bosinney　to　have　got　run　over　and　left　her　stranded　like　this！

〃Well；　you　must　come　to　me　now；〃　he　said；　〃for　anything　you　want；　or　I　shall　be　quite　cut　up。〃　　And　putting　on　his　hat；　he　rose。　　〃Let's　go　and　get　some　tea。　　I　told　that　lazy　chap　to　put　the　horses　up　for　an　hour；　and　come　for　me　at　your　place。　　We'll　take　a　cab　presently；　I　can't　walk　as　I　used　to。〃

He　enjoyed　that　stroll　to　the　Kensington　end　of　the　gardensthe　sound　of　her　voice；　the　glancing　of　her　eyes；　the　subtle　beauty　of　a　charming　form　moving　beside　him。　　He　enjoyed　their　tea　at　Ruffel's　in　the　High　Street；　and　came　out　thence　with　a　great　box　of　chocolates　swung　on　his　little　finger。　　He　enjoyed　the　drive　back　to　Chelsea　in　a　hansom；　smoking　his　cigar。　　She　had　promised　to　come　down　next　Sunday　and　play　to　him　again；　and　already　in　thought　he　was　plucking　carnations　and　early　roses　for　her　to　carry　back　to　town。　　It　was　a　pleasure　to　give　her　a　little　pleasure；　if　it　WERE　pleasure　from　an　old　chap　like　him！　　The　carriage　was　already　there　when　they　arrived。　Just　like　that　fellow；　who　was　always　late　when　he　was　wanted！　　Old　Jolyon　went　in　for　a　minute　to　say　good…bye。　　The　little　dark　hall　of　the　fiat　was　impregnated　with　a　disagreeable　odour　of　patchouli；　and　on　a　bench　against　the　wallits　only　furniturehe　saw　a　figure　sitting。　　He　heard　Irene　say　softly：　〃Just　one　minute。〃　　In　the　little　drawing…room　when　the　door　was　shut；　he　asked　gravely：　〃One　of　your　protegees？〃

〃Yes。　　Now　thanks　to　you；　I　can　do　something　for　her。〃

He　stood；　staring；　and　stroking　that　chin　whose　strength　had　frightened　so　many　in　its　time。　　The　idea　of　her　thus　actually　in　contact　with　this　outcast；　grieved　and　frightened　him。　　What　could　she　do　for　them？　　Nothing。　　Only　soil　and　make　trouble　for　herself；　perhaps。　　And　he　said：　〃Take　care；　my　dear！　　The　world　puts　the　worst　construction　on　everything。〃

〃I　know　that。〃

He　was　abashed　by　her　quiet　smile。　　〃Well　thenSunday；〃　he　murmured：　〃Good…bye。〃

She　put　her　cheek　forward　for　him　to　kiss。

〃Good…bye；〃　he　said　again；　〃take　care　of　yourself。〃　　And　he　went　out；　not　looking　towards　the　figure　on　the　bench。　　He　drove　home　by　way　of　Hammersmith；　that　he　might　stop　at　a　place　he　knew　of　and　tell　them　to　send　her　in　two　dozen　of　their　best　Burgundy。　　She　must　want　picking…up　sometimes！　　Only　in　Richmond　Park　did　he　remember　that　he　had　gone　up　to　order　himself　some　boots；　and　was　surprised　that　he　could　have　had　so　paltry　an　idea。




III


The　little　spirits　of　the　past　which　throng　an　old　man's　days　had　never　pushed　their　faces　up　to　his　so　seldom　as　in　the　seventy　hours　elapsing　before　Sunday　came。　　The　spirit　of　the　future；　with　the　charm　of　the　unknown；　put　up　her　lips　instead。　　Old　Jolyon　was　not　restless　now；　and　paid　no　visits　to　the　log；　because　she　was　coming　to　lunch。　　There　is　wonderful　finality　about　a　meal；　it　removes　a　world　of　doubts；　for　no　one　misses　meals　except　for　reasons　beyond　control。　　He　played　many　games　with　Holly　on　the　lawn；　pitching　them　up　to　her　who　was　batting　so　as　to　be　ready　to　bowl　to　Jolly　in　the　holidays。　　For　she　was　not　a　Forsyte；　but　Jolly　wasand　Forsytes　always　bat；　until　they　have　resigned　and　reached　the　age　of　eighty…five。　　The　dog　Balthasar；　in　attendance；　lay　on　the　ball　as　often　as　he　could；　and　the　page…boy　fielded；　till　his　face　was　like　the　harvest　moon。　　And　because　the　time　was　getting　shorter；　each　day　was　longer　and　more　golden　than　the　last。　　On　Friday　night　he　took　a　liver　pill；　his　side　hurt　him　rather；　and　though　it　was　not　the　liver　side；　there　is　no　remedy　like　that。　　Anyone　telling　him　that　he　had　found　a　new　excitement　in　life　and　that　excitement　was　not　good　for　him；　would　have　been　met　by　one　of　those　steady　and　rather　defiant　looks　of　his　deep…set　iron…g