man of property- 第41部分

〃Before　we　were　married　you　promised　to　let　me　go　if　our　marriage　was　not　a　success。　　Is　it　a　success？〃

Soames　frowned。

〃Success；〃　he　stammered〃it　would　be　a　success　if　you　behaved　yourself　properly！〃

〃I　have　tried；〃　said　Irene。　　〃Will　you　let　me　go。

Soames　turned　away。　　Secretly　alarmed；　he　took　refuge　in　bluster。

〃Let　you　go？　　You　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。　　Let　you　go？　　How　can　I　let　you　go？　　We're　married；　aren't　we？　　Then；　what　are　you　talking　about？　　For　God's　sake；　don't　let's　have　any　of　this　sort　of　nonsense！　　Get　your　hat　on；　and　come　and　sit　in　the　Park。〃

〃Then；　you　won't　let　me　go？〃

He　felt　her　eyes　resting　on　him　with　a　strange；　touching　look。

〃Let　you　go！〃　he　said；　〃and　what　on　earth　would　you　do　with　yourself　if　I　did？　　You've　got　no　money！〃

〃I　could　manage　somehow。〃

He　took　a　swift　turn　up　and　down　the　room；　then　came　and　stood　before　her。

〃Understand；〃　he　said；　〃once　and　for　all；　I　won't　have　you　say　this　sort　of　thing。　　Go　and　get　your　hat　on！〃

She　did　not　move。

〃I　suppose；〃　said　Soames；　〃you　don't　want　to　miss　Bosinney　if　he　comes！〃

Irene　got　up　slowly　and　left　the　room。　　She　came　down　with　her　hat　on。

They　went　out。

In　the　Park；　the　motley　hour　of　mid…afternoon；　when　foreigners　and　other　pathetic　folk　drive；　thinking　themselves　to　be　in　fashion；　had　passed；　the　right；　the　proper；　hour　had　come；　was　nearly　gone；　before　Soames　and　Irene　seated　themselves　under　the　Achilles　statue。

It　was　some　time　since　he　had　enjoyed　her　company　in　the　Park。　That　was　one　of　the　past　delights　of　the　first　two　seasons　of　his　married　life；　when　to　feel　himself　the　possessor　of　this　gracious　creature　before　all　London　had　been　his　greatest；　though　secret；　pride。　　How　many　afternoons　had　he　not　sat　beside　her；　extremely　neat；　with　light　grey　gloves　and　faint；　supercilious　smile；　nodding　to　acquaintances；　and　now　and　again　removing　his　hat。

His　light　grey　gloves　were　still　on　his　hands；　and　on　his　lips　his　smile　sardonic；　but　where　the　feeling　in　his　heart？

The　seats　were　emptying　fast；　but　still　he　kept　her　there；　silent　and　pale；　as　though　to　work　out　a　secret　punishment。　　Once　or　twice　he　made　some　comment；　and　she　bent　her　head；　or　answered　〃Yes〃　with　a　tired　smile。

Along　the　rails　a　man　was　walking　so　fast　that　people　stared　after　him　when　he　passed。

〃Look　at　that　ass！〃　said　Soames；　〃he　must　be　mad　to　walk　like　that　in　this　heat！〃

He　turned；　Irene　had　made　a　rapid　movement。

〃Hallo！〃　he　said：　〃it's　our　friend　the　Buccaneer！〃

And　he　sat　still；　with　his　sneering　smile；　conscious　that　Irene　was　sitting　still；　and　smiling　too。

〃Will　she　bow　to　him？〃　he　thought。

But　she　made　no　sign。

Bosinney　reached　the　end　of　the　rails；　and　came　walking　back　amongst　the　chairs；　quartering　his　ground　like　a　pointer。　　When　he　saw　them　he　stopped　dead；　and　raised　his　hat。

The　smile　never　left　Soames'　face；　he　also　took　off　his　hat。

Bosinney　came　up；　looking　exhausted；　like　a　man　after　hard　physical　exercise；　the　sweat　stood　in　drops　on　his　brow；　and　Soames'　smile　seemed　to　say：　〃You've　had　a　trying　time；　my　friend　。。。。　　What　are　you　doing　in　the　Park？〃　he　asked。　　〃We　thought　you　despised　such　frivolity！〃

Bosinney　did　not　seem　to　hear；　he　made　his　answer　to　Irene：　〃I've　been　round　to　your　place；　I　hoped　I　should　find　you　in。〃

Somebody　tapped　Soames　on　the　back；　and　spoke　to　him；　and　in　the　exchange　of　those　platitudes　over　his　shoulder；　he　missed　her　answer；　and　took　a　resolution。

〃We're　just　going　in；〃　he　said　to　Bosinney；　〃you'd　better　come　back　to　dinner　with　us。〃　Into　that　invitation　he　put　a　strange　bravado；　a　stranger　pathos：　〃You；　can't　deceive　me；〃　his　look　and　voice　seemed　saying；　〃but　seeI　trust　youI'm　not　afraid　of　you！〃

They　started　back　to　Montpellier　Square　together；　Irene　between　them。　　In　the　crowded　streets　Soames　went　on　in　front。　　He　did　not　listen　to　their　conversation；　the　strange　resolution　of　trustfulness　he　had　taken　seemed　to　animate　even　his　secret　conduct。　　Like　a　gambler；　he　said　to　himself：　'It's　a　card　I　dare　not　throw　awayI　must　play　it　for　what　it's　worth。　　I　have　not　too　many　chances。'

He　dressed　slowly；　heard　her　leave　her　room　and　go　downstairs；　and；　for　full　five　minutes　after；　dawdled　about　in　his　dressing…　room。　　Then　he　went　down；　purposely　shutting　the　door　loudly　to　show　that　he　was　coming。　　He　found　them　standing　by　the　hearth；　perhaps　talking；　perhaps　not；　he　could　not　say。

He　played　his　part　out　in　the　farce；　the　long　evening　through　his　manner　to　his　guest　more　friendly　than　it　had　ever　been　before；　and　when　at　last　Bosinney　went；　he　said：　〃You　must　come　again　soon；　Irene　likes　to　have　you　to　talk　about　the　house！〃　Again　his　voice　had　the　strange　bravado　and　the　stranger　pathos；　but　his　hand　was　cold　as　ice。

Loyal　to　his　resolution；　he　turned　away　from　their　parting；　turned　away　from　his　wife　as　she　stood　under　the　hanging　lamp　to　say　good…nightaway　from　the　sight　of　her　golden　head　shining　so　under　the　light；　of　her　smiling　mournful　lips；　away　from　the　sight　of　Bosinney's　eyes　looking　at　her；　so　like　a　dog's　looking　at　its　master。

And　he　went　to　bed　with　the　certainty　that　Bosinney　was　in　love　with　his　wife。

The　summer　night　was　hot；　so　hot　and　still　that　through　every　opened　window　came　in　but　hotter　air。　　For　long　hours　he　lay　listening　to　her　breathing。

She　could　sleep；　but　he　must　lie　awake。　　And；　lying　awake；　he　hardened　himself　to　play　the　part　of　the　serene　and　trusting　husband。

In　the　small　hours　he　slipped　out　of　bed；　and　passing　into　his　dressing…room；　leaned　by　the　open　window。

He　could　hardly　breathe。

A　night　four　years　ago　came　back　to　himthe　night　but　one　before　his　marriage；　as　hot　and　stifling　as　this。

He　remembered　how　he　had　lain　in　a　long　cane　chair　in　the　window　of　his　sitting…room　off　Victoria　Street。　　Down　below　in　a　side　street　a　man　had　banged　at　a　door；　a　woman　had　cried　out；　he　remembered；　as　though　it　were　now；　the　sound　of　the　scuffle；　the　slam　of　the　door；　the　dead　silence　that　followed。　　And　then　the　early　water…cart；　cleansing　the　reek　of　the　streets；　had　approached　through　the　strange…seeming；　useless　lamp…light；　he　seemed　to　hear　again　its　rumble；　nearer　and　nearer；　till　it　passed　and　slowly　died　away。

He　leaned　far　out　of　the　dressing…room　window　over　the　little　court　below；　and　saw　the　first　light　spread。　　The　outlines　of　dark　walls　and　roofs　were　blurred　for　a　moment；　then　came　out　sharper　than　before。

He　remembered　how　that　other　night　he　had　watched　the　lamps　paling　all　the　length　of　Victoria　Street；　how　he　had　hurried　on　his　clothes　and　gone　down　into　the　street；　down　past　houses　and　squares；　to　the　street　where　she　was　staying；　and　there　had　stood　and　looked　at　the　front　of　the　little　house；　as　still　and　grey　as　the　face　of　a　dead　man。

And　suddenly　it　shot　through　his　mind；　like　a　sick　man's　fancy：　What's　he　doing？that　fellow　who　haunts　me；　who　was　here　this　evening；　who's　in　love　with　my　wifeprowling　out　there；　perhaps；　looking　for　her　as　I　know　he　was　looking　for　her　this　afternoon；　watching　my　house　now；　for　all　I　can　tell！

He　stole　across　the　landing　to　the　front　of　the　house；　stealthily　drew　aside　a　blind；　and　raised　a　window。

The　grey　light　clung　about　the　trees　of　the　square；　as　though　Night；　like　a　great　downy　moth；　had　brushed　them　with　her　wings。　The　lamps　were　still　alight；　all　pale；　but　not　a　soul　stirredno　living　thing　in　sight

Yet　suddenly；　very　faint；　far　off　in　the　deathly　stillness；　he　heard　a　cry　writhing；　like　the　voice　of　some　wandering　soul　barred　out　of　heaven；　and　crying　for　its　happiness。　　There　it　was　againagain！　　Soames　shut　the　window；　shuddering。

Then　he　thought：　'Ah！　　it's　only　the　peacocks；　across　the　water。'




CHAPTER　XII

JUNE　PAYS　SOME　CALLS



Jolyon　stood　in　the　narrow　hall　at　Broadstairs；　inhaling　that　odour　of　oilcloth　and　herrings　which　permeates　all　respectable　seaside　lodging…houses。　　On　a　chaira　shiny　leather　chair；　displaying　its　horsehair　through　a　hole　in　the　top　left…hand　cornerstood　a　black　despatch　case。　　This　he　was　filling　with　papers；　with　the　Times；　and　a　bottle　of　Eau…de　Cologne。　　He　had　meetings　that　day　of　the　'Globular　Gold　Concessions'　and　the　'New　Colliery　Company；　Limited；'　to　which　he　was　going　up；　for　he　never　missed　a　Board；　to　'miss　a　Board'　would　be　one　more　piece　of　evidence　that　he　was　growing　old；　and　this　his　jealous　Forsyte　spirit　could　not　bear。

His　eyes；　as　he　filled　that　black　despatch　case；　looked　as　if　at　any　moment　they　might　blaze　up　with　anger。　　So　gleams　the　eye　of　a　schoolboy；　baited　by　a　ring　of　his　companions；　but　he　controls　himself；　deterred　by　the　fearful　odds　against　him。　　And　old　Jolyon　controlled　himself；　keeping　down；　with　his　masterful　restraint　now　slowly　wearing　out；　the　irritation　fostered　in　him　by　the　conditions　of　his　life。

He　had　received　from　his　son　an　unpractical　letter；　in　which　by　rambling　generalities　the　boy　seemed　trying　to　get　out　of　answering　a　plain　question。　　'I've　seen　Bosinney；'　he　said；　'he　is　not　a　criminal。　　The　more　I　see　of　people　the　more　I　am　convinced　that　they　are　never　good　or　badmerely　comic；　or　pathetic。　　You　probably　don't　agree　with　me！'

Old　Jolyon　did　not；　he　considered　it　cynical　to　so　express　oneself；　he　had　not　yet　reached　that　point　of　old　age　when　even　Forsytes；　bereft　of　those　illusions　and　principles　which　they　have　cherished　carefully　for　practical　purposes　but　never　believed　in；　bereft　of　all　corporeal　enjoyment；　stricken　to　the　very　heart　by　having　nothing　left　to　hope　forbreak　through　the　barriers　of　reserve　and　say　things　they　would　never　have　believed　themselves　capable　of　saying。

Perhaps　he　did　not　believe　in　'goodness'　and　'badness'　any　more　than　his　son；　but　as　he　would　have　said：　He　didn't　knowcouldn't　tell；　there　might　be　something　in　it；　and　why；　by　an　unnecessary　expression　of　disbelief；　deprive　yourself　of　possible　advantage？

Accustomed　to　spend　his　holidays　among　the　mountains；　though　（like　a　true　Forsyte）　he　had　never　attempted　anything　too　adventurous　or　too　foolhardy；　he　had　been　passionately　fond　of　them。　　And　when　the　wonderful　view　（mentioned　in　Baedeker　'fatiguing　but　repaying'was　disclosed　to　him　after　the　effort　of　the　climb；　he　had　doubtless