第24章

Moreover,Soames himself disliked the thought of that.He had tasted of the sordid side of sex during those long years of forced celibacy,secretively,and always with disgust,for he was fastidious,and his sense of law and order innate.He wanted no hole and corner liaison.A marriage at the Embassy in Paris,a few months'travel,and he could bring Annette back quite separated from a past which in truth was not too distinguished,for she only kept the accounts in her mother's Soho Restaurant;he could bring her back as something very new and chic with her French taste and self-possession,to reign at 'The Shelter'near Mapledurham.On Forsyte 'Change and among his riverside friends it would be current that he had met a charming French girl on his travels and married her.There would be the flavour of romance,and a certain cachet about a French wife.No!He was not at all afraid of that.It was only this cursed undivorced condition of his,and--and the question whether Annette would take him,which he dared not put to the touch until he had a clear and even dazzling future to offer her.

In his aunts'drawing-room he heard with but muffled ears those usual questions:How was his dear father?Not going out,of course,now that the weather was turning chilly?Would Soames be sure to tell him that Hester had found boiled holly leaves most comforting for that pain in her side;a poultice every three hours,with red flannel afterwards.And could he relish just a little pot of their very best prune preserve it was so delicious this year,and had such a wonderful effect.Oh!and about the Darties--had Soames heard that dear Winifred was having a most distressing time with Montague?Timothy thought she really ought to have protect-ion.It was said--but Soames mustn't take this for certain--that he had given some of Winifred's jewellery to a dreadful dancer.It was such a bad example for dear Val just as he was going to college.Soames had not heard?Oh,but he must go and see his sister and look into it at once!And did he think these Boers were really going to resist?Timothy was in quite a stew about it.The price of Consols was so high,and he had such a lot of money in them.Did Soames think they must go down if there was a war?

Soames nodded.But it would be over very quickly.It would be so bad for Timothy if it wasn't.And of course Soames'dear father would feel it very much at his age.Luckily poor dear Roger had been spared this dreadful anxiety.And Aunt Juley with a little handkerchief wiped away the large tear trying to climb the permanent pout on her now quite withered left cheek;she was remembering dear Roger,and all his originality,and how he used to stick pins into her when they were little together.Aunt Hester,with her instinct for avoiding the unpleasant,here chimed in:Did Soames think they would make Mr.Chamberlain Prime Minister at once?He would settle it all so quickly.She would like to see that old Kruger sent to St.Helena.She could remember so well the news of Napoleon's death,and what a,relief it had been to his grandfather.Of course she and Juley."We were in pantalettes then,my dear"--had not felt it much at the time.

Soames took a cup of tea from her,drank it quickly,and ate three of those macaroons for which Timothy's was famous.His faint,pale,supercilious smile had deepened just a little.Really,his family remained hopelessly provincial,however much of London they might possess between them.In these go-ahead days their provinc-ialism stared out even more than it used to.Why,old Nicholas was still a Free Trader,and a member of that antediluvian home of Liberalism,the Remove Club--though,to be sure,the members were pretty well all Conservatives now,or he himself could not have joined;and Timothy,they said,still wore a nightcap.Aunt Juley spoke again.Dear Soames was looking so well,hardly a day older than he did when dear Ann died,and they were all there together,dear Jolyon,and dear Swithin,and dear Roger.She paused and caught the tear which had climbed the pout on her right cheek.Did he--did he ever hear anything of Irene nowadays?Aunt Hester visibly interposed her shoulder.Really,Juley was always saying something!The smile left Soames'face,and he put his cup down.

Here was his subject broached for him,and for all his desire to expand,he could not take advantage.

Aunt Juley went on rather hastily:

"They say dear Jolyon first left her that fifteen thousand out and out;then of course he saw it would not be right,and made it for her life only."Had Soames heard that?

Soames nodded.

"Your cousin Jolyon is a widower now.He is her trustee;you knew that,of course?"Soames shook his head.He did know,but wished to show no interest.Young Jolyon and he had not met since the day of Bosinney's death.

"He must be quite middle-aged by now,"went on Aunt Juley dreamily.

"Let me see,he was born when your dear uncle lived in Mount Street;long before they went to Stanhope Gate in December.Just before that dreadful Commune.Over fifty!Fancy that!Such a pretty baby,and we were all so proud of him;the very first of you all."Aunt Juley sighed,and a lock of not quite her own hair came loose and straggled,so that Aunt Hester gave a little shiver.

Soames rose,he was experiencing a curious piece of self-discovery.

That old wound to his pride and self-esteem was not yet closed.He had come thinking he could talk of it,even wanting to talk of his fettered condition,and--behold!he was shrinking away from this reminder by Aunt Juley,renowned for her Malapropisms.

Oh,Soames was not going already!

Soames smiled a little vindictively,and said:

"Yes.Good-bye.Remember me to Uncle Timothy!"And,leaving a cold kiss on each forehead,whose wrinkles seemed to try and cling to his lips as if longing to be kissed away,he left them looking brightly after him--dear Soames,it had been so good of him to come to-day,when they were not feeling very.!

With compunction tweaking at his chest Soames descended the stairs,where was always that rather pleasant smell of camphor and port wine,and house where draughts are not permitted.The poor old things--he had not meant to be unkind!And in the street he instantly forgot them,repossessed by the image of Annette and the thought of the cursed coil around him.Why had he not pushed the thing through and obtained divorce when that wretched Bosinney was run over,and there was evidence galore for the asking!And he turned towards his sister Winifred Dartie's residence in Green Street,Mayfair.