man of property-第25节

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　an　illusive　look。　You　want　to　aim　all　through　the　decorations　at　what　I　call　charm。〃

Soames　said：　〃You　mean　that　my　wife　has　charm！〃

Bosinney　evaded　the　question。

〃You　should　have　a　clump　of　iris　plants　in　the　centre　of　that　court。〃

Soames　smiled　superciliously。

〃I'll　look　into　Beech's　some　time；〃　he　said；　〃and　see　what's　appropriate！〃

They；　found　little　else　to　say　to　each　other；　but　on　the　way　to　the　Station　Soames　asked：

〃I　suppose　you　find　Irene　very　artistic。〃

〃Yes。〃　The　abrupt　answer　was　as　distinct　a　snub　as　saying：　〃If　you　want　to　discuss　her　you　can　do　it　with　someone　else！〃

And　the　slow；　sulky　anger　Soames　had　felt　all　the　afternoon　burned　the　brighter　within　him。

Neither　spoke　again　till　they　were　close　to　the　Station；　then　Soames　asked：

〃When　do　you　expect　to　have　finished？〃

〃By　the　end　of　June；　if　you　really　wish　me　to　decorate　as　well。〃

Soames　nodded。　　〃But　you　quite　understand；'　he　said；　〃that　the　house　is　costing　me　a　lot　beyond　what　I　contemplated。　　I　may　as　well　tell　you　that　I　should　have　thrown　it　up；　only　I'm　not　in　the　habit　of　giving　up　what　I've　set　my　mind　on。〃

Bosinney　made　no　reply。　　And　Soames　gave　him　askance　a　look　of　dogged　dislikefor　in　spite　of　his　fastidious　air　and　that　supercilious；　dandified　taciturnity；　Soames；　with　his　set　lips　and　squared　chin；　was　not　unlike　a　bulldog。。。。

When；　at　seven　o'clock　that　evening；　June　arrived　at　62；　Montpellier　Square；　the　maid　Bilson　told　her　that　Mr。　Bosinney　was　in　the　drawing…room；　the　mistressshe　saidwas　dressing；　and　would　be　down　in　a　minute。　　She　would　tell　her　that　Miss　June　was　here。

June　stopped　her　at　once。

〃All　right；　Bilson；〃　she　said；　〃I'll　just　go　in。　　You；　needn't　hurry　Mrs。　Soames。〃

She　took　off　her　cloak；　and　Bilson；　with　an　understanding　look；　did　not　even　open　the　drawing…room　door　for　her；　but　ran　downstairs。

June　paused　for　a　moment　to　look　at　herself　in　the；　little　old…fashioned　silver　mirror　above　the　oaken　rug　chesta　slim；　imperious　young　figure；　with　a　small　resolute　face；　in　a　white　frock；　cut　moon…shaped　at　the　base　of　a　neck　too　slender　for　her　crown　of　twisted　red…gold　hair。

She　opened　the　drawing…room　door　softly；　meaning　to　take　him　by　surprise。　　The　room　was　filled　with　a　sweet　hot　scent　of　flowering　azaleas。

She　took　a　long　breath　of　the　perfume；　and　heard　Bosinney's　voice；　not　in　the　room；　but　quite　close；　saying。

〃Ah！　　there　were　such　heaps　of　things　I　wanted　to　talk　about；　and　now　we　shan't　have　time！〃

Irene's　voice　answered：　〃Why　not　at　dinner？〃

〃How　can　one　talk。。。。〃

June's　first　thought　was　to　go　away；　but　instead　she　crossed　to　the　long　window　opening　on　the　little　court。　　It　was　from　there　that　the　scent　of　the　azaleas　came；　and；　standing　with　their　backs　to　her；　their　faces　buried　in　the　goldenpink　blossoms；　stood　her　lover　and　Irene。

Silent　but　unashamed；　with　flaming　cheeks　and　angry　eyes；　the　girl　watched。

〃Come　on　Sunday　by　yourselfWe　can　go　over　the　house　together。〃

June　saw　Irene　look　up　at　him　through　her　screen　of　blossoms。　　It　was　not　the　look　of　a　coquette；　butfar　worse　to　the　watching　girlof　a　woman　fearful　lest　that　look　should　say　too　much。

〃I've　promised　to　go　for　a　drive　with　Uncle。。。。〃

〃The　big　one！　　Make　him　bring　you；　it's　only　ten　milesthe　very　thing　for　his　horses。〃

〃Poor　old　Uncle　Swithin！〃

A　wave　of　the　azalea　scent　drifted　into　June's　face；　she　felt　sick　and　dizzy。

〃Do！　　ah！　　do！〃

〃But　why？〃

〃I　must　see　you　thereI　thought　you'd　like　to　help　me。。。。〃

The　answer　seemed　to　the　girl　to　come　softly　with　a　tremble　from　amongst　the　blossoms：　〃So　I　do！〃

And　she　stepped　into　the　open　space　of　the　window。

〃How　stuffy　it　is　here！〃　she　said；　〃I　can't　bear　this　scent！〃

Her　eyes；　so　angry　and　direct；　swept　both　their　faces。

〃Were　you　talking　about　the　house？　　I　haven't　seen　it　yet；　you　knowshall　we　all　go　on　Sunday？〃'

》From　Irene's　face　the　colour　had　flown。

〃I　am　going　for　a　drive　that　day　with　Uncle　Swithin；〃　she　answered。

〃Uncle　Swithin！　　What　does　he　matter？　　You　can　throw　him　over！〃

〃I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　throwing　people　over！〃

There　was　a　sound　of　footsteps　and　June　saw　Soames　standing　just　behind　her。

〃Well！　if　you　are　all　ready；〃　said　Irene；　looking　from　one　to　the　other　with　a　strange　smile；　〃dinner　is　too！〃




CHAPTER　II

JUNE'S　　TREAT


Dinner　began　in　silence；　the　women　facing　one　another；　and　the　men。

In　silence　the　soup；　was　finishedexcellent；　if　a　little　thick；　and　fish　was　brought。　　In　silence　it　was　handed。

Bosinney　ventured：　〃It's　the　first　spring　day。〃

Irene　echoed　softly：　Yesthe　first　spring　day。

〃Spring！〃　said　June：　〃there　isn't　a　breath　of　air！〃　No　one　replied。

The　fish　was　taken　away；　a　fine　fresh　sole　from　Dover。　　And　Bilson　brought　champagne；　a　bottle　swathed　around　the　neck　with　white。。。。

Soames　said：　〃You'll　find　it　dry。〃

Cutlets　were　handed；　each　pink…frilled　about　the　legs。　　They　were　refused　by　June；　and　silence　fell。

Soames　said：　〃You'd　better　take　a　cutlet；　June；　there's　nothing　coming。〃

But　June　again　refused；　so　they　were　borne　away。　　And　then　Irene　asked：　〃Phil；　have　you　heard　my　blackbird？〃

Bosinney　answered：　〃Ratherhe's　got　a　hunting…song。　　As　I　came　round　I　heard　him　in　the　Square。〃

〃He's　such　a　darling！〃

〃Salad；　sir？〃　Spring　chicken　was　removed。

But　Soames　was　speaking：　〃The　asparagus　is　very　poor。　　Bosinney；　glass　of　sherry　with　your　sweet？　　June；　you're　drinking　nothing！〃

June　said：　〃You　know　I　never　do。　　Wine's　such　horrid　stuff！〃

An　apple　charlotte　came　upon　a　silver　dish；　And　smilingly　Irene　said：　〃The　azaleas　are　so　wonderful　this　year！〃

To　this　Bosinney　murmured：　〃Wonderful！　The　scent's　extraordinary！〃

June　said：　〃How　can　you　like　the　scent？　　Sugar；　please；　Bilson。'

Sugar　was　handed　her；　and　Soames　remarked：　〃'This　charlottes　good！〃

The　charlotte　was　removed。　　Long　silence　followed。　　Irene；　beckoning；　said：　〃Take　out　the　azalea；　Bilson。　　Miss　June　can't　bear　the　scent。〃

〃No；　let　it　stay；〃　said　June。

Olives　from　France；　with　Russian　caviare；　were　placed　on　little　plates。　　And　Soames　remarked：　〃Why　can't　we　have　the　Spanish？　But　no　one　answered。

The　olives　were　removed。　　Lifting　her　tumbler　June　demanded：　〃Give　me　some　water；　please。〃　　Water　was　given　her。　　A　silver　tray　was　brought；　with　German　plums。　　There　was　a　lengthy　pause。　　In　perfect　harmony　all　were　eating　them。

Bosinney　counted　up　the　stones：　〃This　yearnext　yearsome　time。〃

Irene　finished　softly：　〃Never！　There　was　such　a　glorious　sunset。　The　sky's　all　ruby　stillso　beautiful！〃

He　answered：　〃Underneath　the　dark。〃

Their　eyes　had　met；　and　June　cried　scornfully：　〃A　London　sunset！〃

Egyptian　cigarettes　were　handed　in　a　silver　box。　　Soames；　taking　one；　remarked：　〃What　time's　your　play　begin？〃

No　one　replied；　and　Turkish　coffee　followed　in　enamelled　cups。

Irene；　smiling　quietly；　said：　〃If　only。。。。〃

〃Only　what？〃　said　June。

〃If　only　it　could　always　be　the　spring！〃

Brandy　was　handed；　it　was　pale　and　old。

Soames　said：　〃Bosinney；　better　take　some　brandy。〃

Bosinney　took　a　glass；　they　all　arose。

〃You　want　a　cab？〃　asked　Soames。

June　answered：　〃No！　My　cloaks　Please；　Bilson。〃　　Her　cloak　was　brought。

Irene；　from　the　window；　murmured：　〃Such　a　lovely　night！　　The　stars　are　coming　out！〃

Soames　added：　〃Well；　I　hope　you'll　both　enjoy　yourselves。〃

》From　the　door　June　answered：　〃Thanks。　　Come；　Phil。〃

Bosinney　cried：　〃I'm　coming。〃

Soames　smiled　a　sneering　smile；　and　said：　〃I　wish　you　luck！〃

And　at　the　door　Irene　watched　them　go。

Bosinney　called：　〃Good　night！〃

〃Good　night！〃　she　answered　softly。。。。

June　made　her　lover　take　her　on　the　top　of　a　'bus；　saying　she　wanted　air；　and　there　sat　silent；　with　her　face　to　the　breeze。

The　driver　turned　once　or　twice；　with　the　intention　of　venturing　a　remark；　but　thought　better　of　it。　　They　were　a　lively　couple！　The　spring　had　got　into　his　blood；　too；　he　felt　the　need　for　letting　steam　escape；　and　clucked　his　tongue；　flourishing　his　whip；　wheeling　his　horses；　and　even　they；　poor　things；　had　smelled　the　spring；　and　for　a　brief　half…hour　spurned　the　pavement　with　happy　hoofs。

The　whole　town　was　alive；　the　boughs；　curled　upward　with　their　decking　of　young　leaves；　awaited　some　gift　the　breeze　could　bring。　　New…lighted　lamps　were　gaining　mastery；　and　the　faces　of　the　crowd　showed　pale　under　that　glare；　while　on　high　the　great　white　clouds　slid　swiftly；　softly；　over　the　purple　sky。

Men　in；　evening　dress　had　thrown　back　overcoats；　stepping　jauntily　up　the　steps　of　Clubs；　working　folk　loitered；　and　women…　…those　women　who　at　that　time　of　night　are　solitarysolitary　and　moving　eastward　in　a　streamswung　slowly　along；　with　expectation　in　their　gait；　dreaming　of　good　wine　and　a　good　supper；　orfor　an　unwonted　minute；　of　kisses　given　for　love。

Those　countless　figures；　going　their　ways　under　the　lamps　and　the　moving…sky；　had　one　and　all　received　some　restless　blessing　from　the　stir　of　spring。　　And　one　and　all；　like　those　clubmen　with　their　opened　coats；　had　shed　something　of　caste；　and　creed；　and　custom；　and　by　the　cock　of　their　hats；　the　pace　of　their　walk；　their　laughter；　or　their　silence；　revealed　their　common　kinship　under　the　pa