man of property-第38节

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at　him；　indeed；　as　if　he　were　dirtand　yet　she　could　go　far　enough；　he　wouldn't　mind　betting。　　He　knew　women；　they　weren't　made　with　soft　eyes　and　figures　like　that　for　nothing；　as　that　fellow　Soames　would　jolly　soon　find　out；　if　there　were　anything　in　what　he　had　heard　about　this　Buccaneer　Johnny。

Rising　from　his　chair；　Dartie　took　a　turn　across　the　room；　ending　in　front　of　the　looking…glass　over　the　marble　chimney…piece；　and　there　he　stood　for　a　long　time　contemplating　in　the　glass　the　reflection　of　his　face。　　It　had　that　look；　peculiar　to　some　men；　of　having　been　steeped　in　linseed　oil；　with　its　waxed　dark　moustaches　and　the　little　distinguished　commencements　of　side　whiskers；　and　concernedly　he　felt　the　promise　of　a　pimple　on　the　side　of　his　slightly　curved　and　fattish　nose。

In　the　meantime　old　Jolyon　had　found　the　remaining　chair　in　Timothy's　commodious　drawing…room。　　His　advent　had　obviously　put　a　stop　to　the　conversation；　decided　awkwardness　having　set　in。　Aunt　Juley；　with　her　well…known　kindheartedness；　hastened　to　set　people　at　their　ease　again。

〃Yes；　Jolyon；〃　she　said；　〃we　were　just　saying　that　you　haven't　been　here　for　a　long　time；　but　we　mustn't　be　surprised。　　You're　busy；　of　course？　　James　was　just　saying　what　a　busy　time　of　year。。。。〃

〃Was　he？〃　said　old　Jolyon；　looking　hard　at　James。　　〃It　wouldn't　be　half　so　busy　if　everybody　minded　their　own　business。〃

James；　brooding　in　a　small　chair　from　which　his　knees　ran　uphill；　shifted　his　feet　uneasily；　and　put　one　of　them　down　on　the　cat；　which　had　unwisely　taken　refuge　from　old　Jolyon　beside　him。

〃Here；　you've　got　a　cat　here；〃　he　said　in　an　injured　voice；　withdrawing　his　foot　nervously　as　he　felt　it　squeezing　into　the　soft；　furry　body。

〃Several；〃　said　old　Jolyon；　looking　at　one　face　and　another；　〃I　trod　on　one　just　now。〃

A　silence　followed。

Then　Mrs。　Small；　twisting　her　fingers　and　gazing　round　with　'pathetic　calm；　asked：　〃And　how　is　dear　June？〃

A　twinkle　of　humour　shot　through　the　sternness　of　old　Jolyon's　eyes。　　Extraordinary　old　woman；　Juley！　　No　one　quite　like　her　for　saying　the　wrong　thing！

〃Bad！〃　he　said；　〃London　don't　agree　with　hertoo　many　people　about；　too　much　clatter　and　chatter　by　half。〃　　He　laid　emphasis　on　the　words；　and　again　looked　James　in　the　face。

Nobody　spoke。

A　feeling　of　its　being　too　dangerous　to　take　a　step　in　any　direction；　or　hazard　any　remark；　had　fallen　on　them　all。　Something　of　the　sense　of　the　impending；　that　comes　over　the　spectator　of　a　Greek　tragedy；　had　entered　that　upholstered　room；　filled　with　those　white…haired；　frockcoated　old　men；　and　fashionably　attired　women；　who　were　all　of　the　same　blood；　between　all　of　whom　existed　an　unseizable　resemblance。

Not　that　they　were　conscious　of　itthe　visits　of　such　fateful；　bitter　spirits　are　only　felt。

Then　Swithin　rose。　　He　would　not　sit　there；　feeling　like　thathe　was　not　to　be　put　down　by　anyone！　　And；　manoeuvring　round　the　room　with　added　pomp；　he　shook　hands　with　each　separately。

〃You　tell　Timothy　from　me；〃　he　said；　〃that　he　coddles　himself　too　much！〃　　Then；　turning　to　Francie；　whom　he　considered　'smart；'　he　added：　〃You　come　with　me　for　a　drive　one　of　these　days。〃　　But　this　conjured　up　the　vision　of　that　other　eventful　drive　which　had　been　so　much　talked　about；　and　he　stood　quite　still　for　a　second；　with　glassy　eyes；　as　though　waiting　to　catch　up　with　the　significance　of　what　he　himself　had　said；　then；　suddenly　recollecting　that　he　didn't　care　a　damn；　he　turned　to　old　Jolyon：　〃Well；　good…bye；　Jolyon！　　You　shouldn't　go　about　without　an　overcoat；　you'll　be　getting　sciatica　or　something！〃　　And；　kicking　the　cat　slightly　with　the　pointed　tip　of　his　patent　leather　boot；　he　took　his　huge　form　away。

When　he　had　gone　everyone　looked　secretly　at　the　others；　to　see　how　they　had　taken　the　mention　of　the　word　'drive'the　word　which　had　become　famous；　and　acquired　an　overwhelming　importance；　as　the　only　officialso　to　speaknews　in　connection　with　the　vague　and　sinister　rumour　clinging　to　the　family　tongue。

Euphemia；　yielding　to　an　impulse；　said　with　a　short　laugh：　〃I'm　glad　Uncle　Swithin　doesn't　ask　me　to　go　for　drives。〃

Mrs。　Small；　to　reassure　her　and　smooth　over　any　little　awkwardness　the　subject　might　have；　replied：　〃My　dear；　he　likes　to　take　somebody　well　dressed；　who　will　do　him　a　little　credit。　I　shall　never　forget　the　drive　he　took　me。　　It　was　an　experience！〃　　And　her　chubby　round　old　face　was　spread　for　a　moment　with　a　strange　contentment；　then　broke　into　pouts；　and　tears　came　into　her　eyes。　　She　was　thinking　of　that　long　ago　driving　tour　she　had　once　taken　with　Septimus　Small。

James；　who　had　relapsed　into　his　nervous　brooding　in　the　little　chair；　suddenly　roused　himself：　〃He's　a　funny　fellow；　Swithin；〃　he　said；　but　in　a　half…hearted　way。

Old　Jolyon's　silence；　his　stern　eyes；　held　them　all　in　a　kind　of　paralysis。　　He　was　disconcerted　himself　by　the　effect　of　his　own　wordsan　effect　which　seemed　to　deepen　the　importance　of　the　very　rumour　he　had　come　to　scotch；　but　he　was　still　angry。

He　had　not　done　with　them　yetNo；　nohe　would　give　them　another　rub　or　two

He　did　not　wish　to　rub　his　nieces；　he　had　no　quarrel　with　thema　young　and　presentable　female　always　appealed　to　old　Jolyon's　clemencybut　that　fellow　James；　and；　in　a　less　degree　perhaps；　those　others；　deserved　all　they　would　get。　　And　he；　too；　asked　for　Timothy。

As　though　feeling　that　some　danger　threatened　her　younger　brother；　Aunt　Juley　suddenly　offered　him　tea：　〃There　it　is；〃　she　said；　〃all　cold　and　nasty；　waiting　for　you　in　the　back　drawing　room；　but　Smither　shall　make　you　some　fresh。〃

Old　Jolyon　rose：　〃Thank　you；〃　he　said；　looking　straight　at　James；　〃but　I've　no　time　for　tea；　andscandal；　and　the　rest　of　it！　It's　time　I　was　at　home。　　Good…bye；　Julia；　good…bye；　Hester；　good…bye；　Winifred。〃

Without　more　ceremonious　adieux；　he　marched　out。

Once　again　in　his　cab；　his　anger　evaporated；　for　so　it　ever　was　with　his　wrathwhen　he　had　rapped　out；　it　was　gone。　　Sadness　came　over　his　spirit。　　He　had　stopped　their　mouths；　maybe；　but　at　what　a　cost！　　At　the　cost　of　certain　knowledge　that　the　rumour　he　had　been　resolved　not　to　believe　was　true。　　June　was　abandoned；　and　for　the　wife　of　that　fellow's　son！　　He　felt　it　was　true；　and　hardened　himself　to　treat　it　as　if　it　were　not；　but　the　pain　he　hid　beneath　this　resolution　began　slowly；　surely；　to　vent　itself　in　a　blind　resentment　against　James　and　his　son。

The　six　women　and　one　man　left　behind　in　the　little　drawing…room　began　talking　as　easily　as　might　be　after　such　an　occurrence；　for　though　each　one　of　them　knew　for　a　fact　that　he　or　she　never　talked　scandal；　each　one　of　them　also　knew　that　the　other　six　did；　all　were　therefore　angry　and　at　a　loss。　　James　only　was　silent；　disturbed；　to　the　bottom　of　his　soul。

Presently　Francie　said：　〃Do　you　know；　I　think　Uncle　Jolyon　is　terribly　changed　this　last　year。　　What　do　you　think；　Aunt　Hester？〃

Aunt　Hester　made　a　little　movement　of　recoil：　〃Oh；　ask　your　Aunt　Julia！〃　she　said；　〃I　know　nothing　about　it。〃

No　one　else　was　afraid　of　assenting；　and　James　muttered　gloomily　at　the　floor：　〃He's　not　half　the　man　he　was。〃

〃I've　noticed　it　a　long　time；〃　went　on　Francie；　〃he's　aged　tremendously。〃

Aunt　Juley　shook　her　head；　her　face　seemed　suddenly　to　have　become　one　immense　pout。

〃Poor　dear　Jolyon；〃　she　said；　〃somebody　ought　to　see　to　it　for　him！〃

There　was　again　silence；　then；　as　though　in　terror　of　being　left　solitarily　behind；　all　five　visitors　rose　simultaneously；　and　took　their　departure。

Mrs。　Small；　Aunt　Hester；　and　their　cat　were　left　once　more　alone；　the　sound　of　a　door　closing　in　the　distance　announced　the　approach　of　Timothy。

That　evening；　when　Aunt　Hester　had　just　got　off　to　sleep　in　the　back　bedroom　that　used　to　be　Aunt　Juley's　before　Aunt　Juley　took　Aunt　Ann's；　her　door　was　opened；　and　Mrs。　Small；　in　a　pink　night…cap；　a　candle　in　her　hand；　entered：　〃Hester！〃　she　said。　〃Hester！〃

Aunt　Hester　faintly　rustled　the　sheet。

〃Hester；〃　repeated　Aunt　Juley；　to　make　quite　sure　that　she　had　awakened　her；　〃I　am　quite　troubled　about　poor　dear　Jolyon。　What；〃　Aunt　Juley　dwelt　on　the　word；　〃do　you　think　ought　to　be　done？〃

Aunt　Hester　again　rustled　the　sheet；　her　voice　was　heard　faintly　pleading：　〃Done？　　How　should　I　know？〃

Aunt　Juley　turned　away　satisfied；　and　closing　the　door　with　extra　gentleness　so　as　not　to　disturb　dear　Hester；　let　it　slip　through　her　fingers　and　fall　to　with　a　'crack。'

Back　in　her　own　room；　she　stood　at　the　window　gazing　at　the　moon　over　the　trees　in　the　Park；　through　a　chink　in　the　muslin　curtains；　close　drawn　lest　anyone　should　see。　　And　there；　with　her　face　all　round　and　pouting　in　its　pink　cap；　and　her　eyes　wet；　she　thought　of　'dear　Jolyon；'　so　old　and　so　lonely；　and　how　she　could　be　of　some　use　to　him；　and　how　he　would　come　to　love　her；　as　she　had　never　been　loved　sincesince　poor　Septimus　went　away。




CHAPTER　VIII

DANCE　AT　ROGER'S


Roger's　house　in　Prince's　Gardens　was　brilliantly　alight。　　Large　numbers　of　wax　candles　had　been　collected　and　placed　in　cut…glass　chandeliers；　and　the　parquet　floor　of　the　long；　double　drawing…room　reflected　these　constellations。　　An　appearance　of　real　spaciousness　had　been　secured　by　moving　out　all　the　furnitur