man of property-第64节

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'I　think　I　have　taken　nothing　that　you　or　your　people　have　given　me。'　　And　that　was　all。

He　looked　at　the　clasps　and　bracelets　of　diamonds　and　pearls；　at　the　little　flat　gold　watch　with　a　great　diamond　set　in　sapphires；　at　the　chains　and　rings；　each　in　its　nest；　and　the　tears　rushed　up　in　his　eyes　and　dropped　upon　them。

Nothing　that　she　could　have　done；　nothing　that　she　had　done；　brought　home　to　him　like　this　the　inner　significance　of　her　act。　For　the　moment；　perhaps；　he　understood　nearly　all　there　was　to　understandunderstood　that　she　loathed　him；　that　she　had　loathed　him　for　years；　that　for　all　intents　and　purposes　they　were　like　people　living　in　different　worlds；　that　there　was　no　hope　for　him；　never　had　been；　even；　that　she　had　sufferedthat　she　was　to　be　pitied。

In　that　moment　of　emotion　he　betrayed　the　Forsyte　in　himforgot　himself；　his　interests；　his　propertywas　capable　of　almost　anything；　was　lifted　into　the　pure　ether　of　the　selfless　and　unpractical。

Such　moments　pass　quickly。

And　as　though　with　the　tears　he　had　purged　himself　of　weakness；　he　got　up；　locked　the　box；　and　slowly；　almost　trembling；　carried　it　with　him　into　the　other　room。




CHAPTER　VII

JUNE'S　VICTORY


June　had　waited　for　her　chance；　scanning　the　duller　columns　of　the　journals；　morning　and　evening　with　an　assiduity　which　at　first　puzzled　old　Jolyon；　and　when　her　chance　came；　she　took　it　with　all　the　promptitude　and　resolute　tenacity　of　her　character。

She　will　always　remember　best　in　her　life　that　morning　when　at　last　she　saw　amongst　the　reliable　Cause　List　of　the　Times　newspaper；　under　the　heading　of　Court　XIII；　Mr。　Justice　Bentham；　the　case　of　Forsyte　v。　Bosinney。

Like　a　gambler　who　stakes　his　last　piece　of　money；　she　had　prepared　to　hazard　her　all　upon　this　throw；　it　was　not　her　nature　to　contemplate　defeat。　　How；　unless　with　the　instinct　of　a　woman　in　love；　she　knew　that　Bosinney's　discomfiture　in　this　action　was　assured；　cannot　be　toldon　this　assumption；　however；　she　laid　her　plans；　as　upon　a　certainty。

Half　past　eleven　found　her　at　watch　in　the　gallery　of　Court　XIII。；　and　there　she　remained　till　the　case　of　Forsyte　v。　Bosinney　was　over。　　Bosinney's　absence　did　not　disquiet　her；　she　had　felt　instinctively　that　he　would　not　defend　himself。　　At　the　end　of　the　judgment　she　hastened　down；　and　took　a　cab　to　his　rooms。

She　passed　the　open　street…door　and　the　offices　on　the　three　lower　floors　without　attracting　notice；　not　till　she　reached　the　top　did　her　difficulties　begin。

Her　ring　was　not　answered；　she　had　now　to　make　up　her　mind　whether　she　would　go　down　and　ask　the　caretaker　in　the　basement　to　let　her　in　to　await　Mr。　Bosinney's　return；　or　remain　patiently　outside　the　door；　trusting　that　no　one　would；　come　up。　　She　decided　on　the　latter　course。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　had　passed　in　freezing　vigil　on　the　landing；　before　it　occurred　to　her　that　Bosinney　had　been　used　to　leave　the　key　of　his　rooms　under　the　door…mat。　　She　looked　and　found　it　there。　　For　some　minutes　she　could　not　decide　to　make　use　of　it；　at　last　she　let　herself　in　and　left　the　door　open　that　anyone　who　came　might　see　she　was　there　on　business。

This　was　not　the　same　June　who　had　paid　the　trembling　visit　five　months　ago；　those　months　of　suffering　and　restraint　had　made　her　less　sensitive；　she　had　dwelt　on　this　visit　so　long；　with　such　minuteness；　that　its　terrors　were　discounted　beforehand。　　She　was　not　there　to　fail　this　time；　for　if　she　failed　no　one　could　help　her。

Like　some　mother　beast　on　the　watch　over　her　young；　her　little　quick　figure　never　stood　still　in　that　room；　but　wandered　from　wall　to　wall；　from　window　to　door；　fingering　now　one　thing；　now　another。　　There　was　dust　everywhere；　the　room　could　not　have　been　cleaned　for　weeks；　and　June；　quick　to　catch　at　anything　that　should　buoy　up　her　hope；　saw　in　it　a　sign　that　he　had　been　obliged；　for　economy's　sake；　to　give　up　his　servant。

She　looked　into　the　bedroom；　the　bed　was　roughly　made；　as　though　by　the　hand　of　man。　　Listening　intently；　she　darted　in；　and　peered　into　his　cupboards。　　A　few　shirts　and　collars；　a　pair　of　muddy　bootsthe　room　was　bare　even　of　garments。

She　stole　back　to　the　sitting…room；　and　now　she　noticed　the　absence　of　all　the　little　things　he　had　set　store　by。　　The　clock　that　had　been　his　mother's；　the　field…glasses　that　had　hung　over　the　sofa；　two　really　valuable　old　prints　of　Harrow；　where　his　father　had　been　at　school；　and　last；　not　least；　the　piece　of　Japanese　pottery　she　herself　had　given　him。　　All　were　gone；　and　in　spite　of　the　rage　roused　within　her　championing　soul　at　the　thought　that　the　world　should　treat　him　thus；　their　disappearance　augured　happily　for　the　success　of　her　plan。

It　was　while　looking　at　the　spot　where　the　piece　of　Japanese　pottery　had　stood　that　she　felt　a　strange　certainty　of　being　watched；　and；　turning；　saw　Irene　in　the　open　doorway。

The　two　stood　gazing　at　each　other　for　a　minute　in　silence；　then　June　walked　forward　and　held　out　her　hand。　　Irene　did　not　take　it。

When　her　hand　was　refused；　June　put　it　behind　her。　　Her　eyes　grew　steady　with　anger；　she　waited　for　Irene　to　speak；　and　thus　waiting；　took　in；　with　who…knows…what　rage　of　jealousy；　suspicion；　and　curiosity；　every　detail　of　her　friend's　face　and　dress　and　figure。

Irene　was　clothed　in　her　long　grey　fur；　the　travelling　cap　on　her　head　left　a　wave　of　gold　hair　visible　above　her　forehead。　　The　soft　fullness　of　the　coat　made　her　face　as　small　as　a　child's。

Unlike　June's　cheeks；　her　cheeks　had　no　colour　in　them；　but　were　ivory　white　and　pinched　as　if　with　cold。　　Dark　circles　lay　round　her　eyes。　　In　one　hand　she　held　a　bunch　of　violets。

She　looked　back　at　June；　no　smile　on　her　lips；　and　with　those　great　dark　eyes　fastened　on　her；　the　girl；　for　all　her　startled　anger；　felt　something　of　the　old　spell。

She　spoke　first；　after　all。

〃What　have　you　come　for？〃　　But　the　feeling　that　she　herself　was　being　asked　the　same　question；　made　her　add：　〃This　horrible　case。　I　came　to　tell　himhe　has　lost　it。〃

Irene　did　not　speak；　her　eyes　never　moved　from　June's　face；　and　the　girl　cried：

〃Don't　stand　there　as　if　you　were　made　of　stone！〃

Irene　laughed：　〃I　wish　to　God　I　were！〃

But　June　turned　away：　〃Stop！〃　she　cried；　〃don't　tell　me！　　I　don't　want　to　hear！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　what　you've　come　for。　　I　don't　want　to　hear！〃　And　like　some　uneasy　spirit；　she　began　swiftly　walking　to　and　fro。　　Suddenly　she　broke　out：

〃I　was　here　first。　　We　can't　both　stay　here　together！〃

On　Irene's　face　a　smile　wandered　up；　and　died　out　like　a　flicker　of　firelight。　　She　did　not　move。　　And　then　it　was　that　June　perceived　under　the　softness　arid　immobility　of　this　figure　something　desperate　and　resolved；　something　not　to　be　turned　away；　something　dangerous。　　She　tore　off　her　hat；　and；　putting　both　hands　to　her　brow；　pressed　back　the　bronze　mass　of　her　hair。

〃You　have　no　right　here！〃　she　cried　defiantly。

Irene　answered：　〃I　have　no　right　anywhere！

〃What　do　you　mean？〃

〃I　have　left　Soames。　　You　always　wanted　me　to！〃

June　put　her　hands　over　her　ears。

〃Don't！　　I　don't　want　to　hear　anythingI　don't　want　to　know　anything。　　It's　impossible　to　fight　with　you！　　What　makes　you　stand　like　that？　　Why　don't　you　go？〃

Irene's　lips　moved；　she　seemed　to　be　saying：　〃Where　should　I　go？〃

June　turned　to　the　window。　　She　could　see　the　face　of　a　clock　down　in　the　street。　　It　was　nearly　four。　　At　any　moment　he　might　come！　　She　looked　back　across　her　shoulder；　and　her　face　was　distorted　with　anger。

But　Irene　had　not　moved；　in　her　gloved　hands　she　ceaselessly　turned　and　twisted　the　little　bunch　of　violets。

The　tears　of　rage　and　disappointment　rolled　down　June's　cheeks。

〃How　could　you　come？〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　been　a　false　friend　to　me！〃

Again　Irene　laughed。　　June　saw　that　she　had　played　a　wrong　card；　and　broke　down。

〃Why　have　you　come？〃　she　sobbed。　　〃You've　ruined　my　life；　and　now　you　want　to　ruin　his！〃

Irene's　mouth　quivered；　her　eyes　met　June's　with　a　look　so　mournful　that　the　girl　cried　out　in　the　midst　of　her　sobbing；　〃No；　no！〃

But　Irene's　head　bent　till　it　touched　her　breast。　　She　turned；　and　went　quickly　out；　hiding　her　lips　with　the　little　bunch　of　violets。

June　ran　to　the　door。　　She　heard　the　footsteps　going　down　and　down。　　She　called　out：　〃Come　back；　Irene！　　Come　back！〃

The　footsteps　died　away。。。。

Bewildered　and　torn；　the　girl　stood　at　the　top　of　the　stairs。　Why　had　Irene　gone；　leaving　her　mistress　of　the　field？　　What　did　it　mean？　　Had　she　really　given　him　up　to　her？　　Or　had　she。。。？　And　she　was　the　prey　of　a　gnawing　uncertainty。。。。　　Bosinney　did　not　come。。。。

About　six　o'clock　that　afternoon　old　Jolyon　returned　from　Wistaria　Avenue；　where　now　almost　every　day　he　spent　some　hours；　and　asked　if　his　grand…daughter　were　upstairs。　　On　being　told　that　she　had　just　come　in；　he　sent　up　to　her　room　to　request　her　to　come　down　and　speak　to　him。

He　had　made　up　his　mind　to　tell　her　that　he　was　reconciled　with　her　father。　　In　future　bygones　must　be　bygones。　　He　would　no　longer　live　alone；　or　practically　alone；　in　this　great　house；　he　was　going　to　give　it　up；　and　take　one　in　the　country　for　his　son；　where　they　could　all　go　and　live　together。　　If　June　did　not　like　this；　she　coul