five tales-第49部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

paint　brush。

〃Dinner's　in　half　an　hour。　　You'd　like　to　wash　your　hands！　　I'll　take　you　to　June's　room。〃

He　saw　her　looking　round　eagerly；　what　changes　since　she　had　last　visited　this　house　with　her　husband；　or　her　lover；　or　both　perhaps　he　did　not　know；　could　not　say！　　All　that　was　dark；　and　he　wished　to　leave　it　so。　　But　what　changes！　　And　in　the　hall　he　said：

〃My　boy　Jo's　a　painter；　you　know。　　He's　got　a　lot　of　taste。　　It　isn't　mine；　of　course；　but　I've　let　him　have　his　way。〃

She　was　standing　very　still；　her　eyes　roaming　through　the　hall　and　music　room；　as　it　now　wasall　thrown　into　one；　under　the　great　skylight。　　Old　Jolyon　had　an　odd　impression　of　her。　　Was　she　trying　to　conjure　somebody　from　the　shades　of　that　space　where　the　colouring　was　all　pearl…grey　and　silver？　He　would　have　had　gold　himself；　more　lively　and　solid。　　But　Jo　had　French　tastes；　and　it　had　come　out　shadowy　like　that；　with　an　effect　as　of　the　fume　of　cigarettes　the　chap　was　always　smoking；　broken　here　and　there　by　a　little　blaze　of　blue　or　crimson　colour。　　It　was　not　his　dream！　Mentally　he　had　hung　this　space　with　those　gold…framed　masterpieces　of　still　and　stiller　life　which　he　had　bought　in　days　when　quantity　was　precious。　　And　now　where　were　they？　　Sold　for　a　song！　　That　something　which　made　him；　alone　among　Forsytes；　move　with　the　times　had　warned　him　against　the　struggle　to　retain　them。　　But　in　his　study　he　still　had　'Dutch　Fishing　Boats　at　Sunset。'

He　began　to　mount　the　stairs　with　her；　slowly；　for　he　felt　his　side。

〃These　are　the　bathrooms；〃　he　said；　〃and　other　arrangements。　　I've　had　them　tiled。　　The　nurseries　are　along　there。　　And　this　is　Jo's　and　his　wife's。　　They　all　communicate。　　But　you　remember；　I　expect。〃

Irene　nodded。　　They　passed　on；　up　the　gallery　and　entered　a　large　room　with　a　small　bed；　and　several　windows。

〃This　is　mine；〃　he　said。　　The　walls　were　covered　with　the　photographs　of　children　and　watercolour　sketches；　and　he　added　doubtfully：

〃These　are　Jo's。　　The　view's　first…rate。　　You　can　see　the　Grand　Stand　at　Epsom　in　clear　weather。〃

The　sun　was　down　now；　behind　the　house；　and　over　the　'prospect'　a　luminous　haze　had　settled；　emanation　of　the　long　and　prosperous　day。　Few　houses　showed；　but　fields　and　trees　faintly　glistened；　away　to　a　loom　of　downs。

〃The　country's　changing；〃　he　said　abruptly；　〃but　there　it'll　be　when　we're　all　gone。　　Look　at　those　thrushesthe　birds　are　sweet　here　in　the　mornings。　　I'm　glad　to　have　washed　my　hands　of　London。〃

Her　face　was　close　to　the　window　pane；　and　he　was　struck　by　its　mournful　look。　　'Wish　I　could　make　her　look　happy！'　he　thought。　　'A　pretty　face；　but　sad！'　　And　taking　up　his　can　of　hot　water　he　went　out　into　the　gallery。

〃This　is　June's　room；〃　he　said；　opening　the　next　door　and　putting　the　can　down；　〃I　think　you'll　find　everything。〃　And　closing　the　door　behind　her　he　went　back　to　his　own　room。　　Brushing　his　hair　with　his　great　ebony　brushes；　and　dabbing　his　forehead　with　eau　de　Cologne；　he　mused。　　She　had　come　so　strangelya　sort　of　visit…ation；　mysterious；　even　romantic；　as　if　his　desire　for　company；　for　beauty；　had　been　fulfilled　by　whatever　it　was　which　fulfilled　that　sort　of　thing。　　And　before　the　mirror　he　straightened　his　still　upright　figure；　passed　the　brushes　over　his　great　white　moustache；　touched　up　his　eyebrows　with　eau　de　Cologne；　and　rang　the　bell。

〃I　forgot　to　let　them　know　that　I　have　a　lady　to　dinner　with　me。　　Let　cook　do　something　extra；　and　tell　Beacon　to　have　the　landau　and　pair　at　half…past　ten　to　drive　her　back　to　Town　to…night。　　Is　Miss　Holly　asleep？〃

The　maid　thought　not。　　And　old　Jolyon；　passing　down　the　gallery；　stole　on　tiptoe　towards　the　nursery；　and　opened　the　door　whose　hinges　he　kept　specially　oiled　that　he　might　slip　in　and　out　in　the　evenings　without　being　heard。

But　Holly　was　asleep；　and　lay　like　a　miniature　Madonna；　of　that　type　which　the　old　painters　could　not　tell　from　Venus；　when　they　had　completed　her。　　Her　long　dark　lashes　clung　to　her　cheeks；　on　her　face　was　perfect　peaceher　little　arrangements　were　evidently　all　right　again。　　And　old　Jolyon；　in　the　twilight　of　the　room；　stood　adoring　her！　　It　was　so　charming；　solemn；　and　lovingthat　little　face。　　He　had　more　than　his　share　of　the　blessed　capacity　of　living　again　in　the　young。　　They　were　to　him　his　future　lifeall　of　a　future　life　that　his　fundamental　pagan　sanity　perhaps　admitted。　　There　she　was　with　everything　before　her；　and　his　bloodsome　of　itin　her　tiny　veins。　　There　she　was；　his　little　companion；　to　be　made　as　happy　as　ever　he　could　make　her；　so　that　she　knew　nothing　but　love。　　His　heart　swelled；　and　he　went　out；　stilling　the　sound　of　his　patent…leather　boots。　　In　the　corridor　an　eccentric　notion　attacked　him：　To　think　that　children　should　come　to　that　which　Irene　had　told　him　she　was　helping！　　Women　who　were　all；　once；　little　things　like　this　one　sleeping　there！　　'I　must　give　her　a　cheque！'　he　mused；　'Can't　bear　to　think　of　them！'　　They　had　never　borne　reflecting　on；　those　poor　outcasts；　wounding　too　deeply　the　core　of　true　refinement　hidden　under　layers　of　conformity　to　the　sense　of　propertywounding　too　grievously　the　deepest　thing　in　hima　love　of　beauty　which　could　give　him；　even　now；　a　flutter　of　the　heart；　thinking　of　his　evening　in　the　society　of　a　pretty　woman。　　And　he　went　downstairs；　through　the　swinging　doors；　to　the　back　regions。　　There；　in　the　wine…cellar；　was　a　hock　worth　at　least　two　pounds　a　bottle；　a　Steinberg　Cabinet；　better　than　any　Johan…nisberg　that　ever　went　down　throat；　a　wine　of　perfect　bouquet；　sweet　as　a　nectarinenectar　indeed！　He　got　a　bottle　out；　handling　it　like　a　baby；　and　holding　it　level　to　the　light；　to　look。　　Enshrined　in　its　coat　of　dust；　that　mellow　coloured；　slender　necked　bottle　gave　him　deep　pleasure。　　Three　years　to　settle　down　again　since　the　move　from　Townought　to　be　in　prime　condition！　Thirty…five　years　ago　he　had　bought　itthank　God　he　had　kept　his　palate；　and　earned　the　right　to　drink　it。　　She　would　appreciate　this；　not　a　spice　of　acidity　in　a　dozen。　　He　wiped　the　bottle；　drew　the　cork　with　his　own　hands；　put　his　nose　down；　inhaled　its　perfume；　and　went　back　to　the　music　room。

Irene　was　standing　by　the　piano；　she　had　taken　off　her　hat　and　a　lace　scarf　she　had　been　wearing；　so　that　her　gold…coloured　hair　was　visible；　and　the　pallor　of　her　neck。　　In　her　grey　frock　she　made　a　pretty　picture　for　old　Jolyon；　against　the　rosewood　of　the　piano。

He　gave　her　his　arm；　and　solemnly　they　went。　　The　room；　which　had　been　designed　to　enable　twenty…four　people　to　dine　in　comfort；　held　now　but　a　little　round　table。　　In　his　present　solitude　the　big　dining…table　oppressed　old　Jolyon；　he　had　caused　it　to　be　removed　till　his　son　came　back。　　Here　in　the　company　of　two　really　good　copies　of　Raphael　Madonnas　he　was　wont　to　dine　alone。　　It　was　the　only　disconsolate　hour　of　his　day；　this　summer　weather。　　He　had　never　been　a　large　eater；　like　that　great　chap　Swithin；　or　Sylvanus　Heythorp；　or　Anthony　Thornworthy；　those　cronies　of　past　times；　and　to　dine　alone；　overlooked　by　the　Madonnas；　was　to　him　but　a　sorrowful　occupation；　which　he　got　through　quickly；　that　he　might　come　to　the　more　spiritual　enjoyment　of　his　coffee　and　cigar。　　But　this　evening　was　a　different　matter！　His　eyes　twinkled　at　her　across　the　little　table　and　he　spoke　of　Italy　and　Switzerland；　telling　her　stories　of　his　travels　there；　and　other　experiences　which　he　could　no　longer　recount　to　his　son　and　grand…daughter　because　they　knew　them。　　This　fresh　audience　was　precious　to　him；　he　had　never　become　one　of　those　old　men　who　ramble　round　and　round　the　fields　of　reminiscence。　Himself　quickly　fatigued　by　the　insensitive；　he　instinctively　avoided　fatiguing　others；　and　his　natural　flirtatiousness　towards　beauty　guarded　him　specially　in　his　relations　with　a　woman。　　He　would　have　liked　to　draw　her　out；　but　though　she　murmured　and　smiled　and　seemed　to　be　enjoying　what　he　told　her；　he　remained　conscious　of　that　mysterious　remoteness　which　constituted　half　her　fascination。　　He　could　not　bear　women　who　threw　their　shoulders　and　eyes　at　you；　and　chattered　away；　or　hard…mouthed　women　who　laid　down　the　law　and　knew　more　than　you　did。　　There　was　only　one　quality　in　a　woman　that　appealed　to　himcharm；　and　the　quieter　it　was；　the　more　he　liked　it。　And　this　one　had　charm；　shadowy　as　afternoon　sunlight　on　those　Italian　hills　and　valleys　he　had　loved。　　The　feeling；　too；　that　she　was；　as　it　were；　apart；　cloistered；　made　her　seem　nearer　to　himself；　a　strangely　desirable　companion。　　When　a　man　is　very　old　and　quite　out　of　the　running；　he　loves　to　feel　secure　from　the　rivalries　of　youth；　for　he　would　still　be　first　in　the　heart　of　beauty。　　And　he　drank　his　hock；　and　watched　her　lips；　and　felt　nearly　young。　　But　the　dog　Balthasar　lay　watching　her　lips　too；　and　despising　in　his　heart　the　interruptions　of　their　talk；　and　the　tilting　of　those　greenish　glasses　full　of　a　golden　fluid　which　was　distasteful　to　him。

The　light　was　just　failing　when　they　went　back　into　the　music…room。　And；　cigar　in　mouth；　old　Jolyon　said：

〃Play　me　some　Chopin。〃

By　the　cigars　they　smoke；　and　the　composers　they　love；　ye　shall　know　the　texture　of　men's　souls。　　Old　Jolyon　could　not　beara　strong　cigar　or　Wagner's　music。　　He　loved　B