man of property-第26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！

the　pace　of　their　walk；　their　laughter；　or　their　silence；　revealed　their　common　kinship　under　the　passionate　heavens。

Bosinney　and　June　entered　the　theatre　in　silence；　and　mounted　to　their　seats　in　the　upper　boxes。　　The　piece　had　just　begun；　and　the　half…darkened　house；　with　its　rows　of　creatures　peering　all　one　way；　resembled　a　great　garden　of　flowers　turning　their　faces　to　the　sun。

June　had　never　before　been　in　the　upper　boxes。　　From　the　age　of　fifteen　she　had　habitually　accompanied　her　grandfather　to　the　stalls；　and　not　common　stalls；　but　the　best　seats　in　the　house；　towards　the　centre　of　the　third　row；　booked　by　old　Jolyon；　at　Grogan　and　Boyne's；　on　his　way　home　from　the　City；　long　before　the　day；　carried　in　his　overcoat　pocket；　together　with　his　cigarcase　and　his　old　kid　gloves；　and　handed　to　June　to　keep　till　the　appointed　night。　　And　in　those　stallsan　erect　old　figure　with　a　serene　white　head；　a　little　figure；　strenuous　and　eager；　with　a　red…gold　headthey　would　sit　through　every　kind　of　play；　and　on　the　way　home　old　Jolyon　would　say　of　the　principal　actor：　〃Oh；　he's　a　poor　stick！　　You　should　have　seen　little　Bobson！〃

She　had　looked　forward　to　this　evening　with　keen　delight；　it　was　stolen；　chaperone…less；　undreamed　of　at　Stanhope　Gate；　where　she　was　supposed　to　be　at　Soames'。　　She　had　expected　reward　for　her　subterfuge；　planned　for　her　lover's　sake；　she　had　expected　it　to　break　up　the　thick；　chilly　cloud；　and　make　the　relations　between　them　which　of　late　had　been　so　puzzling；　so　tormentingsunny　and　simple　again　as　they　had　been　before　the　winter。　　She　had　come　with　the　intention　of　saying　something　definite；　and　she　looked　at　the　stage　with　a　furrow　between　her　brows；　seeing　nothing；　her　hands　squeezed　together　in　her　lap。　　A　swarm　of　jealous　suspicions　stung　and　stung　her。

If　Bosinney　was　conscious　of　her　trouble　he　made　no　sign。

The　curtain　dropped。　　The　first　act　had　come　to　an　end。

〃It's　awfully　hot　here！〃　said　the　girl；　〃I　should　like　to　go　out。〃

She　was　very　white；　and　she　knewfor　with　her　nerves　thus　sharpened　she　saw　everythingthat　he　was　both　uneasy　and　compunctious。

At　the　back　of　the　theatre　an　open　balcony　hung　over　the　street；　she　took　possession　of　this；　and　stood　leaning　there　without　a　word；　waiting　for　him　to　begin。

At　last　she　could　bear　it　no　longer。

〃I　want　to　say　something　to　you；　Phil；〃　she　said。

〃Yes？〃

The　defensive　tone　of　his　voice　brought　the　colour　flying　to　her　cheek；　the　words　flying　to　her　lips：　〃You　don't　give　me　a　chance　to　be　nice　to　you；　you　haven't　for　ages　now！〃

Bosinney　stared　down　at　the　street。　　He　made　no　answer。。。。

June　cried　passionately：　〃You　know　I　want　to　do　everything　for　youthat　I　want　to　be　everything　to　you。。。。〃

A　hum　rose　from　thestreet；　and；　piercing　it　with　a　sharp　'ping；'　the　bell　sounded　for　the　raising　of　the　curtain；　June　did　not　stir。　　A　desperate　struggle　was　going　on　within　her。　　Should　she　put　everything　to　the　proof？　　Should　she　challenge　directly　that　influence；　that　attraction　which　was　driving　him　away　from　her？　　It　was　her　nature　to　challenge；　and　she　said：　〃Phil；　take　me　to　see　the　house　on　Sunday！〃

With　a　smile　quivering　and　breaking　on　her　lips；　and　trying；　how　hard；　not　to　show　that　she　was　watching；　she　searched　his　face；　saw　it　waver　and　hesitate；　saw　a　troubled　line　come　between　his　brows；　the　blood　rush　into　his　face。　　He　answered：　〃Not　Sunday；　dear；　some　other　day！〃

〃Why　not　Sunday？　　I　shouldn't　be　in　the　way　on　Sunday。〃

He　made　an　evident　effort；　and　said：　I　have　an　engagement。〃

〃You　are　going　to　take。。。。〃

His　eyes　grew　angry；　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　answered：　〃An　engagement　that　will　prevent　my　taking　you　to　see　the　house！〃

June　bit　her　lip　till　the　blood　came；　and　walked　back　to　her　seat　without　another　word；　but　she　could　not　help　the　tears　of　rage　rolling　down　her　face。　　The　house　had　been　mercifully　darkened　for　a　crisis；　and　no　one　could　see　her　trouble。

Yet　in　this　world　of　Forsytes　let　no　man　think　himself　immune　from　observation。

In　the　third　row　behind；　Euphemia；　Nicholas's　youngest　daughter；　with　her　married…sister；　Mrs。　Tweetyman；　were　watching。

They　reported　at　Timothy's；　how　they　had　seen　June　and　her　fiance　at　the　theatre。

〃In　the　stalls？〃　　〃No；　not　in　the。。。。〃　　〃Oh！　in　the　dress　circle；　of　course。　　That　seemed　to　be　quite　fashionable　nowadays　with　young　people！〃

Wellnot　exactly。　　In　the。。。。　　Anyway；　that　engagement　wouldn't　last　long。　　They　had　never　seen　anyone　look　so　thunder　and　lightningy　as　that　little　June！　　With　tears　of　enjoyment　in　their　eyes；　they　related　how　she　had　kicked　a　man's　hat　as　she　returned　to　her　seat　in　the　middle　of　an　act；　and　how　the　man　had　looked。　Euphemia　had　a　noted；　silent　laugh；　terminating　most　disappoint…　ingly　in　squeaks；　and　when　Mrs。　Small；　holding　up　her　hands；　said：　〃My　dear！　　Kicked　a　ha…at？〃　she　let　out　such　anumber　of　these　that　she　had　to　be　recovered　with　smelling…salts。　　As　she　went　away　she　said　to　Mrs。　Tweetyman：

〃Kicked　aha…at！　　Oh！　　I　shall　die。〃

For　'that　little　June'　this　evening；　that　was　to　have　been　'her　treat；'　was　the　most　miserable　she　had　ever　spent。　　God　knows　she　tried　to　stifle　her　pride；　her　suspicion；　her　jealousy！

She　parted　from　Bosinney　at　old　Jolyon's　door　without　breaking　down；　the　feeling　that　her　lover　must　be　conquered　was　strong　enough　to　sustain　her　till　his　retiring　footsteps　brought　home　the　true　extent　of　her　wretchedness。

The　noiseless　'Sankey'　let　her　in。　　She　would　have　slipped　up　to　her　own　room；　but　old　Jolyon；　who　had　heard　her　entrance；　was　in　the　dining…room　doorway。

〃Come　in　and　have　your　milk；〃　he　said。　　〃It's　been　kept　hot　for　you。　　You're　very　late。　　Where　have　you　been？〃

June　stood　at　the　fireplace；　with　a　foot　on　the　fender　and　an　arm　on　the　mantelpiece；　as　her　grandfather　had　done　when　he　came　in　that　night　of　the　opera。　　She　was　too　near　a　breakdown；　to　care　what　she　told　him。

〃We　dined　at　Soames's。〃

〃H'm！　　the　man　of　property！　　His　wife　there　and　Bosinney？〃

〃Yes。〃

Old　Jolyon's　glance　was　fixed　on　her　with　the　penetrating　gaze　from　which　it　was　difficult　to　hide；　but　she　was　not　looking　at　him；　and　when　she　turned　her　face；　he　dropped　his　scrutiny　at　once。　　He　had　seen　enough；　and　too　much。　　He　bent　down　to　lift　the　cup　of　milk　for　her　from　the　hearth；　and；　turning　away；　grumbled：　〃You　oughtn't　to　stay　out　so　late；　it　makes　you　fit　for　nothing。〃

He　was　invisible　now　behind　his　paper；　which　he　turned　with　a　vicious　crackle；　but　when　June　came　up　to　kiss　him；　he　said：　〃Good…night；　my　darling；〃　in　a　tone　so　tremulous　and　unexpected；　that　it　was　all　the　girl　could　do　to　get　out　of　the　room　without　breaking　into　the　fit　of　sobbing　which　lasted　her　well　on　into　the　night。

When　the　door　was　closed；　old　Jolyon　dropped　his　paper；　and　stared　long　and　anxiously　in　front　of　him。

'The　beggar！'　he　thought。　　'I　always　knew　she'd　have　trouble　with　him！'

Uneasy　doubts　and　suspicions；　the　more　poignant　that　he　felt　himself　powerless　to　check　or　control　the　march　of　events；　came　crowding　upon　him。

Was　the　fellow　going　to　jilt　her？　　He　longed　to　go　and　say　to　him：　〃Look　here；　you　sir！　　Are　you　going　to　jilt　my　grand…　daughter？〃　　But　how　could　he？　　Knowing　little　or　nothing；　he　was　yet　certain；　with　his　unerring　astuteness；　that　there　was　something　going　on。　　He　suspected　Bosinney　of　being　too　much　at　Montpellier　Square。

'This　fellow；'　he　thought；　'may　not　be　a　scamp；　his　face　is　not　a　bad　one；　but　he's　a　queer　fish。　　I　don't　know　what　to　make　of　him。　　I　shall　never　know　what　to　make　of　him！　　They　tell　me　he　works　like　a　nigger；　but　I　see　no　good　coming　of　it。　　He's　unpractical；　he　has　no　method。　　When　he　comes　here；　he　sits　as　glum　as　a　monkey。　　If　I　ask　him　what　wine　he'll　have；　he　says：　〃Thanks；　any　wine。〃　If　I　offer　him　a　cigar；　he　smokes　it　as　if　it　were　a　twopenny　German　thing。　　I　never　see　him　looking　at　June　as　he　ought　to　look　at　her；　and　yet；　he's　not　after　her　money。　　If　she　were　to　make　a　sign；　he'd　be　off　his　bargain　to…morrow。　　But　she　won'tnot　she！　　She'll　stick　to　him！　　She's　as　obstinate　as　fateSh'ell　never　let　go！'

Sighing　deeply；　he　turned　the　paper；　in　its　columns；　perchance　he　might　find　consolation。

And　upstairs　in　her　room　June　sat　at　her　open　window；　where　the　spring　wind　came；　after　its　revel　across　the　Park；　to　cool　her　hot　cheeks　and　burn　her　heart。




CHAPTER　III

DRIVE　WITH　SWITHIN


Two　lines　of　a　certain　song　in　a　certain　famous　old　school's　songbook　run　as　follows：

'How　the　buttons　on　his　blue　frock　shone；　tra…la…la！　How　he　carolled　and　he　sang；　like　a　bird！。。。。'

Swithin　did　not　exactly　carol　and　sing　like　a　bird；　but　he　felt　almost　like　endeavouring　to　hum　a　tune；　as　he　stepped　out　of　Hyde　Park　　Mansions；　and　contemplated　his　horses　drawn　up　before　the　door。

The　afternoon　was　as　balmy　as　a　day　in　June；　and　to　complete　the　simile　of　the　old　song；　he　had　put　on　a　blue　frock…coat；　dispensing　with　an　overcoat；　after　sending　Adolf　down　three　times　to　make　sure　that　there　was　not　the　least　suspicion　of　east　in　the　wind；　and　the　frock…coat　was　buttoned　so　tightly　around　his　personable　form；　that；　if　the　buttons　did　not　shine；　they　might　pardonably　have　done　so。　　Majestic　on　the　pavement　he　fi