man of property-第27部分

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t；　if　the　buttons　did　not　shine；　they　might　pardonably　have　done　so。　　Majestic　on　the　pavement　he　fitted　on　a　pair　of　dog…skin　gloves；　with　his　large　bell…shaped　top　hat；　and　his　great　stature　and　bulk　he　looked　too　primeval　for　a　Forsyte。　His　thick　white　hair；　on　which　Adolf　had　bestowed　a　touch　of　pomatum；　exhaled　the　fragrance　of　opoponax　and　cigarsthe　celebrated　Swithin　brand；　for　which　he　paid　one　hundred　and；　forty　shillings　the　hundred；　and　of　which　old　Jolyon　had　unkindly　said；　he　wouldn't　smoke　them　as　a　gift；　they　wanted　the　stomach　of　a　horse！

〃Adolf！〃

〃Sare！〃

〃The　new　plaid　rug！

He　would　never　teach　that　fellow　to　look　smart；　and　Mrs。　Soames　he　felt　sure；　had　an　eye！

〃The　phaeton　hood　down；　I　am　goingtodrivealady！〃

A　pretty　woman　would　want　to　show　off　her　frock；　and　wellhe　was　going　to　drive　a　lady！　　It　was　like　a　new　beginning　to　the　good　old　days。

Ages　since　he　had　driven　a　woman！　　The　last　time；　if　he　remembered；　it　had　been　Juley；　the　poor　old　soul　had　been　as　nervous　as　a　cat　the　whole　time；　and　so　put　him　out　of　patience　that；　as　he　dropped　her　in　the　Bayswater　Road；　he　had　said：　〃Well　I'm　d…d　if　I　ever　drive　you　again！〃　　And　he　never　had；　not　he！

Going　up　to　his　horses'　heads；　he　examined　their　bits；　not　that　he　knew　anything　about　bitshe　didn't　pay　his　coachman　sixty　pounds　a　　year　to　do　his　work　for　him；　that　had　never　been　his　principle。　　Indeed；　his　reputation　as　a　horsey　man　rested　mainly　on　the　fact　that　once；　on　Derby　Day；　he　had　been　welshed　by　some　thimble…riggers。　　But　someone　at　the　Club；　after　seeing　him　drive　his　greys　up　to　the　doorhe　always　drove　grey　horses；　you　got　more　style　for　the　money；　some　thoughthad　called　him　'Four…　in…hand　Forsyte。'　The　name　having　reached　his　ears　through　that　fellow　Nicholas　Treffry；　old　Jolyon's　dead　partner；　the　great　driving　man　notorious　for　more　carriage　accidents　than　any　man　in　the　kingdomSwithin　had　ever　after　conceived　it　right　to　act　up　to　it。　　The　name　had　taken　his　fancy；　not　because　he　had　ever　driven　four…in…hand；　or　was　ever　likely　to；　but　because　of　something　distinguished　in　the　sound。　　Four…in…hand　Forsyte！　　Not　bad！　　Born　too　soon；　Swithin　had　missed　his　vocation。　　Coming　upon　London　twenty　years　later；　he　could　not　have　failed　to　have　become　a　stockbroker；　but　at　the　time　when　he　was　obliged　to　select；　this　great　profession　had　not　as　yet　became　the　chief　glory　of　the　upper…middle　class。　　He　had　literally　been　forced　into　land　agency。

Once　in　the　driving　seat；　with　the　reins　handed　to　him；　and　blinking　over　his　pale　old　cheeks　in　the　full　sunlight；　he　took　a　slow　look　roundAdolf　was　already　up　behind；　the　cockaded　groom　at　the　horses'　heads　stood　ready　to　let　go；　everything　was　prepared　for　the　signal；　and　Swithin　gave　it。　　The　equipage　dashed　forward；　and　before　you　could　say　Jack　Robinson；　with　a　rattle　and　flourish　drew　up　at　Soames'　door。

Irene　came　out　at　once；　and　stepped　inhe　afterward　described　it　at　Timothy's〃as　light　aserTaglioni；　no　fuss　about　it；　no　wanting　this　or　wanting　that；〃　and　above　all；　Swithin　dwelt　on　this；　staring　at　Mrs。　Septimus　in　a　way　that　disconcerted　her　a　good　deal；　〃no　silly　nervousness！〃　　To　Aunt　Hester　he　portrayed　Irene's　hat。　　〃Not　one　of　your　great　flopping　things；　sprawling　about；　and　catching　the　dust；　that　women　are　so　fond　of　nowadays；　but　a　neat　little〃he　made　a　circular　motion　of　his　hand；　〃white　veilcapital　taste。〃

〃What　was　it　made　of？〃　inquired　Aunt　Hester；　who　manifested　a　languid　but　permanent　excitement　at　any　mention　of　dress。

〃Made　of？〃　returned　Swithin；　〃now　how　should　I　know？〃

He　sank　into　silence　so　profound　that　Aunt　Hester　began　to　be　afraid　he　had　fallen　into　a　trance。　　She　did　not　try　to　rouse　him　herself；　it　not　being　her　custom。

'I　wish　somebody　would　come；'　she　thought；　'I　don't　like　the　look　of　him！'

But　suddenly　Swithin　returned　to　life。　　〃Made　of〃　he　wheezed　out　slowly；　〃what　should　it　be　made　of？〃

They　had　not　gone　four　miles　before　Swithin　received　the　impression　that　Irene　liked　driving　with　him。　　Her　face　was　so　soft　behind　that　white　veil；　and　her　dark　eyes　shone　so　in　the　spring　light；　and　whenever　he　spoke　she　raised　them　to　him　and　smiled。

On　Saturday　morning　Soames　had　found　her　at　her　writing…table　with　a　note　written　to　Swithin；　putting　him　off。　　Why　did　she　want　to　put　him　off？　he　asked。　　She　might　put　her　own　people　off　when　she　liked；　he　would　not　have　her　putting　off　his　people！

She　had　looked　at　him　intently；　had　torn　up　the　note；　and　said：　〃Very　well！〃

And　then　she　began　writing　another。　　He　took　a　casual　glance　presently；　and　saw　that　it　was　addressed　to　Bosinney。

〃What　are　you　writing　to　him　about？〃　he　asked。

Irene；　looking　at　him　again　with　that　intent　look；　said　quietly：　〃Something　he　wanted　me　to　do　for　him！〃

〃Humph！〃　said　Soames；〃Commissions！〃

〃You'll　have　your　work　cut　out　if　you　begin　that　sort　of　thing！〃　He　said　no　more。

Swithin　opened　his　eyes　at　the　mention　of　Robin　Hill；　it　was　a　long　way　for　his　horses；　and　he　always　dined　at　half…past　seven；　before　the　rush　at　the　Club　began；　the　new　chef　took　more　trouble　with　an　early　dinnera　lazy　rascal！

He　would　like　to　have　a　look　at　the　house；　however。　　A　house　appealed　to　any　Forsyte；　and　especially　to　one　who　had　been　an　auctioneer。　　After　all　he　said　the　distance　was　nothing。　　When　he　was　a　younger　man　he　had　had　rooms　at　Richmond　for　many　years；　kept　his　carriage　and　pair　there；　and　drove　them　up　and　down　to　business　every　day　of　his　life。

Four…in…hand　Forsyte　they　called　him！　　His　T…cart；　his　horses　had　been　known　from　Hyde　Park　Corner　to　the　Star　and　Garter。　　The　Duke　of　Z。。。。　　wanted　to　get　hold　of　them；　would　have　given　him　double　the　money；　but　he　had　kept　them；　know　a　good　thing　when　you　have　it；　eh？　　A　look　of　solemn　pride　came　portentously　on　his　shaven　square　old　face；　he　rolled　his　head　in　his　stand…up　collar；　like　a　turkey…cock　preening　himself。

She　was　reallya　charming　woman！　　He　enlarged　upon　her　frock　afterwards　to　Aunt　Juley；　who　held　up　her　hands　at　his　way　of　putting　it。

Fitted　her　like　a　skintight　as　a　drum；　that　was　how　he　liked　'em；　all　of　a　piece；　none　of　your　daverdy；　scarecrow　women！　　He　gazed　at　Mrs。　Septimus　Small；　who　took　after　Jameslong　and　thin。

〃There's　style　about　her；〃　he　went　on；　〃fit　for　a　king！　　And　she's　so　quiet　with　it　too！〃

〃She　seems　to　have　made　quite　a　conquest　of　you；　any　way；〃　drawled　Aunt　Hester　from　her　corner。

Swithin　heard　extremely　well　when　anybody　attacked　him。

〃What's　that？〃　he　said。　　〃I　know　aprettywoman　when　I　see　one；　and　all　I　can　say　is；　I　don't　see　the　young　man　about　that's　fit　for　her；　but　perhapsyoudo；　come；　perhapsyou　…do！〃

〃Oh？〃　murmured　Aunt　Hester；　〃ask　Juley！〃

Long　before　they　reached　Robin　Hill；　however；　the　unaccustomed　airing　had　made　him　terribly　sleepy；　he　drove　with　his　eyes　closed；　a　life…time　of　deportment　alone　keeping　his　tall　and　bulky　form　from　falling　askew。

Bosinney；　who　was　watching；　came　out　to　meet　them；　and　all　three　entered　the　house　together；　Swithin　in　front　making　play　with　a　stout　gold…mounted　Malacca　cane；　put　into　his　hand　by　Adolf；　for　his　knees　were　feeling　the　effects　of　their　long　stay　in　the　same　position。　　He　had　assumed　his　fur　coat；　to　guard　against　the　draughts　of　the　unfinished　house。

The　staircasehe　saidwas　handsome！　the　baronial　style！　　They　would　want　some　statuary　about！　　He　came　to　a　standstill　between　the　columns　of　the　doorway　into　the　inner　court；　and　held　out　his　cane　inquiringly。

What　was　this　to　bethis　vestibule；　or　whatever　they　called　it？　But　gazing　at　the　skylight；　inspiration　came　to　him。

〃Ah！　the　billiard…room！〃

When　told　it　was　to　be　a　tiled　court　with　plants　in　the　centre；　he　turned　to　Irene：

〃Waste　this　on　plants？　　You　take　my　advice　and　have　a　billiard　table　here！〃

Irene　smiled。　　She　had　lifted　her　veil；　banding　it　like　a　nun's　coif　across　her　forehead；　and　the　smile　of　her　dark　eyes　below　this　seemed　to　Swithin　more　charming　than　ever。　　He　nodded。　　She　would　take　his　advice　he　saw。

He　had　little　to　say　of　the　drawing　or　dining…rooms；　which　he　described　as　'spacious〃；　but　fell　into　such　raptures　as　he　permitted　to　a　man　of　his　dignity；　in　the　wine…cellar；　to　which　he　descended　by　stone　steps；　Bosinney　going　first　with　a　light。

〃You'll　have　room　here；〃　he　said；　〃for　six　or　seven　hundred。　dozena　very　pooty　little　cellar！〃

Bosinney　having　expressed　the　wish　to　show　them　the　house　from　the　copse　below；　Swithin　came　to　a　stop。

〃There's　a　fine　view　from　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃you　haven't　such　a　thing　as　a　chair？〃

A　chair　was　brought　him　from　Bosinney's　tent。

〃You　go　down；〃　he　said　blandly；　〃you　two！　　I'll　sit　here　and　look　at　the　view。〃

He　sat　down　by　the　oak　tree；　in　the　sun；　square　and　upright；　with　one　hand　stretched　out；　resting　on　the　nob　of　his　cane；　the　other　planted　on　his　knee；　his　fur　coat　thrown　open；　his　hat；　roofing　with　its　flat　top　the　pale　square　of　his　face；　his　stare；　very　blank；　fixed　on　the　landscape。

He　nodded　to　them　as　they　went；　off　down　through　the　fields。　　He　was；　indeed；　not　sorry　to　be　left　thus　for　a　quiet　moment　of　reflection。　　The　air　was　balmy；　not　too　much　heat　in　the　sun；　the　prospect　a　fine　one；　a　remarka。。。。　　His　head　fell　a　lit