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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
arting turn…up with old Scrubsole。 The two hated each other like poison。 There was some matter of a tar…contract between them； little Mr。 Booker having secured it from the Board for a nephew of his； over old Scrubsole's head。 Soames had heard that from Hemmings； who liked a gossip； more especially about his directors； except； indeed； old Jolyon； of whom he was afraid。
Soames awaited his opportunity。 The last shareholder was vanishing through the door； when he approached his uncle； who was putting on his hat。
〃Can I speak to you for a minute； Uncle Jolyon？〃
It is uncertain what Soames expected to get out of this interview。
Apart from that somewhat mysterious awe in which Forsytes： in general held old Jolyon； due to his philosophic twist； or perhapsas Hemmings would doubtless have saidto his chin； there was； and always had been； a subtle antagonism between the younger man and the old。 It had lurked under their dry manner of greeting； under their non…committal allusions to each other； and arose perhaps from old Jolyon's perception of the quiet tenacity （'obstinacy；' he rather naturally called it） of the young man； of a secret doubt whether he could get his own way with him。
Both these Forsytes； wide asunder as the poles in many respects； possessed in their different waysto a greater degree than the rest of the familythat essential quality of tenacious and prudent insight into 'affairs；' which is the highwater mark of their great class。 Either of them； with a little luck and opportunity； was equal to a lofty career； either of them would have made a good financier； a great contractor； a statesman； though old Jolyon； in certain of his moods when under the influence of a cigar or of Naturewould have been capable of； not perhaps despising； but certainly of questioning； his own high position； while Soames； who never smoked cigars； would not。
Then； too； in old Jolyon's mind there was always the secret ache； that the son of Jamesof James； whom he had always thought such a poor thing； should be pursuing the paths of success； while his own son。。。！
And last； not leastfor he was no more outside the radiation of family gossip than any other Forsyte he had now heard the sinister； indefinite； but none the less disturbing rumour about Bosinney； and his pride was wounded to the quick。
Characteristically； his irritation turned not against Irene but against Soames。 The idea that his nephew's wife （why couldn't the fellow take better care of herOh！ quaint injustice！ as though Soames could possibly take more care！）should be drawing to herself June's lover； was intolerably humiliating。 And seeing the danger； he did not； like James； hide it away in sheer nervousness； but owned with the dispassion of his broader outlook； that it was not unlikely； there was something very attractive about Irene！
He had a presentiment on the subject； of Soames' communication as they left the Board Room together； and went out into the noise and hurry of Cheapside。 They walked together a good minute without speaking； Soames with his mousing； mincing step； and old Jolyon upright and using his umbrella languidly as a walking…stick。
They turned presently into comparative quiet； for old Jolyon's way to a second Board led him in the direction of Moorage Street。
Then Soames； without lifting his eyes； began： 〃I've had this letter from Bosinney。 You see what he says； I thought I'd let you know。 I've spent a lot more than I intended on this house； and I want the position to be clear。〃
Old Jolyon ran his eyes unwillingly over the letter： 〃What he says is clear enough；〃 he said。
〃He talks about 'a free hand；〃' replied Soames。
Old Jolyon looked at him。 The long…suppressed irritation and antagonism towards this young fellow； whose affairs were beginning to intrude upon his own； burst from him。
〃Well； if you don't trust him； why do you employ him？〃
Soames stole a sideway look： 〃It's much too late to go into that；〃 he said； 〃I only want it to be quite understood that if I give him a free hand； he doesn't let me in。 I thought if you were to speak to him； it would carry more weight！〃
〃No；〃 said old Jolyon abruptly； 〃I'll have nothing to do with it！〃
The words of both uncle and nephew gave the impression of unspoken meanings； far more important； behind。 And the look they interchanged was like a revelation of this consciousness。
〃Well；〃 said Soames； 〃I thought； for June's sake； I'd tell you； that's all； I thought You'd better know I shan't stand any nonsense！〃
〃What is that to me？〃 old Jolyon took him up。
〃Oh！ I don't know；〃 said Soames； and flurried by that sharp look he was unable to say more。 〃Don't say I didn't tell you；〃 he added sulkily； recovering his composure。
〃Tell me！〃 said old Jolyon； 〃I don't know what you mean。 You come worrying me about a thing like this。 I don't want to hear about your affairs； you must manage them yourself！〃
〃Very well；〃 said Soames immovably； 〃I will！〃
〃Good…morning； then；〃 said old Jolyon； and they parted。
Soames retraced his steps； and going into a celebrated eating… house； asked for a plate of smoked salmon and a glass of Chablis； he seldom ate much in the middle of the day； and generally ate standing； finding the position beneficial to his liver； which was very sound； but to which he desired to put down all his troubles。
When he had finished he went slowly back to his office； with bent head； taking no notice of the swarming thousands on the pavements； who in their turn took no notice of him。
The evening post carried the following reply to Bosinney：
'FORSYTE； BUSTARD AND FORSYTE； 'Commissioners for Oaths； '92001； BRANCH LANE； POULTRY； E。C。；
'May 17； 1887。
'DEAR BOSINNEY；
'I have； received your letter； the terms of which not a little surprise me。 I was under the impression that you had； and have had all along； a 〃free hand〃； for I do not recollect that any suggestions I have been so unfortunate as to make； have met with your approval。 In giving you； in accordance with your request； this 〃free hand；〃 I wish you to clearly understand that the total cost of the house as handed over to me completely decorated； inclusive of your fee （as arranged between us）； must not exceed twelve thousand poundsL12；000。 This gives you an ample margin； and； as you know； is far more than I originally contemplated。
'I am； 'Yours truly；
'SOAMES FORSYTE。'
On the following day he received a note from Bosinney：
'PHILIP BAYNES BOSINNEY； 'Architect； '309D； SLOANE STREET； S。W。； 'May 18。
'DEAR FORSYTE；
'If you think that in such a delicate matter as decoration I can bind myself to the exact pound； I am afraid you are mistaken。 I can see that you are tired of the arrangement； and of me； and I had better； therefore； resign。
'Yours faithfully；
'PHILIP BAYNES BOSINNEY。'
Soames pondered long and painfully over his answer； and late at night in the dining…room； when Irene had gone to bed； he composed the following：
'62； MONTPELLIER SQUARE； S。W。； 'May 19； 1887。
'DEAR BOSINNEY；
'I think that in both our interests it would be extremely undesirable that matters should be so left at this stage。 I did not mean to say that if you should exceed the sum named in my letter to you by ten or twenty or even fifty pounds； there would be any difficulty between us。 This being so； I should like you to reconsider your answer。 You have a 〃free hand〃 in the terms of this correspondence； and I hope you will see your way to completing the decorations； in the matter of which I know it is difficult to be absolutely exact。
'Yours truly；
'SOAMES FORSYTE。'
Bosinney's answer； which came in the course of the next day； was：
'May 20。
'DEAR FORSYTE；
'Very well。
'PH。 BOSINNEY。'
CHAPTER VI
OLD JOLYON AT THE ZOO
Old Jolyon disposed of his second Meetingan ordinary Board summarily。 He was so dictatorial that his fellow directors were left in cabal over the increasing domineeringness of old Forsyte； which they were far from intending to stand much longer； they said。
He went out by Undergound to Portland Road Station； whence he took a cab and drove to the Zoo。
He had an assignation there； one of those assignations that had lately been growing more frequent； to which his increasing uneasiness about June and the 'change in her；' as he expressed it； was driving him。
She buried herself away； and was growing thin； if he spoke to her he got no answer； or had his head snapped off； or she looked as if she would burst into tears。 She was as changed as she could be； all through this Bosinney。 As for telling him about anything； not a bit of it！
And he would sit for long spells brooding； his paper unread before him； a cigar extinct between his lips。 She had been such a companion to him ever since she was three years old！ And he loved her so！
Forces regardless of family or class or custom were beating down his guard； impending events over which he had no control threw their shadows on his head。 The irritation of one accustomed to have his way was； roused against he knew not what。
Chafing at the slowness of his cab； he reached the Zoo door； but； with his sunny instinct for seizing the good of each moment； he forgot his vexation a