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Its age was felt to be a comfort。 Old Jolyon； in whom a desperate honesty welled up at times； would allude to his ancestors as： 〃YeomenI suppose very small beer。〃 Yet he would repeat the word 'yeomen' as if it afforded him consolation。
They had all done so well for themselves； these Forsytes； that they were all what is called 'of a certain position。' They had shares in all sorts of things； not as yetwith the exception of Timothyin consols； for they had no dread in life like that of 3 per cent。 for their money。 They collected pictures； too； and were supporters of such charitable institutions as might be beneficial to their sick domestics。 From their father； the builder； they inherited a talent for bricks and mortar。 Originally； perhaps； members of some primitive sect； they were now in the natural course of things members of the Church of England； and caused their wives and children to attend with some regularity the more fashionable churches of the Metropolis。 To have doubted their Christianity would have caused them both pain and surprise。 Some of them paid for pews； thus expressing in the most practical form their sympathy with the teachings of Christ。
Their residences； placed at stated intervals round the park； watched like sentinels； lest the fair heart of this London； where their desires were fixed； should slip from their clutches； and leave them lower in their own estimations。
There was old Jolyon in Stanhope Place； the Jameses in Park Lane； Swithin in the lonely glory of orange and blue chambers in Hyde Park Mansionshe had never married； not hethe Soamses in their nest off Knightsbridge； the Rogers in Prince's Gardens （Roger was that remarkable Forsyte who had conceived and carried out the notion of bringing up his four sons to a new profession。
〃Collect house property； nothing like it；〃 he would say； 〃I never did anything else〃）。
The Haymans againMrs。 Hayman was the one married Forsyte sisterin a house high up on Campden Hill； shaped like a giraffe； and so tall that it gave the observer a crick in the neck； the Nicholases in Ladbroke Grove； a spacious abode and a great bargain； and last； but not least； Timothy's on the Bayswater Road； where Ann； and Juley； and Hester； lived under his protection。
But all this time James was musing； and now he inquired of his host and brother what he had given for that house in Montpellier Square。 He himself had had his eye on a house there for the last two years； but they wanted such a price。
Old Jolyon recounted the details of his purchase。
〃Twenty…two years to run？〃 repeated James； 〃The very house I was afteryou've given too much for it！〃
Old Jolyon frowned。
〃It's not that I want it；〃 said James hastily； it wouldn't suit my purpose at that price。 Soames knows the house； wellhe'll tell you it's too dearhis opinion's worth having。〃
〃I don't；〃 said old Jolyon； 〃care a fig for his opinion。〃
〃Well；〃 murmured James； 〃you will have your own wayit's a good opinion。 Good…bye！ We're going to drive down to Hurlingham。 They tell me June's going to Wales。 You'll be lonely tomorrow。 What'll you do with yourself？ You'd better come and dine with us！〃
Old Jolyon refused。 He went down to the front door and saw them into their barouche； and twinkled at them； having already forgotten his spleenMrs。 James facing the horses； tall and majestic with auburn hair； on her left； Irenethe two husbands； father and son； sitting forward； as though they expected something； opposite their wives。 Bobbing and bounding upon the
spring cushions； silent； swaying to each motion of their chariot； old Jolyon watched them drive away under the sunlight。
During the drive the silence was broken by Mrs。 James。
〃Did you ever see such a collection of rumty…too people？〃
Soames； glancing at her beneath his eyelids； nodded； and he saw Irene steal at him one of her unfathomable looks。 It is likely enough that each branch of the Forsyte family made that remark as they drove away from old Jolyon's 'At Home！'
Amongst the last of the departing guests the fourth and fifth brothers； Nicholas and Roger； walked away together； directing their steps alongside Hyde Park towards the Praed Street Station of the Underground。 Like all other Forsytes of a certain age they kept carriages of their own； and never took cabs if by any means they could avoid it。
The day was bright； the trees of the Park in the full beauty of mid…June foliage； the brothers did not seem to notice phenomena； which contributed； nevertheless； to the jauntiness of promenade and conversation。
〃Yes；〃 said Roger； 〃she's a good…lookin' woman； that wife of Soames's。 I'm told they don't get on。〃
This brother had a high forehead； and the freshest colour of any of the Forsytes； his light grey eyes measured the street frontage of the houses by the way； and now and then he would level his； umbrella and take a 'lunar；' as he expressed it； of the varying heights。
〃She'd no money；〃 replied Nicholas。
He himself had married a good deal of money； of which； it being then the golden age before the Married Women's Property Act； he had mercifully been enabled to make a successful use。
〃What was her father？〃
〃Heron was his name； a Professor； so they tell me。〃
Roger shook his head。
〃There's no money in that；〃 he said。
〃They say her mother's father was cement。〃
Roger's face brightened。
〃But he went bankrupt；〃 went on Nicholas。
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed Roger； 〃Soames will have trouble with her； you mark my words； he'll have troubleshe's got a foreign look。〃
Nicholas licked his lips。
〃She's a pretty woman；〃 and he waved aside a crossing…sweeper。
〃How did he get hold of her？〃 asked Roger presently。 〃She must cost him a pretty penny in dress！〃
〃Ann tells me；〃 replied Nicholas；〃 he was half…cracked about her。 She refused him five times。 James； he's nervous about it； I can see。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Roger again； 〃I'm sorry for James； he had trouble with Dartie。〃 His pleasant colour was heightened by exercise； he swung his umbrella to the level of his eye more frequently than ever。 Nicholas's face also wore a pleasant look。
〃Too pale for me；〃 he said； 〃but her figures capital！〃
Roger made no reply。
〃I call her distinguished…looking；〃 he said at lastit was the highest praise in the Forsyte vocabulary。 〃That young Bosinney will never do any good for himself。 They say at Burkitt's he's one of these artistic chapsgot an idea of improving English architecture； there's no money in that！ I should like to hear what Timothy would say to it。〃
They entered the station。
〃What class are you going？ I go second。〃
〃No second for me；〃 said Nicholas；〃you never know what you may catch。〃
He took a first…class ticket to Notting Hill Gate； Roger a second to South Kensington。 The train coming in a minute later； the two brothers parted and entered their respective compartments。 Each felt aggrieved that the other had not modified his habits to secure his society a little longer； but as Roger voiced it in his thoughts： 'Always a stubborn beggar； Nick！'
And as Nicholas expressed it to himself：
'Cantankerous chap Rogeralways was！'
There was little sentimentality about the Forsytes。 In that great London； which they had conquered and become merged in； what time had they to be sentimental？
CHAPTER II
OLD JOLYON GOES TO THE OPERA
At five o'clock the following day old Jolyon sat alone； a cigar between his lips； and on a table by his side a cup of tea。 He was tired； and before he had finished his cigar he fell asleep。 A fly settled on his hair； his breathing sounded heavy in the drowsy silence； his upper lip under the white moustache puffed in and out。 From between the fingers of his veined and wrinkled hand the 'cigar； dropping on the empty hearth； burned itself out。
The gloomy little； study； with windows of stained glass to exclude the view； was full of dark green velvet and heavily…carved mahoganya suite of which old Jolyon was wont to say： 'Shouldn't wonder if it made a big price some day！'
It was pleasant to think that in the after life he could get more for things than he had given。
In the rich brown atmosphere peculiar to back rooms in the mansion of a Forsyte； the Rembrandtesque effect of his great head； with its white hair； against the cushion of his high…backed seat； was spoiled by the moustache； which imparted a somewhat military look to his face。 An old clock that had been with him since before his marriage forty years ago kept with its ticking a jealous record of the seconds slipping away forever from its old master。
He had never cared for this room； hardly going into it from one year's end to another； except to take cigars from the Japanese cabinet in the corner； and the room now had its revenge。
His temples； curving like thatches over the hollows beneath； his cheek…bones and chin； all were sharpened in his sleep； and there had come upon his face the confession that he was an old man。
He woke。 June had gone！ James had said he would be lonely。 James had always been a poor thing。 He recollected with satisfaction that he had bought that house over James's head。
Serve him right for sticking at the price； the only thing the fellow thought of was money。