”Iwishtobefree，”saidSoamesabruptly。”Idon’tseeher，”murmuredJolyonthroughthefumeofhiscigarette。”Butyouknowwhereshelives，Isuppose?”Jolyonnodded。Hedidnotmeantogiveheraddresswithoutpermission。Soamesseemedtodivinehisthought。”Idon’twantheraddress，”hesaid；”Iknowit。””Whatexactlydoyouwant?””Shedesertedme。Iwantadivorce。””Ratherlateintheday，isn’tit?””Yes，”saidSoames。Andtherewasasilence。”Idon’tknowmuchaboutthesethings——atleast，I’veforgotten，”
saidJolyonwithawrysmile。HehimselfhadhadtowaitfordeathtogranthimadivorcefromthefirstMrs。Jolyon。”Doyouwishmetoseeheraboutit?”
Soamesraisedhiseyestohiscousin’sface。”Isupposethere’ssomeone，”hesaid。
AshrugmovedJolyon’sshoulders。”Idon’tknowatall。Iimagineyoumayhavebothlivedasiftheotherweredead。It’susualinthesecases。”
Soamesturnedtothewindow。Afewearlyfallenoak-leavesstrewedtheterracealready，andwererollingroundinthewind。JolyonsawthefiguresofHollyandValDartiemovingacrossthelawntowardsthestables。’I’mnotgoingtorunwiththehareandhuntwiththehounds，’hethought。’Imustactforher。TheDadwouldhavewishedthat。’Andforaswiftmomentheseemedtoseehisfather’sfigureintheoldarmchair，justbeyondSoames，sittingwithkneescrossed，TheTimesinhishand。Itvanished。”Myfatherwasfondofher，”hesaidquietly。”WhyheshouldhavebeenIdon’tknow，”Soamesansweredwithoutlookinground。”ShebroughttroubletoyourdaughterJune；shebroughttroubletoeveryone。Igaveherallshewanted。Iwouldhavegivenhereven——forgiveness——butshechosetoleaveme。”