Allthatdayandthenexthehardlyutteredaword，buttherewasinhiseyesanoticingofeverythingdoneforhim，alookonhisfacewhichtoldherhewasfighting；andshedidnotlosehope。
Hisverystillness，thewayheconservedeverylittlescrapofenergy，showedthetenacitywithwhichhewasfighting。Ittouchedherdeeply；andthoughherfacewascomposedandcomfortableinthesick-room，tearsrandownhercheekswhenshewasoutofit。
Abouttea-timeonthethirdday——shehadjustchangedherdress，keepingherappearancesoasnottoalarmhim，becausehenoticedeverything——shesawadifference。’It’snouse；I’mtired，’waswrittenplainlyacrossthatwhiteface，andwhenshewentuptohim，hemuttered：”SendforSoames。””Yes，James，”shesaidcomfortably；”allright——atonce。”Andshekissedhisforehead。Ateardroppedthere，andasshewipeditoffshesawthathiseyeslookedgrateful。Muchupset，andwithouthopenow，shesentSoamesthetelegram。
Whenheenteredoutoftheblackwindynight，thebighousewasstillasagrave。Warmson’sbroadfacelookedalmostnarrow；hetookthefurcoatwithasortofaddedcare，saying：”Willyouhaveaglassofwine，sir?”
Soamesshookhishead，andhiseyebrowsmadeenquiry。
Warmson’slipstwitched。”He’saskingforyou，sir；”andsuddenlyheblewhisnose。”It’salongtime，sir，”hesaid，”thatI’vebeenwithMr。Forsyte——alongtime。”
Soameslefthimfoldingthecoat，andbegantomountthestairs。
Thishouse，wherehehadbeenbornandsheltered，hadneverseemedtohimsowarm，andrich，andcosy，asduringthislastpilgrimagetohisfather’sroom。Itwasnothistaste；butinitsownsub-
stantial，lincrustawayitwastheacmeofcomfortandsecurity。
Andthenightwassodarkandwindy；thegravesocoldandlonelyHepausedoutsidethedoor。Nosoundcamefromwithin。Heturnedthehandlesoftlyandwasintheroombeforehewasperceived。Thelightwasshaded。HismotherandWinifredweresittingonthefarsideofthebed；thenursewasmovingawayfromthenearsidewherewasanemptychair。’Forme！’thoughtSoames。Ashemovedfromthedoorhismotherandsisterrose，buthesignedwithhishandandtheysatdownagain。Hewentuptothechairandstoodlookingathisfather。James’breathingwasasifstrangled；hiseyeswereclosed。AndinSoames，lookingonhisfathersowornandwhiteandwasted，listeningtohisstrangledbreathing，thereroseapassionatevehemenceofangeragainstNature，cruel，inexorableNature，kneelingonthechestofthatwispofabody，slowlypressingoutthebreath，pressingoutthelifeofthebeingwhowasdearesttohimintheworld。Hisfather，ofallmen，hadlivedacarefullife，moderate，abstemious，andthiswashisreward——tohavelifeslowly，painfullysqueezedoutofhim！And，withoutknowingthathespoke，hesaid：”It’scruel！”
HesawhismothercoverhereyesandWinifredbowherfacetowardsthebed。Women！Theyputupwiththingssomuch。betterthanmen。Hetookastepnearertohisfather。ForthreedaysJameshadnotbeenshaved，andhislipsandchinwerecoveredwithhair，hardlymoresnowythanhisforehead。Itsoftenedhisface，gaveitaqueerlookalreadynotofthisworld。Hiseyesopened。Soameswentquitecloseandbentover。Thelipsmoved。”HereIam，Father：””Um——what——whatnews?Theynevertell……”thevoicedied，andafloodofemotionmadeSoames’faceworksothathecouldnotspeak。
Tellhim?——yes。Butwhat?Hemadeagreateffort，gothislipstogether，andsaid：”Goodnews，dear，good——Annette，ason。””Ah！”Itwasthequeerestsound，ugly，relieved，pitiful，triumphant——likethenoiseababymakesgettingwhatitwants。Theeyesclosed，andthatstrangledsoundofbreathingbeganagain。
Soamesrecoiledtothechairandstonilysatdown。Theliehehadtold，based，asitwere，onsomedeep，temperamentalinstinctthatafterdeathJameswouldnotknowthetruth，hadtakenawayallpoweroffeelingforthemoment。Hisarmbrushedagainstsomething。Itwashisfather’snakedfoot。Inthestruggletobreathehehadpusheditoutfromundertheclothes。Soamestookitinhishand，acoldfoot，lightandthin，white，verycold。
Whatusetoputitback，towrapupthatwhichmustbecoldersoon！
Hewarmeditmechanicallywithhishand，listeningtohisfather’slabouredbreathing；whilethepoweroffeelingroseagainwithinhim。Alittlesob，quicklysmothered，camefromWinifred，buthismothersatunmovingwithhereyesfixedonJames。Soamessignedtothenurse。”Where’sthedoctor?”hewhispered。”He’sbeensentfor。””Can’tyoudoanythingtoeasehisbreathing?””Onlyaninjection；andhecan’tstandit。Thedoctorsaid，whilehewasfighting……””He’snotfighting，”whisperedSoames，”he’sbeingslowlysmothered。It’sawful。”
Jamesstirreduneasily，asifheknewwhattheyweresaying。
Soamesroseandbentoverhim。Jamesfeeblymovedhistwohands，andSoamestookthem。”Hewantstobepulledup，”whisperedthenurse。
Soamespulled。Hethoughthepulledgently，butalookalmostofangerpassedoverJames’face。Thenurseplumpedthepillows。
Soameslaidthehandsdown，andbendingoverkissedhisfather’sforehead。Ashewasraisinghimselfagain，James’eyesbentonhimalookwhichseemedtocomefromtheverydepthsofwhatwasleftwithin。’I’mdone，myboy，’itseemedtosay，’takecareofthem，takecareofyourself；takecare——Ileaveitalltoyou。’”Yes，Yes，”Soameswhispered，”yes，yes。”
Behindhimthenursedidheknew，notwhat，forhisfathermadeatinymovementofrepulsionasifresentingthatinterference；andalmostatoncehisbreathingeasedaway，becamequiet；helayverystill。Thestrainedexpressiononhisfacepassed，acuriouswhitetranquillitytookitsplace。Hiseyelidsquivered，rested；thewholefacerested；atease。Onlybythefaintpuffingofhislipscouldtheytellthathewasbreathing。Soamessankbackonhischair，andfelltocherishingthefootagain。Heheardthenursequietlycryingovertherebythefire；curiousthatshe，astranger，shouldbetheonlyoneofthemwhocried！Heheardthequietlickandflutterofthefireflames。OnemoreoldForsytegoingtohislongrest——wonderful，theywere！——wonderfulhowhehadheldon！HismotherandWinifredwereleaningforward，hangingonthesightofJames’lips。ButSoamesbentsidewaysoverthefeet，warmingthemboth；theygavehimcomfort，colderandcolderthoughtheygrew。Suddenlyhestartedup；asound，adreadfulsoundsuchashehadneverheard，wascomingfromhisfather’slips，asifanoutragedhearthadbrokenwithalongmoan。Whatastrongheart，tohaveutteredthatfarewell！Itceased。Soaineslookedintotheface。Nomotion；nobreath！Dead！Hekissedthebrow，turnedroundandwentoutoftheroom。Heranupstairstothebedroom，hisoldbedroom，stillkeptforhim；flunghimselffacedownonthebed，andbrokeintosobswhichhestilledwiththepillow……
Alittlelaterhewentdownstairsandpassedintotheroom。Jameslayalone，wonderfullycalm，freefromshadowandanxiety，withthegravityonhisravagedfacewhichunderliesgreatage，thewornfinegravityofoldcoins。
Soameslookedsteadilyatthatface，atthefire，atalltheroomwithwindowsthrownopentotheLondonnight。”Good-bye！”hewhispered，andwentout。
CHAPTERXIV
HIS
Hehadmuchtoseeto，thatnightandallnextday。AtelegramatbreakfastreassuredhimaboutAnnette，andheonlycaughtthelasttrainbacktoReading，withEmily’skissonhisforeheadandinhisearsherwords：”Idon’tknowwhatIshouldhavedonewithoutyou，mydearboy。”
Hereachedhishouseatmidnight。Theweatherhadchanged，wasmildagain，asthough，havingfinisheditsworkandsentaForsytetohislastaccount，itcouldrelax。Asecondtelegram，receivedatdinner-time，hadconfirmedthegoodnewsofAnnette，and，insteadofgoingin，Soamespasseddownthroughthegardeninthemoonlighttohishouseboat。Hecouldsleeptherequitewell。
Bitterlytired，helaydownonthesofainhisfurcoatandfellasleep。Hewokesoonafterdawnandwentondeck。Hestoodagainsttherail，lookingwestwheretheriversweptroundinawidecurveunderthewoods。InSoames，appreciationofnaturalbeautywascuriouslylikethatofhisfarmerancestors，asenseofgrievanceifitwasn’tthere，sharpened，nodoubt，andcivilised，byhisresearchesamonglandscapepainting。Butdawnhaspowertofertilisethemostmatter-of-factvision，andhewasstirred。Itwasanotherworldfromtheriverheknew，underthatremotecoollight；aworldintowhichmanhadnotentered，anunrealworld，likesomestrangeshoresightedbydiscovery。Itscolourwasnotthecolourofconvention，washardlycolouratall；itsshapeswerebroodingyetdistinct；itssilencestunning；ithadnoscent。Whyitshouldmovehimhecouldnottell，unlessitwerethathefeltsoaloneinit，bareofallrelationshipandallpossessions。Intosuchaworldhisfathermightbevoyaging，forallresemblanceithadtotheworldhehadleft。AndSoamestookrefugefromitinwonderingwhatpaintercouldhavedoneitjustice。Thewhite-greywaterwaslike——likethebellyofafish！Wasitpossiblethatthisworldonwhichhelookedwasallprivateproperty，exceptthewater——andeventhatwastapped！Notree，noshrub，notabladeofgrass，notabirdorbeast，notevenafishthatwasnotowned。
Andonceonatimeallthiswasjungleandmarshandwater，andweirdcreaturesroamedandsportedwithouthumancognizancetogivethemnames；rottingluxuriancehadriotedwherethosetall，care-
fullyplantedwoodscamedowntothewater，andmarsh-mistedreedsonthatfarsidehadcoveredallthepasture。Well！theyhadgotitunder，kennelleditallup，labelledit，andstoweditinlawyers’offices。Andagoodthingtoo！Butonceinaway，asnow，theghostofthepastcameouttohauntandbroodandwhispertoanyhumanwhochancedtobeawake：’Outofmyunownedlonelinessyouallcame，intoitsomedayyouwillallreturn。’
AndSoames，whofeltthechillandtheeerinessofthatworld-newtohimandsoveryold：theworld，unowned，visitingthesceneofitspast——wentdownandmadehimselfteaonaspirit-lamp。Whenhehaddrunkit，hetookoutwritingmaterialsandwrotetwoparagraphs：”Onthe20thinstantathisresidenceinParkLane，JamesForsyte，inhisninety-firstyear。Funeralatnoononthe24thatHighgate。
Noflowersbyrequest。””Onthe20thinstantatTheShelter；Mapledurham，Annette，wifeofSoamesForsyte，ofadaughter。”Andunderneathontheblottingpaperhetracedtheword”son。”
Itwaseighto’clockinanordinaryautumnworldwhenhewentacrosstothehouse。Bushesacrosstheriverstoodroundandbright-colouredoutofamilkyhaze；thewood-smokewentupblueandstraight；andhisdovescooed，preeningtheirfeathersinthesunlight。
Hestoleuptohisdressing-room，bathed，shaved，putonfreshlinenanddarkclothes。
MadameLamottewasbeginningherbreakfastwhenhewentdown。
Shelookedathisclothes，said，”Don’ttellme！”andpressedhishand。”Annetteispretteewell。Butthedoctorsayshecanneverhavenomorechildren。Youknewthat?”Soamesnodded。”It’sapity。Maislapetiteestadorable。Ducafe?”
Soamesgotawayfromherassoonashecould。Sheoffendedhim——
solid，matter-of-fact，quick，clear——French。Hecouldnotbearhervowels，her’r’s’；heresentedthewayshehadlookedathim，asifitwerehisfaultthatAnnettecouldneverbearhimason！Hisfault！Heevenresentedhercheapadorationofthedaughterhehadnotyetseen。
Curioushowhejibbedawayfromsightofhiswifeandchild！
Onewouldhavethoughthemusthaverushedupatthefirstmoment。
Onthecontrary，hehadasortofphysicalshrinkingfromit——
fastidiouspossessorthathewas。HewasafraidofwhatAnnettewasthinkingofhim，authorofheragonies，afraidofthelookofthebaby，afraidofshowinghisdisappointmentwiththepresentand——thefuture。
Hespentanhourwalkingupanddownthedrawing-roombeforehecouldscrewhiscourageuptomountthestairsandknockonthedooroftheirroom。
MadameLamotteopenedit。”Ah！Atlastyoucome！Ellevousattend！”Shepassedhim，andSoameswentinwithhisnoiselessstep，hisjawfirmlyset，hiseyesfurtive。
Annettewasverypaleandveryprettylyingthere。Thebabywashiddenawaysomewhere；hecouldnotseeit。Hewentuptothebed，andwithsuddenemotionbentandkissedherforehead。”Hereyouarethen，Soames，”shesaid。”Iamnotsobadnow。ButIsufferedterribly，terribly。IamgladIcannothaveanymore。
Oh！howIsuffered！”
Soamesstoodsilent，strokingherhand；wordsofendearment，ofsympathy，absolutelywouldnotcome；thethoughtpassedthroughhim：’AnEnglishgirlwouldn’thavesaidthat！’Atthismomentheknewwithcertaintythathewouldneverbeneartoherinspiritandintruth，norshetohim。Hehadcollectedher——thatwasall！
AndJolyon’swordscamerushingintohismind：”Ishouldimagineyouwillbegladtohaveyourneckoutofchancery。”Well，hehadgotitout！Hadhegotitinagain?”Wemustfeedyouup，”hesaid，”you’llsoonbestrong。””Don’tyouwanttoseebaby，Soames?Sheisasleep。””Ofcourse，”saidSoames，”verymuch。”
Hepassedroundthefootofthebedtotheothersideandstoodstaring。Forthefirstmomentwhathesawwasmuchwhathehadexpectedtosee——ababy。Butashestaredandthebabybreathedandmadelittlesleepingmovementswithitstinyfeatures，itseemedtoassumeanindividualshape，grewtobelikeapicture，athinghewouldknowagain；notrepulsive，strangelybud-likeandtouching。Ithaddarkhair。Hetoucheditwithhisfinger，hewantedtoseeitseyes。Theyopened，theyweredark——whetherblueorbrownhecouldnottell。Theeyeswinked，stared，theyhadasortofsleepydepthinthem。Andsuddenlyhisheartfeltqueer，warm，asifelated。”Mapetitefleur！”Annettesaidsoftly。”Fleur，”repeatedSoames：”Fleur！we’llcallherthat。”
Thesenseoftriumphandrenewedpossessionswelledwithinhim。
ByGod！this——thisthingwashis！
End