\"Youshalljudgeforyourselfaboutallthosethingsasyougrowup。\"
LittleJonrepliedinacalculatingmanner:
\"Idon’twanttogrowup，much。Idon’twanttogotoschool。\"A
suddenoverwhelmingdesiretosaysomethingmore，tosaywhathereallyfelt，turnedhimred。\"I——Iwanttostaywithyou，andbeyourlover，Mum。\"
Thenwithaninstincttoimprovethesituation，headdedquickly\"I
don’twanttogotobedto—night，either。I’msimplytiredofgoingtobed，everynight。\"
\"Haveyouhadanymorenightmares？\"
\"Onlyaboutone。MayIleavethedooropenintoyourroomto—night，Mum？\"
\"Yes，justalittle。\"LittleJonheavedasighofsatisfaction。
\"WhatdidyouseeinGlensofantrim？\"
\"Nothingbutbeauty，darling。\"
\"Whatexactlyisbeauty？\"
\"Whatexactlyis——Oh！Jon，that’saposer。\"
\"CanIseeit，forinstance？\"Hismothergotup，andsatbesidehim。\"Youdo，everyday。Theskyisbeautiful，thestars，andmoonlitnights，andthenthebirds，theflowers，thetrees——they’reallbeautiful。Lookoutofthewindow——there’sbeautyforyou，Jon。\"
\"Oh！yes，that’stheview。Isthatall？\"
\"All？no。Theseaiswonderfullybeautiful，andthewaves，withtheirfoamflyingback。\"
\"Didyourisefromiteveryday，Mum？\"
Hismothersmiled。\"Well，webathed。\"
LittleJonsuddenlyreachedoutandcaughtherneckinhishands。
\"Iknow，\"hesaidmysteriously，\"you’reit，really，andalltherestismake—believe。\"
Shesighed，laughed，said:\"Oh！Jon！\"
LittleJonsaidcritically:
\"DoyouthinkBellabeautiful，forinstance？Ihardlydo。\"
\"Bellaisyoung;that’ssomething。\"
\"Butyoulookyounger，Mum。IfyoubumpagainstBellashehurts。
Idon’tbelieve’Da’wasbeautiful，whenIcometothinkofit;andMademoiselle’salmostugly。\"
\"Mademoisellehasaveryniceface。\"\"Oh！yes;nice。Iloveyourlittlerays，Mum。\"
\"Rays？\"
LittleJonputhisfingertotheoutercornerofhereye。
\"Oh！Those？Butthey’reasignofage。\"
\"Theycomewhenyousmile。\"
\"Buttheyusen’tto。\"
\"Oh！well，Ilikethem。Doyouloveme，Mum？\"
\"Ido——Idoloveyou，darling。\"
\"Everso？\"
\"Everso！\"
\"MorethanIthoughtyoudid？\"
\"Much——muchmore。\"
\"Well，sodoI;sothatmakesiteven。\"
Consciousthathehadneverinhislifesogivenhimselfaway，hefeltasuddenreactiontothemanlinessofSirLamorac，DickNeedham，HuckFinn，andotherheroes。
\"ShallIshowyouathingortwo？\"hesaid;andslippingoutofherarms，hestoodonhishead。Then，firedbyherobviousadmiration，hemountedthebed，andthrewhimselfheadforemostfromhisfeetontohisback，withouttouchinganythingwithhishands。Hedidthisseveraltimes。
Thatevening，havinginspectedwhattheyhadbrought，hestayeduptodinner，sittingbetweenthematthelittleroundtabletheyusedwhentheywerealone。Hewasextremelyexcited。HismotherworeaFrench—greydress，withcreamylacemadeoutoflittlescrigglyroses，roundherneck，whichwasbrownerthanthelace。Hekeptlookingather，tillatlasthisfather’sfunnysmilemadehimsuddenlyattentivetohissliceofpineapple。Itwaslaterthanhehadeverstayedup，whenhewenttobed。Hismotherwentupwithhim，andheundressedveryslowlysoastokeepherthere。Whenatlasthehadnothingonbuthispyjamas，hesaid:
\"Promiseyouwon’tgowhileIsaymyprayers！\"
\"Ipromise。\"
Kneelingdownandplunginghisfaceintothebed，littleJonhurriedup，underhisbreath，openingoneeyenowandthen，toseeherstandingperfectlystillwithasmileonherface。\"OurFather\"——sowenthislastprayer，\"whichartinheaven，hallowedbethyMum，thyKingdomMum——onEarthasitisinheaven，giveusthisdayourdailyMumandforgiveusourtrespassesonearthasitisinheavenandtrespassagainstus，forthineistheevilthepowerandthegloryforeverandever。Amum！Lookout！\"Hesprang，andforalongminuteremainedinherarms。Onceinbed，hecontinuedtoholdherhand。
\"Youwon’tshutthedooranymorethanthat，willyou？Areyougoingtobelong，Mum？\"
\"ImustgodownandplaytoDaddy。\"
\"Oh！well，Ishallhearyou。\"
\"Ihopenot;youmustgotosleep。\"
\"Icansleepanynight。\"
\"Well，thisisjustanightlikeanyother。\"
\"Oh！no——it’sextraspecial。\"
\"Onextraspecialnightsonealwayssleepssoundest。\"
\"ButifIgotosleep，Mum，Ishan’thearyoucomeup。\"
\"Well，whenIdo，I’llcomeinandgiveyouakiss，thenifyou’reawakeyou’llknow，andifyou’renotyou’llstillknowyou’vehadone。\"
LittleJonsighed，\"Allright！\"hesaid:\"IsupposeImustputupwiththat。Mum？\"
\"Yes？\"
\"WhatwashernamethatDaddybelievesin？VenusAnnaDiomedes？\"
\"Oh！myangel！Anadyomene。\"
\"Yes！butIlikemynameforyoumuchbetter。\"
\"Whatisyours，Jon？\"
LittleJonansweredshyly:
\"Guinevere！it’soutoftheRoundTableI’veonlyjustthoughtofit，onlyofcourseherhairwasdown。\"
Hismother’seyes，lookingpasthim，seemedtofloat。
\"Youwon’tforgettocome，Mum？\"
\"Notifyou’llgotosleep。\"
\"That’sabargain，then。\"AndlittleJonscreweduphiseyes。
Hefeltherlipsonhisforehead，heardherfootsteps;openedhiseyestoseeherglidingthroughthedoorway，and，sighing，screwedthemupagain。
ThenTimebegan。
Forsometenminutesofithetriedloyallytosleep，countingagreatnumberofthistlesinarow，\"Da’s\"oldrecipeforbringingslumber。Heseemedtohavebeenhourscounting。Itmust，hethought，benearlytimeforhertocomeupnow。Hethrewthebedclothesback。\"I’mhot！\"hesaid，andhisvoicesoundedfunnyinthedarkness，likesomeoneelse’s。Whydidn’tshecome？Hesatup。
Hemustlook！Hegotoutofbed，wenttothewindowandpulledthecurtainasliceaside。Itwasn’tdark，buthecouldn’ttellwhetherbecauseofdaylightorthemoon，whichwasverybig。Ithadafunny，wickedface，asiflaughingathim，andhedidnotwanttolookatit。Then，rememberingthathismotherhadsaidmoonlitnightswerebeautiful，hecontinuedtostareoutinageneralway。Thetreesthrewthickshadows，thelawnlookedlikespiltmilk，andalong，longwayhecouldsee;oh！veryfar;rightovertheworld，anditalllookeddifferentandswimmy。Therewasalovelysmell，too，inhisopenwindow。
’IwishIhadadovelikeNoah！’hethought。
\"Themoonymoonwasroundandbright，Itshoneandshoneandmadeitlight。\"
Afterthatrhyme，whichcameintohisheadallatonce，hebecameconsciousofmusic，verysoft—lovely！Mumplaying！Hebethoughthimselfofamacaroonhehad，laidupinhischestofdrawers，and，gettingit，camebacktothewindow。Heleanedout，nowmunching，nowholdinghisjawstohearthemusicbetter。\"Da\"usedtosaythatangelsplayedonharpsinheaven;butitwasn’thalfsolovelyasMumplayinginthemoonynight，withhimeatingamacaroon。Acockchaferbuzzedby，amothflewinhisface，themusicstopped，andlittleJondrewhisheadin。Shemustbecoming！Hedidn’twanttobefoundawake。Hegotbackintobedandpulledtheclothesnearlyoverhishead;buthehadleftastreakofmoonlightcomingin。Itfellacrossthefloor，nearthefootofthebed，andhewatcheditmovingeversoslowlytowardshim，asifitwerealive。Themusicbeganagain，buthecouldonlyjusthearitnow;sleepymusic，pretty——
sleepy——music——sleepy——slee……
Andtimeslippedby，themusicrose，fell，ceased;themoonbeamcrepttowardshisface。LittleJonturnedinhissleeptillhelayonhisback，withonebrownfiststillgraspingthebedclothes。Thecornersofhiseyestwitched——hehadbeguntodream。Hedreamedhewasdrinkingmilkoutofapanthatwasthemoon，oppositeagreatblackcatwhichwatchedhimwithafunnysmilelikehisfather’s。Hehearditwhisper:\"Don’tdrinktoomuch！\"Itwasthecat’smilk，ofcourse，andheputouthishandamicablytostrokethecreature;butitwasnolongerthere;thepanhadbecomeabed，inwhichhewaslying，andwhenhetriedtogetouthecouldn’tfindtheedge;hecouldn’tfindit——he——he——couldn’tgetout！Itwasdreadful！
Hewhimperedinhissleep。Thebedhadbeguntogoroundtoo;itwasoutsidehimandinsidehim;goingroundandround，andgettingfiery，andMotherLeeoutofCastupbytheSeawasstirringit！Oh！sohorribleshelooked！Fasterandfaster！——tillheandthebedandMotherLeeandthemoonandthecatwereallonewheelgoingroundandroundandupandup——awful——awful——awful！
Heshrieked。
Avoicesaying:\"Darling，darling！\"gotthroughthewheel，andheawoke，standingonhisbed，withhiseyeswideopen。
Therewashismother，withherhairlikeGuinevere’s，and，clutchingher，heburiedhisfaceinit。
\"Oh！oh！\"
\"It’sallright，treasure。You’reawakenow。There！There！It’snothing！\"
ButlittleJoncontinuedtosay:\"Oh！oh！\"
Hervoicewenton，velvetyinhisear:
\"Itwasthemoonlight，sweetheart，comingonyourface。\"
LittleJonburbledintohernightgown\"Yousaiditwasbeautiful。Oh！\"
\"Nottosleepin，Jon。Wholetitin？Didyoudrawthecurtains？\"
\"Iwantedtoseethetime;I——Ilookedout，I——Iheardyouplaying，Mum;I——Iatemymacaroon。\"Buthewasgrowingslowlycomforted;andtheinstincttoexcusehisfearrevivedwithinhim。
\"MotherLeewentroundinmeandgotallfiery，\"hemumbled。
\"Well，Jon，whatcanyouexpectifyoueatmacaroonsafteryou’vegonetobed？\"
\"Onlyone，Mum;itmadethemusiceversomorebeautiful。Iwaswaitingforyou——Inearlythoughtitwasto—morrow。\"
\"Myducky，it’sonlyjustelevennow。\"
LittleJonwassilent，rubbinghisnoseonherneck。
\"Mum，isDaddyinyourroom？\"
\"Notto—night。\"
\"CanIcome？\"
\"Ifyouwish，myprecious。\"
Halfhimselfagain，littleJondrewback。
\"Youlookdifferent，Mum;eversoyounger。\"
\"It’smyhair，darling。\"
LittleJonlaidholdofit，thick，darkgold，withafewsilverthreads。
\"Ilikeit，\"hesaid:\"Ilikeyoubestofalllikethis。\"
Takingherhand，hehadbegundragginghertowardsthedoor。Heshutitastheypassed，withasighofrelief。
\"Whichsideofthebeddoyoulike，Mum？\"
\"Theleftside。\"
\"Allright。\"
Wastingnotime，givinghernochancetochangehermind，littleJongotintothebed，whichseemedmuchsofterthanhisown。Heheavedanothersigh，screwedhisheadintothepillowandlayexaminingthebattleofchariotsandswordsandspearswhichalwayswentonoutsideblankets，wherethelittlehairsstoodupagainstthelight。
\"Itwasn’tanything，really，wasit？\"hesaid。
>Frombeforeherglasshismotheranswered:
\"Nothingbutthemoonandyourimaginationheatedup。Youmustn’tgetsoexcited，Jon。\"
But，stillnotquiteinpossessionofhisnerves，littleJonansweredboastfully:
\"Iwasn’tafraid，really，ofcourse！\"Andagainhelaywatchingthespearsandchariots。Itallseemedverylong。
\"Oh！Mum，dohurryup！\"
\"Darling，Ihavetoplaitmyhair。\"
\"Oh！notto—night。You’llonlyhavetounplaititagainto—morrow。
I’msleepynow;ifyoudon’tcome，Ishan’tbesleepysoon。\"
Hismotherstoodupwhiteandfloweybeforethewingedmirror:hecouldseethreeofher，withherneckturnedandherhairbrightunderthelight，andherdarkeyessmiling。Itwasunnecessary，andhesaid:
\"Docome，Mum;I’mwaiting。\"
\"Verywell，mylove，I’llcome。\"
LittleJonclosedhiseyes。Everythingwasturningoutmostsatisfactory，onlyshemusthurryup！Hefeltthebedshake，shewasgettingin。And，stillwithhiseyesclosed，hesaidsleepily:\"It’snice，isn’tit？\"
Heheardhervoicesaysomething，feltherlipstouchinghisnose，and，snugglingupbesideherwholayawakeandlovedhimwithherthoughts，hefellintothedreamlesssleep，whichroundedoffhispast。
TOLET
\"FromoutthefatalloinsofthosetwofoesApairofstar—crossedloverstaketheirlife。\"
——RomeoandJuliet。
TOCHARLESSCRIBNER
PARTI
ENCOUNTER
SoamesForsyteemergedfromtheKnightsbridgeHotel，wherehewasstaying，intheafternoonofthe12thofMay，1920，withtheintentionofvisitingacollectionofpicturesinaGalleryoffCorkStreet，andlookingintotheFuture。Hewalked。SincetheWarhenevertookacabifhecouldhelpit。Theirdriverswere，inhisview，anuncivillot，thoughnowthattheWarwasoverandsupplybeginningtoexceeddemandagain，gettingmorecivilinaccordancewiththecustomofhumannature。Still，hehadnotforgiventhem，deeplyidentifyingthemwithgloomymemories，andnow，dimly，likeallmembers，oftheirclass，withrevolution。TheconsiderableanxietyhehadpassedthroughduringtheWar，andthemoreconsiderableanxietyhehadsinceundergoneinthePeace，hadproducedpsychologicalconsequencesinatenaciousnature。Hehad，mentally，sofrequentlyexperiencedruin，thathehadceasedtobelieveinitsmaterialprobability。Payingawayfourthousandayearinincomeandsupertax，onecouldnotverywellbeworseoff！
Afortuneofaquarterofamillion，encumberedonlybyawifeandonedaughter，andverydiverselyinvested，affordedsubstantialguaranteeevenagainstthat\"wildcatnotion\"alevyoncapital。Andastoconfiscationofwarprofits，hewasentirelyinfavourofit，forhehadnone，and\"servethebeggarsright！\"Thepriceofpictures，moreover，had，ifanything，goneup，andhehaddonebetterwithhiscollectionsincetheWarbeganthaneverbefore。Air—raids，also，hadactedbeneficiallyonaspiritcongenitallycautious，andhardenedacharacteralreadydogged。Tobeindangerofbeingentirelydispersedinclinedonetobelessapprehensiveofthemorepartialdispersionsinvolvedinleviesandtaxation，whilethehabitofcondemningtheimpudenceoftheGermanshadlednaturallytocondemningthatofLabour，ifnotopenlyatleastinthesanctuaryofhissoul。
Hewalked。Therewas，moreover，timetospare，forFleurwastomeethimattheGalleryatfouro’clock，anditwasasyetbuthalf—pasttwo。Itwasgoodforhimtowalk——hisliverwasalittleconstricted，andhisnervesratheronedge。HiswifewasalwaysoutwhenshewasinTown，andhisdaughterwouldflibberty—gibbetallovertheplacelikemostyoungwomensincetheWar。Still，hemustbethankfulthatshehadbeentooyoungtodoanythinginthatWaritself。Not，ofcourse，thathehadnotsupportedtheWarfromitsinception，withallhissoul，butbetweenthatandsupportingitwiththebodiesofhiswifeanddaughter，therehadbeenagapfixedbysomethingold—fashionedwithinhimwhichabhorredemotionalextravagance。Hehad，forinstance，stronglyobjectedtoAnnette，soattractive，andin1914onlythirty—four，goingtohernativeFrance，her\"cherepatrie\"as，underthestimulusofwar，shehadbeguntocallit，tonurseher\"bravespoilus，\"forsooth！Ruiningherhealthandherlooks！Asifshewerereallyanurse！Hehadputastopperonit。Letherdoneedleworkforthemathome，orknit！Shehadnotgone，therefore，andhadneverbeenquitethesamewomansince。A
badtendencyofherstomockathim，notopenly，butincontinuallittleways，hadgrown。AsforFleur，theWarhadresolvedthevexedproblemwhetherornotsheshouldgotoschool。Shewasbetterawayfromhermotherinherwarmood，fromthechanceofair—raids，andtheimpetustodoextravagantthings;sohehadplacedherinaseminaryasfarWestashadseemedtohimcompatibIewithexcellence，andhadmissedherhorribly。Fleur！Hehadneverregrettedthesomewhatoutlandishnamebywhichatherbirthhehaddecidedsosuddenlytocallher——markedconcessionthoughithadbeentotheFrench。Fleur！Aprettyname——aprettychild！Butrestless——toorestless;andwilful！Knowingherpowertoooverherfather！Soamesoftenreflectedonthemistakeitwastodoteonhisdaughter。Togetoldanddote！Sixty—five！Hewasgettingon;buthedidn’tfeelit，for，fortunatelyperhaps，consideringAnnette’syouthandgoodlooks，hissecondmarriagehadturnedoutacoolaffair。Hehadknownbutonerealpassioninhislife——forthatfirstwifeofhis——
Irene。Yes，andthatfellow，hiscousinJolyon，whohadgoneoffwithher，waslookingveryshaky，theysaid。Nowonder，atseventy—
two，aftertwentyyearsofathirdmarriage！
SoamespausedamomentinhismarchtoleanovertherailingsoftheRow。Asuitablespotforreminiscence，half—waybetweenthathouseinParkLanewhichhadseenhisbirthandhisparents’deaths，andthelittlehouseinMontpellierSquarewherethirty—fiveyearsagohehadenjoyedhisfirsteditionofmatrimony。Now，aftertwentyyearsofhissecondedition，thatoldtragedyseemedtohimlikeapreviousexistence——whichhadendedwhenFleurwasborninplaceofthesonhehadhopedfor。Formanyyearshehadceasedregretting，evenvaguely，thesonwhohadnotbeenborn;Fleurfilledthebillinhisheart。Afterall，sheborehisname;andhewasnotlookingforwardatalltothetimewhenshewouldchangeit。Indeed，ifheeverthoughtofsuchacalamity，itwasseasonedbythevaguefeelingthathecouldmakeherrichenoughtopurchaseperhapsandextinguishthenameofthefellowwhomarriedher——whynot，since，asitseemed，womenwereequaltomennowadays？AndSoames，secretlyconvincedthattheywerenot，passedhiscurvedhandoverhisfacevigorously，tillitreachedthecomfortofhischin。Thankstoabstemioushabits，hehadnotgrownfatandgabby;hisnosewaspaleandthin，hisgreymoustacheclose—clipped，hiseyesightunimpaired。Aslightstoopclosenedandcorrectedtheexpansiongiventohisfacebytheheighteningofhisforeheadintherecessionofhisgreyhair。
LittlechangehadTimewroughtinthe\"warmest\"oftheyoungForsytes，asthelastoftheoldForsytes——Timothy—nowinhishundredandfirstyear，wouldhavephrasedit。
Theshadefromtheplane—treesfellonhisneatHomburghat;hehadgivenuptophats——itwasnouseattractingattentiontowealthindayslikethese。Plane—trees！HisthoughtstravelledsharplytoMadrid——theEasterbeforetheWar，when，havingtomakeuphismindaboutthatGoyapicture，hehadtakenavoyageofdiscoverytostudythepainteronhisspot。Thefellowhadimpressedhim——greatrange，realgenius！Highlyasthechapranked，hewouldrankevenhigherbeforetheyhadfinishedwithhim。ThesecondGoyacrazewouldbegreatereventhanthefirst;oh，yes！Andhehadbought。Onthatvisithehad——asneverbefore——commissionedacopyofafrescopaintingcalled\"LaVendimia，\"whereinwasthefigureofagirlwithanarmakimbo，whohadremindedhimofhisdaughter。HehaditnowintheGalleryatMapledurham，andratherpooritwas——youcouldn’tcopyGoya。Hewouldstilllookatit，however，ifhisdaughterwerenotthere，forthesakeofsomethingirresistiblyreminiscentinthelight，erectbalanceofthefigure，thewidthbetweenthearchingeyebrows，theeagerdreamingofthedarkeyes。CuriousthatFleurshouldhavedarkeyes，whenhisownweregrey——nopureForsytehadbrowneyes——andhermother’sblue！ButofcoursehergrandmotherLamotte’seyesweredarkastreacle！
HebegantowalkonagaintowardHydeParkCorner。NogreaterchangeinallEnglandthanintheRow！Bornalmostwithinhailofit，hecouldrememberitfrom1860on。Broughtthereasachildbetweenthecrinolinestostareattight—trousereddandiesinwhiskers，ridingwithacavalryseat;towatchthedoffingofcurly—brimmedandwhitetophats;theleisurelyairofitall，andthelittlebow—leggedmaninalongredwaistcoatwhousedtocomeamongthefashionwithdogsonseveralstrings，andtrytosellonetohismother:KingCharlesspaniels，Italiangreyhounds，affectionatetohercrinoline——youneversawthemnow。Yousawnoqualityofanysort，indeed，justworkingpeoplesittingindullrowswithnothingtostareatbutafewyoungbouncingfemalesinpothats，ridingastride，ordesultoryColonialschargingupanddownondismal—lookinghacks;with，hereandthere，littlegirlsonponies，oroldgentlemenjoggingtheirlivers，oranorderlytryingagreatgalumphingcavalryhorse;nothoroughbreds，nogrooms，nobowing，noscraping，nogossip——nothing;
onlythetreesthesame——thetreesin——differenttothegenerationsanddeclensionsofmankind。AdemocraticEngland——dishevelled，hurried，noisy，andseeminglywithoutanapex。AndthatsomethingfastidiousinthesoulofSoamesturnedoverwithinhim。Goneforever，thecloseboroughofrankandpolish！Wealththerewas——oh，yes！wealth——hehimselfwasarichermanthanhisfatherhadeverbeen;butmanners，flavour，quality，allgone，engulfedinonevast，ugly，shoulder—rubbing，petrol—smellingCheerio。Littlehalf—beatenpocketsofgentilityandcastelurkinghereandthere，dispersedandchetif，asAnnettewouldsay;butnothingeveragainfirmandcoherenttolookupto。Andintothisnewhurly—burlyofbadmannersandloosemoralshisdaughter——flowerofhislife——wasflung！AndwhenthoseLabourchapsgotpower——iftheyeverdid——theworstwasyettocome。
Hepassedoutunderthearchway，atlastnolonger——thankgoodness！——
disfiguredbythegungreyofitssearch—light。’They’dbetterputasearch—lightontowherethey’reallgoing，’hethought，’andlightuptheirpreciousdemocracy！’AndhedirectedhisstepsalongtheClubfrontsofPiccadilly。GeorgeForsyte，ofcourse，wouldbesittinginthebaywindowoftheIseeum。Thechapwassobignowthathewastherenearlyallhistime，likesomeimmovable，sardonic，humorouseyenotingthedeclineofmenandthings。AndSoameshurried，everconstitutionallyuneasybeneathhiscousin’sglance。
George，who，ashehadheard，hadwrittenalettersigned\"Patriot\"
inthemiddleoftheWar，complainingoftheGovernment’shysteriaindockingtheoatsofrace—horses。Yes，therehewas，tall，ponderous，neat，clean—shaven，withhissmoothhair，hardlythinned，smelling，nodoubt，ofthebesthair—wash，andapinkpaperinhishand。Well，bedidn’tchange！AndforperhapsthefirsttimeinhislifeSoamesfeltakindofsympathytappinginhiswaistcoatforthatsardonickinsman。Withhisweight，hisperfectlypartedhair，andbull—likegaze，hewasaguaranteethattheoldorderwouldtakesomeshiftingyet。HesawGeorgemovethepinkpaperasifinvitinghimtoascend—
—thechapmustwanttoasksomethingabouthisproperty。ItwasstillunderSoames’control;forintheadoptionofasleepingpartnershipatthatpainfulperiodtwentyyearsbackwhenhehaddivorcedIrene，SoameshadfoundhimselfalmostinsensiblyretainingcontrolofallpurelyForsyteaffairs。
Hesitatingforjustamoment，henoddedandwentin。Sincethedeathofhisbrother—in—lawMontagueDartie，inParis，whichnoonehadquiteknownwhattomakeof，exceptthatitwascertainlynotsuicide——theIseeumClubhadseemedmorerespectabletoSoames。
George，too，heknew，hadsownthelastofhiswildoats，andwascommitteddefinitelytothejoysofthetable，eatingonlyoftheverybestsoastokeephisweightdown，andowning，ashesaid，\"justoneortwooldscrewstogivemeaninterestinlife。\"Hejoinedhiscousin，therefore，inthebaywindowwithouttheembarrassingsenseofindiscretionhehadbeenusedtofeelupthere。