Georgeputoutawell—kepthand。
\"Haven’tseenyousincetheWar，\"hesaid。\"How’syourwife？\"
\"Thanks，\"saidSoamescoldly，\"wellenough。\"
Somehiddenjestcurved，foramoment，George’sfleshyface，andgloatedfromhiseye。
\"ThatBelgianchap，Profond，\"hesaid，\"isamemberherenow。He’sarumcustomer。\"
\"Quite！\"mutteredSoames。\"Whatdidyouwanttoseemeabout？\"
\"OldTimothy;hemightgooffthehooksatanymoment。Isupposehe’smadehisWill。\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Well，youorsomebodyoughttogivehimalookup——lastoftheoldlot;he’sahundred，youknow。Theysayhe’slikearummy。Whereareyougoin’toputhim？Heoughttohaveapyramidbyrights。\"
Soamesshookhishead。\"Highgate，thefamilyvault。\"
\"Well，Isupposetheoldgirlswouldmisshim，ifhewasanywhereelse。Theysayhestilltakesaninterestinfood。Hemightlaston，youknow。Don’twegetanythingfortheoldForsytes？Tenofthem——averageageeighty—eight——Iworkeditout。Thatoughttobeequaltotriplets。\"
\"Isthatall？\"saidSoames，\"Imustbegettingon。\"
’Youunsociabledevil，’George’seyesseemedtoanswer。\"Yes，that’sall:Lookhimupinhismausoleum——theoldchapmightwanttoprophesy。\"Thegrindiedontherichcurvesofhisface，andheadded:\"Haven’tyouattorneysinventedawayyetofdodgingthisdamnedincometax？Ithitsthefixedinheritedincomeliketheverydeuce。Iusedtohavetwothousandfivehundredayear;nowI’vegotabeggarlyfifteenhundred，andthepriceoflivingdoubled。\"
\"Ah！\"murmuredSoames，\"theturf’sindanger。\"
OverGeorge’sfacemovedagleamofsardonicself—defence。
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"theybroughtmeuptodonothing，andhereIaminthesearandyellow，gettingpoorereveryday。TheseLabourchapsmeantohavethelotbeforethey’vedone。Whatareyougoingtodoforalivingwhenitcomes？Ishallworkasix—hourdayteachingpoliticianshowtoseeajoke。Takemytip，Soames;gointoParliament，makesureofyourfourhundred——andemployme。\"
And，asSoamesretired，heresumedhisseatinthebaywindow。
SoamesmovedalongPiccadillydeepinreflectionsexcitedbyhiscousin’swords。Hehimselfhadalwaysbeenaworkerandasaver，Georgealwaysadroneandaspender;andyet，ifconfiscationoncebegan，itwashe——theworkerandthesaver——whowouldbelooted！
Thatwasthenegationofallvirtue，theoverturningofallForsyteprinciples。Couldcivilizationbebuiltonanyother？Hedidnotthinkso。Well，theywouldn’tconfiscatehispictures，fortheywouldn’tknowtheirworth。Butwhatwouldtheybeworth，ifthesemaniacsoncebegantomilkcapital？Adrugonthemarket。’Idon’tcareaboutmyself，’hethought;’Icouldliveonfivehundredayear，andneverknowthedifference，atmyage。’ButFleur！Thisfortune，sowidelyinvested，thesetreasuressocarefullychosenandamassed，wereallfor——her。Andifitshouldturnoutthathecouldn’tgiveorleavethemtoher——well，lifehadnomeaning，andwhatwastheuseofgoingintolookatthiscrazy，futuristicstuffwiththeviewofseeingwhetherithadanyfuture？
ArrivingattheGalleryoffCorkStreet，however，hepaidhisshilling，pickedupacatalogue，andentered。Sometenpersonswereprowlinground。Soamestookstepsandcameonwhatlookedtohimlikealamp—postbentbycollisionwithamotoromnibus。Itwasadvancedsomethreepacesfromthewall，andwasdescribedinhiscatalogueas\"Jupiter。\"Heexamineditwithcuriosity，havingrecentlyturnedsomeofhisattentiontosculpture。’Ifthat’sJupiter，’hethought，’IwonderwhatJuno’slike。’Andsuddenlyhesawher，opposite。Sheappearedtohimlikenothingsomuchasapumpwithtwohandles，lightlycladinsnow。Hewasstillgazingather，whentwooftheprowlershaltedonhisleft。\"Epatant！\"heheardonesay。
\"Jargon！\"growledSoamestohimself。
Theother’sboyishvoicereplied\"Missedit，oldbean;he’spullingyourleg。WhenJoveandJunocreatedhethem，hewassaying:’I’llseehowmuchthesefoolswillswallow。’Andthey’velappedupthelot。\"
\"Youyoungduffer！Vospovitchisaninnovator。Don’tyouseethathe’sbroughtsatireintosculpture？Thefutureofplasticart，ofmusic，painting，andevenarchitecture，hassetinsatiric。Itwasboundto。Peoplearetired——thebottom’stumbledoutofsentiment。\"
\"Well，I’mquiteequaltotakingalittleinterestinbeauty。IwasthroughtheWar。You’vedroppedyourhandkerchief，sir。\"
Soamessawahandkerchiefheldoutinfrontofhim。Hetookitwithsomenaturalsuspicion，andapproachedittohisnose。Ithadtherightscent——ofdistantEaudeCologne——andhisinitialsinacorner。
Slightlyreassured，heraisedhiseyestotheyoungman’sface。Ithadratherfawn—likeears，alaughingmouth，withhalfatoothbrushgrowingoutofitoneachside，andsmalllivelyeyes，aboveanormallydressedappearance。
\"Thankyou，\"hesaid;andmovedbyasortofirritation，added:\"Gladtohearyoulikebeauty;that’srare，nowadays。\"
\"Idoteonit，\"saidtheyoungman;\"butyouandIarethelastoftheoldguard，sir。\"
Soamessmiled。
\"Ifyoureallycareforpictures，\"hesaid，\"here’smycard。IcanshowyousomequitegoodonesanySunday，ifyou’redowntheriverandcaretolookin。\"
\"Awfullyniceofyou，sir。I’lldropinlikeabird。Myname’sMont—Michael。\"Andhetookoffhishat。
Soames，alreadyregrettinghisimpulse，raisedhisownslightlyinresponse，withadownwardlookattheyoungman’scompanion，whohadapurpletie，dreadfullittlesluglikewhiskers，andascornfullook—
—asifhewereapoet！
Itwasthefirstindiscretionhehadcommittedforsolongthathewentandsatdowninanalcove。Whathadpossessedhimtogivehiscardtoaracketyyoungfellow，whowentaboutwithathinglikethat？AndFleur，alwaysatthebackofhisthoughts，startedoutlikeafiligreefigurefromaclockwhenthehourstrikes。Onthescreenoppositethealcovewasalargecanvaswithagreatmanysquaretomato—colouredblobsonit，andnothingelse，sofarasSoamescouldseefromwherehesat。Helookedathiscatalogue:\"No。
32’TheFutureTown’——PaulPost。\"’Isupposethat’ssatirictoo，’hethought。’Whatathing！’Buthissecondimpulsewasmorecautious。
Itdidnotdotocondemnhurriedly。Therehadbeenthosestripey，streakycreationsofMonet’s，whichhadturnedoutsuchtrumps;andthenthestippledschool;andGauguin。Why，evensincethePost—
Impressioniststherehadbeenoneortwopaintersnottobesneezedat。Duringthethirty—eightyearsofhisconnoisseur’slife，indeed，hehadmarkedsomany\"movements，\"seenthetidesoftasteandtechniquesoebbandflow，thattherewasreallynotellinganythingexceptthattherewasmoneytobemadeoutofeverychangeoffashion。Thistoomightquitewellbeacasewhereonemustsubdueprimordialinstinct，orlosethemarket。Hegotupandstoodbeforethepicture，tryinghardtoseeitwiththeeyesofotherpeople。
Abovethetomatoblobswaswhathetooktobeasunset，tillsomeonepassingsaid:\"He’sgottheairplaneswonderfully，don’tyouthink！\"
Belowthetomatoblobswasabandofwhitewithverticalblackstripes，towhichhecouldassignnomeaningwhatever，tillsomeoneelsecameby，murmuring:\"Whatexpressionhegetswithhisforeground！\"Expression？Ofwhat？Soameswentbacktohisseat。
Thethingwas\"rich，\"ashisfatherwouldhavesaid，andhewouldn’tgiveadamnforit。Expression！Ah！theywereallExpressionistsnow，hehadheard，ontheContinent。Soitwascomingheretoo，wasit？Herememberedthefirstwaveofinfluenzain1887——or’8——
hatchedinChina，sotheysaid。Hewonderedwherethis——thisExpressionismhadbeenhatched。Thethingwasaregulardisease！
Hehadbecomeconsciousofawomanandayouthstandingbetweenhimandthe\"FutureTown。\"Theirbackswereturned;butverysuddenlySoamesputhiscataloguebeforehisface，anddrawinghishatforward，gazedthroughtheslitbetween。Nomistakingthatback，elegantaseverthoughthehairabovehadgonegrey。Irene！Hisdivorcedwife——Irene！Andthis，nodoubt，was——herson——bythatfellowJolyonForsyte——theirboy，sixmonthsolderthanhisowngirl！
Andmumblingoverinhismindthebitterdaysofhisdivorce，herosetogetoutofsight，butquicklysatdownagain。Shehadturnedherheadtospeaktoherboy;herprofilewasstillsoyouthfulthatitmadehergreyhairseempowdery，asiffancy—dressed;andherlipsweresmilingasSoames，firstpossessorofthem，hadneverseenthemsmile。Grudginglyheadmittedherstillbeautifulandinfigurealmostasyoungasever。Andhowthatboysmiledbackather！
EmotionsqueezedSoames’heart。Thesightinfringedhissenseofjustice。Hegrudgedherthatboy’ssmile——itwentbeyondwhatFleurgavehim，anditwasundeserved。Theirsonmighthavebeenhisson;
Fleurmighthavebeenherdaughter，ifshehadkeptstraight！Heloweredhiscatalogue。Ifshesawhim，allthebetter！Areminderofherconductinthepresenceofherson，whoprobablyknewnothingofit，wouldbeasalutarytouchfromthefingerofthatNemesiswhichsurelymustsoonorlatevisither！Then，half—consciousthatsuchathoughtwasextravagantforaForsyteofhisage，Soamestookouthiswatch。Pastfour！Fleurwaslate。ShehadgonetohisnieceImogenCardigan’s，andtheretheywouldkeephersmokingcigarettesandgossiping，andthat。Heheardtheboylaugh，andsayeagerly:\"Isay，Mum，isthisbyoneofAuntieJune’slameducks？\"
\"PaulPost——Ibelieveitis，darling。\"
ThewordproducedalittleshockinSoames;hehadneverheardheruseit。Andthenshesawhim。HiseyesmusthavehadinthemsomethingofGeorgeForsyte’ssardoniclook;forherglovedhandcrispedthefoldsofherfrock，hereyebrowsrose，herfacewentstony。Shemovedon。
\"Itisacaution，\"saidtheboy，catchingherarmagain。
Soamesstaredafterthem。Thatboywasgood—looking，withaForsytechin，andeyesdeep—grey，deepin;butwithsomethingsunny，likeaglassofoldsherryspilledoverhim;hissmileperhaps，hishair。
Betterthantheydeserved——thosetwo！Theypassedfromhisviewintothenextroom，andSoamescontinuedtoregardtheFutureTown，butsawitnot。Alittlesmilesnarleduphislips。Hewasdespisingthevehemenceofhisownfeelingsafteralltheseyears。Ghosts！
Andyetasonegrewold——wasthereanythingbutwhatwasghost—likeleft？Yes，therewasFleur！Hefixedhiseyesontheentrance。Shewasdue;butshewouldkeephimwaiting，ofcourse！Andsuddenlyhebecameawareofasortofhumanbreeze——ashort，slightformcladinasea—greendjibbahwithametalbeltandafilletbindingunrulyred—goldhairallstreakedwithgrey。ShewastalkingtotheGalleryattendants，andsomethingfamiliarrivetedhisgaze——inhereyes，herchin，herhair，herspirit——somethingwhichsuggestedathinSkyeterrierjustbeforeitsdinner。SurelyJuneForsyte！HiscousinJune——andcomingstraighttohisrecess！Shesatdownbesidehim，deepinthought，tookoutatablet，andmadeapencilnote。Soamessatunmoving。Aconfoundedthing，cousinship！\"Disgusting！\"heheardhermurmur;then，asifresentingthepresenceofanoverhearingstranger，shelookedathim。Theworsthadhappened。
\"Soames！\"
Soamesturnedhisheadaverylittle。
\"Howareyou？\"hesaid。\"Haven’tseenyoufortwentyyears。\"
\"No。Whatevermadeyoucomehere？\"
\"Mysins，\"saidSoames。\"Whatstuff！\"
\"Stuff？Oh，yes——ofcourse;ithasn’tarrivedyet。
\"Itneverwill，\"saidSoames;\"itmustbemakingadeadloss。\"
\"Ofcourseitis。\"
\"Howd’youknow？\"
\"It’smyGallery。\"
Soamessniffedfromsheersurprise。
\"Yours？Whatonearthmakesyourunashowlikethis？\"
\"Idon’ttreatArtasifitweregrocery。\"
SoamespointedtotheFutureTown。\"Lookatthat！Who’sgoingtoliveinatownlikethat，orwithitonhiswalls？\"
Junecontemplatedthepictureforamoment。
\"It’savision，\"shesaid。
\"Thedeuce！\"
Therewassilence，thenJunerose。’Crazylookingcreature！’hethought。
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"you’llfindyouryoungstepbrotherherewithawomanIusedtoknow。Ifyoutakemyadvice，you’llclosethisexhibition。\"
Junelookedbackathim。\"Oh！YouForsyte！\"shesaid，andmovedon。
Aboutherlight，fly—awayfigure，passingsosuddenlyaway，wasalookofdangerousdecisions。Forsyte！Ofcourse，hewasaForsyte！
Andsowasshe！Butfromthetimewhen，asameregirl，shebroughtBosinneyintohislifetowreckit，hehadneverhititoffwithJuneandneverwould！Andhereshewas，unmarriedtothisday，owningaGallery！……AndsuddenlyitcametoSoameshowlittleheknewnowofhisownfamily。TheoldauntsatTimothy’shadbeendeadsomanyyears;therewasnoclearing—housefornews。WhathadtheyalldoneintheWar？YoungRoger’sboyhadbeenwounded，St。JohnHayman’ssecondsonkilled;youngNicholas’eldesthadgotanO。B。E。，orwhatevertheygavethem。Theyhadalljoinedupsomehow，hebelieved。ThatboyofJolyon’sandIrene’s，hesupposed，hadbeentooyoung;hisowngeneration，ofcourse，tooold，thoughGilesHaymanhaddrivenacarfortheRedCross——andJesseHaymanbeenaspecialconstable——those\"Dromios\"hadalwaysbeenofasportingtype！Asforhimself，hehadgivenamotorambulance，readthepaperstillhewassickofthem，passedthroughmuchanxiety，boughtnoclothes，lostsevenpoundsinweight;hedidn’tknowwhatmorehecouldhavedoneathisage。Indeed，thinkingitover，itstruckhimthatheandhisfamilyhadtakenthiswarverydifferentlytothataffairwiththeBoers，whichhadbeensupposedtotaxalltheresourcesoftheEmpire。Inthatoldwar，ofcourse，hisnephewValDartiehadbeenwounded，thatfellowJolyon’sfirstsonhaddiedofenteric，\"theDromios\"hadgoneoutonhorses，andJunehadbeenanurse;butallthathadseemedinthenatureofaportent，whileinthiswareverybodyhaddone\"theirbit，\"sofarashecouldmakeout，asamatterofcourse。Itseemedtoshowthegrowthofsomethingorother——orperhapsthedeclineofsomethingelse。HadtheForsytesbecomelessindividual，ormoreImperial，orlessprovincial？OrwasitsimplythatonehatedGermans？……Whydidn’tFleurcome，sothathecouldgetaway？Hesawthosethreereturntogetherfromtheotherroomandpassbackalongthefarsideofthescreen。TheboywasstandingbeforetheJunonow。And，suddenly，ontheothersideofher，Soamessaw——hisdaughter，witheyebrowsraised，aswelltheymightbe。Hecouldseehereyesglintsidewaysattheboy，andtheboylookbackather。ThenIreneslippedherhandthroughhisarm，anddrewhimon。Soamessawhimglancinground，andFleurlookingafterthemasthethreewentout。
Avoicesaidcheerfully:\"Bitthick，isn’tit，sir？\"
Theyoungmanwhohadhandedhimhishandkerchiefwasagainpassing。
Soamesnodded。
\"Idon’tknowwhatwe’recomingto。\"
\"Oh！That’sallright，sir，\"answeredtheyoungmancheerfully;\"theydon’teither。\"
Fleur’svoicesaid:\"Hallo，Father！Hereyouare！\"preciselyasifhehadbeenkeepingherwaiting。
Theyoungman，snatchingoffhishat，passedon。
\"Well，\"saidSoames，lookingherupanddown，\"you’reapunctualsortofyoungwoman！\"
Thistreasuredpossessionofhislifewasofmediumheightandcolour，withshort，darkchestnuthair;herwide—apartbrowneyesweresetinwhitessoclearthattheyglintedwhentheymoved，andyetinreposewerealmostdreamyunderverywhite，black—lashedlids，heldovertheminasortofsuspense。Shehadacharmingprofile，andnothingofherfatherinherfacesaveadecidedchin。Awarethathisexpressionwassofteningashelookedather，SoamesfrownedtopreservetheunemotionalismpropertoaForsyte。Heknewshewasonlytooinclinedtotakeadvantageofhisweakness。
Slippingherhandunderhisarm，shesaid:
\"Whowasthat？\"
\"Hepickedupmyhandkerchief。Wetalkedaboutthepictures。\"
\"You’renotgoingtobuythat，Father？\"
\"No，\"saidSoamesgrimly;\"northatJunoyou’vebeenlookingat。\"
Fleurdraggedathisarm。\"Oh！Let’sgo！It’saghastlyshow。\"
InthedoorwaytheypassedtheyoungmancalledMontandhispartner。
ButSoameshadhungoutaboardmarked\"Trespasserswillbeprosecuted，\"andhebarelyacknowledgedtheyoungfellow’ssalute。
\"Well，\"hesaidinthestreet，\"whomdidyoumeetatImogen’s？\"
\"AuntWinifred，andthatMonsieurProfond。\"
\"Oh！\"mutteredSoames;\"thatchap！Whatdoesyourauntseeinhim？\"
\"Idon’tknow。Helooksprettydeep——mothersaysshelikeshim。\"
Soamesgrunted。
\"CousinValandhiswifewerethere，too。\"
\"What！\"saidSoames。\"IthoughttheywerebackinSouthAfrica。\"
\"Oh，no！They’vesoldtheirfarm。CousinValisgoingtotrainrace—horsesontheSussexDowns。They’vegotajollyoldmanor—
house;theyaskedmedownthere。\"
Soamescoughed:thenewswasdistastefultohim。\"What’shiswifelikenow？\"
\"Veryquiet，butnice，Ithink。\"
Soamescoughedagain。\"He’saracketychap，yourCousinVal。\"
\"Oh！no，Father;they’reawfullydevoted。Ipromisedtogo——SaturdaytoWednesdaynext。\"
\"Trainingrace—horses！\"saidSoames。Itwasextravagant，butnotthereasonforhisdistaste。Whythedeucecouldn’thisnephewhavestayedoutinSouthAfrica？Hisowndivorcehadbeenbadenough，withouthisnephew’smarriagetothedaughteroftheco—respondent;ahalf—sistertooofJune，andofthatboywhomFleurhadjustbeenlookingatfromunderthepump—handle。Ifhedidn’tlookout，shewouldcometoknowallaboutthatolddisgrace！Unpleasantthings！
Theywereroundhimthisafternoonlikeaswarmofbees！
\"Idon’tlikeit！\"hesaid。
\"Iwanttoseetherace—horses，\"murmuredFleur;\"andthey’vepromisedIshallride。CousinValcan’twalkmuch，youknow;buthecanrideperfectly。He’sgoingtoshowmetheirgallops。\"
\"Racing！\"saidSoames。\"It’sapitytheWardidn’tknockthatonthehead。He’stakingafterhisfather，I’mafraid。\"
\"Idon’tknowanythingabouthisfather。\"
\"No，\"saidSoames，grimly。\"HetookaninterestinhorsesandbrokehisneckinParis，walkingdown—stairs。Goodriddanceforyouraunt。\"Hefrowned，recollectingtheinquiryintothosestairswhichhehadattendedinParissixyearsago，because。MontagueDartiecouldnotattendithimself——perfectlynormalstairsinahousewheretheyplayedbaccarat。Eitherhiswinningsorthewayhehadcelebratedthemhadgonetohisbrother—in—law’shead。TheFrenchprocedurehadbeenveryloose;hehadhadalotoftroublewithit。
AsoundfromFleurdistractedhisattention。\"Look！ThepeoplewhowereintheGallerywithus。\"
\"Whatpeople？\"mutteredSoames，whoknewperfectlywell。
\"Ithinkthatwoman’sbeautiful。\"
\"Comeintothispastry—cook’s，\"saidSoamesabruptly，andtighteninghisgriponherarmheturnedintoaconfectioner’s。Itwas——forhim——asurprisingthingtodo，andhesaidratheranxiously:\"Whatwillyouhave？\"
\"Oh！Idon’twantanything。Ihadacocktailandatremendouslunch。\"
\"Wemusthavesomethingnowwe’rehere，\"mutteredSoames，keepingholdofherarm。
\"Twoteas，\"hesaid;\"andtwoofthosenougatthings。\"
Butnosoonerwashisbodyseatedthanhissoulsprangup。Thosethree——thosethreewerecomingin！HeheardIrenesaysomethingtoherboy，andhisanswer:
\"Oh！no，Mum;thisplaceisallright。Mystunt。\"Andthethreesatdown。
Atthatmoment，mostawkwardofhisexistence，crowdedwithghostsandshadowsfromhispast，inpresenceoftheonlytwowomenhehadeverloved——hisdivorcedwifeandhisdaughterbyhersuccessor——
SoameswasnotsomuchafraidofthemasofhiscousinJune。Shemightmakeascene——shemightintroducethosetwochildren——shewascapableofanything。Hebittoohastilyatthenougat，anditstucktohisplate。Workingatitwithhisfinger，heglancedatFleur。
Shewasmasticatingdreamily，buthereyeswereontheboy。TheForsyteinhimsaid:\"Think，feel，andyou’redonefor！\"Andhewiggledhisfingerdesperately。Plate！DidJolyonwearaplate？
Didthatwomanwearaplate？Timehadbeenwhenhehadseenherwearingnothing！Thatwassomething，anyway，whichhadneverbeenstolenfromhim。Andsheknewit，thoughshemightsittherecalmandself—possessed，asifshehadneverbeenhiswife。AnacidhumourstirredinhisForsyteblood;asubtlepaindividedbyhair’sbreadthfrompleasure。IfonlyJunedidnotsuddenlybringherhornetsabouthisears！Theboywastalking。
\"Ofcourse，AuntieJune\"——sohecalledhishalf—sister\"Auntie，\"didhe？——well，shemustbefifty，ifshewasaday！——\"it’sjollygoodofyoutoencouragethem。Only——hangitall！\"Soamesstoleaglance。
Irene’sstartledeyeswerebentwatchfullyonherboy。She——shehadthesedevotions——forBosinney——forthatboy’sfather——forthisboy！
HetouchedFleur’sarm，andsaid:
\"Well，haveyouhadenough？\"
\"Onemore，Father，please。\"
Shewouldbesick！Hewenttothecountertopay。WhenheturnedroundagainhesawFleurstandingnearthedoor，holdingahandkerchiefwhichtheboyhadevidentlyjusthandedtoher。
\"F。F。，\"heheardhersay。\"FleurForsyte——it’smineallright。
Thankyoueverso。\"
GoodGod！Shehadcaughtthetrickfromwhathe’dtoldherintheGallery——monkey！
\"Forsyte？Why——that’smynametoo。Perhapswe’recousins。\"
\"Really！Wemustbe。Therearen’tanyothers。IliveatMapledurham;wheredoyou？\"
\"RobinHill。\"
Questionandanswerhadbeensorapidthatallwasoverbeforehecouldliftafinger。HesawIrene’sfacealivewithstartledfeeling，gavetheslightestshakeofhishead，andslippedhisarmthroughFleur’s。
\"Comealong！\"hesaid。
Shedidnotmove。
\"Didn’tyouhear，Father？Isn’titqueer——ourname’sthesame。Arewecousins？\"
\"What’sthat？\"hesaid。\"Forsyte？Distant，perhaps。\"
\"Myname’sJolyon，sir。Jon，forshort。\"
\"Oh！Ah！\"saidSoames。\"Yes。Distant。Howareyou？Verygoodofyou。Good—bye！\"
Hemovedon。
\"Thanksawfully，\"Fleurwassaying。\"Aurevoir！\"
\"Aurevoir！\"heheardtheboyreply。
II
FINEFLEURFORSYTE
Emergingfromthe\"pastry—cook’s，\"Soames’firstimpulsewastoventhisnervesbysayingtohisdaughter:’Droppingyourhand—kerchief！’
towhichherreplymightwellbe:’Ipickedthatupfromyou！’Hissecondimpulsethereforewastoletsleepingdogslie。Butshewouldsurelyquestionhim。Hegaveherasidelonglook，andfoundshewasgivinghimthesame。Shesaidsoftly:
\"Whydon’tyoulikethosecousins，Father？\"Soamesliftedthecornerofhislip。
\"Whatmadeyouthinkthat？\"
\"Celasevoit。\"
’Thatseesitself！’Whatawayofputtingit！AftertwentyyearsofaFrenchwifeSoameshadstilllittlesympathywithherlanguage;atheatricalaffairandconnectedinhismindwithalltherefinementsofdomesticirony。
\"How？\"heasked。
\"Youmustknowthem;andyoudidn’tmakeasign。Isawthemlookingatyou。\"
\"I’veneverseentheboyinmylife，\"repliedSoameswithperfecttruth。
\"No;butyou’veseentheothers，dear。\"
Soamesgaveheranotherlook。Whathadshepickedup？HadherAuntWinifred，orImogen，orValDartieandhiswife，beentalking？Everybreathoftheoldscandalhadbeencarefullykeptfromherathome，andWinifredwarnedmanytimesthathewouldn’thaveawhisperofitreachherfortheworld。Sofarassheoughttoknow，hehadneverbeenmarriedbefore。Butherdarkeyes，whosesouthernglintandclearnessoftenalmostfrightenedhim，methiswithperfectinnocence。
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"yourgrandfatherandhisbrotherhadaquarrel。