Fleur，leaningoutofherwindow，heardthehallclock’smuffledchimeoftwelve，thetinysplashofafish，thesuddenshakingofanaspen’sleavesinthepuffsofbreezethatrosealongtheriver，thedistantrumbleofanighttrain，andtimeandagainthesoundswhichnonecanputanametointhedarkness，softobscureexpressionsofuncataloguedemotionsfrommanandbeast，birdandmachine，or，maybe，fromdepartedForsytes，Darties，Cardigans，takingnightstrollsbackintoaworldwhichhadoncesuitedtheirembodiedspirits。ButFleurheedednotthesesounds;herspirit，farfromdisembodied，fledwithswiftwingfromrailway—carriagetofloweryhedge，strainingafterJon，tenaciousofhisforbiddenimage，andthesoundofhisvoice，whichwastaboo。Andshecrinkledhernose，retrievingfromtheperfumeoftheriversidenightthatmomentwhenhishandslippedbetweenthemayflowersandhercheek。Longsheleanedoutinherfreakdress，keentoburnherwingsatlife’scandle;whilethemothsbrushedhercheeksontheirpilgrimagetothelamponherdressing—table，ignorantthatinaForsyte’shousethereisnoopenflame。Butatlastevenshefeltsleepy，and，forgettingherbells，drewquicklyin。
Throughtheopenwindowofhisroom，alongsideAnnette’s，Soames，wakefultoo，heardtheirthinfainttinkle，asitmightbeshakenfromstars，orthedewdropsfallingfromaflower，ifonecouldhearsuchsounds。
’Caprice！’hethought。’Ican’ttell。She’swilful。WhatshallI
do？Fleur！’
Andlongintothe\"small\"nighthebrooded。
PARTII
I
MOTHERANDSON
TosaythatJonForsyteaccompaniedhismothertoSpainunwillinglywouldscarcelyhavebeenadequate。Hewentasawell—natureddoggoesforawalkwithitsmistress，leavingachoicemutton—boneonthelawn。Hewentlookingbackatit。Forsytesdeprivedoftheirmutton—bonesarewonttosulk。ButJonhadlittlesulkinessinhiscomposition。Headoredhismother，anditwashisfirsttravel。
SpainhadbecomeItalybyhissimplysaying:\"I’drathergotoSpain，Mum;you’vebeentoItalysomanytimes;I’dlikeitnewtobothofus。\"
Thefellowwassubtlebesidesbeingnaive。Heneverforgotthathewasgoingtoshortentheproposedtwomonthsintosixweeks，andmustthereforeshownosignofwishingtodoso。Foronewithsoenticingamutton—boneandsofixedanidea，hemadeagoodenoughtravellingcompanion，indifferenttowhereorwhenhearrived，superiortofood，andthoroughlyappreciativeofacountrystrangetothemosttravelledEnglishman。Fleur’swisdominrefusingtowritetohimwasprofound，forhereachedeachnewplaceentirelywithouthopeorfever，andcouldconcentrateimmediateattentiononthedonkeysandtumblingbells，thepriests，patios，beggars，children，crowingcocks，sombreros，cactus—hedges，oldhighwhitevillages，goats，olive—trees，greeningplains，singingbirdsintinycages，watersellers，sunsets，melons，mules，greatchurches，pictures，andswimminggrey—brownmountainsofafascinatingland。
Itwasalreadyhot，andtheyenjoyedanabsenceoftheircompatriots。
Jon，who，sofarasheknew，hadnobloodinhimwhichwasnotEnglish，wasofteninnatelyunhappyinthepresenceofhisowncountrymen。Hefelttheyhadnononsenseaboutthem，andtookamorepracticalviewofthingsthanhimself。Heconfidedtohismotherthathemustbeanunsociablebeast——itwasjollytobeawayfromeverybodywhocouldtalkaboutthethingspeopledidtalkabout。TowhichIrenehadrepliedsimply:
\"Yes，Jon，Iknow。\"
Inthisisolationhehadunparalleledopportunitiesofappreciatingwhatfewsonscanapprehend，thewhole—heartednessofamother’slove。Knowledgeofsomethingkeptfromhermadehim，nodoubt，undulysensitive;andaSouthernpeoplestimulatedhisadmirationforhertypeofbeauty，whichhehadbeenaccustomedtohearcalledSpanish，butwhichhenowperceivedtobenosuchthing。HerbeautywasneitherEnglish，French，Spanish，norItalian——itwasspecial！
Heappreciated，too，asneverbefore，hismother’ssubtletyofinstinct。Hecouldnottell，forinstance，whethershehadnoticedhisabsorptioninthatGoyapicture，\"LaVendimia，\"orwhethersheknewthathehadslippedbackthereafterlunchandagainnextmorning，tostandbeforeitfullhalfanhour，asecondandthirdtime。ItwasnotFleur，ofcourse，butlikeenoughtogivehimheartache——sodeartolovers——rememberingherstandingatthefootofhisbedwithherhandheldaboveherhead。TokeepapostcardreproductionofthispictureinhispocketandslipitouttolookatbecameforJononeofthosebadhabitswhichsoonorlatedisclosethemselvestoeyessharpenedbylove，fear，orjealousy。Andhismother’sweresharpenedbyallthree。InGranadahewasfairlycaught，sittingonasun—warmedstonebenchinalittlebattlementedgardenontheAlhambrahill，whenceheoughttohavebeenlookingattheview。Hismother，hehadthought，wasexaminingthepottedstocksbetweenthepolledacacias，whenhervoicesaid:
\"IsthatyourfavouriteGoya，Jon？\"
Hechecked，toolate，amovementsuchashemighthavemadeatschooltoconcealsomesurreptitiousdocument，andanswered:\"Yes。\"
\"Itcertainlyismostcharming;butIthinkIpreferthe’Quitasol’
YourfatherwouldgocrazyaboutGoya;Idon’tbelievehesawthemwhenhewasinSpainin’92。\"
In’92——nineyearsbeforehehadbeenborn！Whathadbeenthepreviousexistencesofhisfatherandhismother？Iftheyhadarighttoshareinhisfuture，surelyhehadarighttoshareintheirpasts。Helookedupather。Butsomethinginherface——alookoflifehard—lived，themysteriousimpressofemotions，experience，andsuffering—seemed，withitsincalculabledepth，itspurchasedsanctity，tomakecuriosityimpertinent。Hismothermusthavehadawonderfullyinterestinglife;shewassobeautiful，andso——so——buthecouldnotframewhathefeltabouther。Hegotup，andstoodgazingdownatthetown，attheplainallgreenwithcrops，andtheringofmountainsglamorousinsinkingsunlight。HerlifewaslikethepastofthisoldMoorishcity，full，deep，remote——hisownlifeasyetsuchababyofathing，hopelesslyignorantandinnocent！
TheysaidthatinthosemountainstotheWest，whichrosesheerfromtheblue—greenplain，asifoutofasea，Phoenicianshaddwelt——adark，strange，secretrace，abovetheland！Hismother’slifewasasunknowntohim，assecret，asthatPhoenicianpastwastothetowndownthere，whosecockscrowedandwhosechildrenplayedandclamouredsogaily，dayin，dayout。Hefeltaggrievedthatsheshouldknowallabouthimandhenothingaboutherexceptthatshelovedhimandhisfather，andwasbeautiful。Hiscallowignorance——
hehadnotevenhadtheadvantageoftheWar，likenearlyeverybodyelse！——madehimsmallinhisowneyes。
Thatnight，fromthebalconyofhisbedroom，hegazeddownontheroofofthetown——asifinlaidwithhoneycombofjet，ivory，andgold;and，longafter，helayawake，listeningtothecryofthesentryasthehoursstruck，andforminginhisheadtheselines:
\"Voiceinthenightcrying，downintheoldsleepingSpanishcitydarkenedunderherwhitestars！
Whatsaysthevoice—itsclear—lingeringanguish？
Justthewatchman，tellinghisdatelesstaleofsafety？
Justaroad—man，flingingtothemoonhissong？
No！Tisonedeprived，whoselover’sheartisweeping，Justhiscry:’Howlong？’\"
Theword\"deprived\"seemedtohimcoldandunsatisfactory，but\"bereaved\"wastoofinal，andnootherwordoftwosyllablesshort—
longcametohim，whichwouldenablehimtokeep\"whoselover’sheartisweeping。\"Itwaspasttwobythetimehehadfinishedit，andpastthreebeforehewenttosleep，havingsaiditovertohimselfatleasttwenty—fourtimes。NextdayhewroteitoutandencloseditinoneofthoseletterstoFleurwhichhealwaysfinishedbeforehewentdown，soastohavehismindfreeandcompanionable。
Aboutnoonthatsameday，onthetiledterraceoftheirhotel，hefeltasuddendullpaininthebackofhishead，aqueersensationintheeyes，andsickness。Thesunhadtouchedhimtooaffectionately。
Thenextthreedayswerepassedinsemi—darkness，andadulled，achingindifferencetoallexceptthefeeloficeonhisforeheadandhismother’ssmile。Shenevermovedfromhisroom，neverrelaxedhernoiselessvigilance，whichseemedtoJonangelic。Butthereweremomentswhenhewasextremelysorryforhimself，andwishedterriblythatFleurcouldseehim。Severaltimeshetookapoignantimaginaryleaveofherandoftheearth，tearsoozingoutofhiseyes。Heevenpreparedthemessagehewouldsendtoherbyhismother——whowouldregrettoherdyingdaythatshehadeversoughttoseparatethem——
hispoormother！Hewasnotslow，however，inperceivingthathehadnowhisexcuseforgoinghome。
Towardhalf—pastsixeacheveningcamea\"gasgacha\"ofbells——acascadeoftumblingchimes，mountingfromthecitybelowandfallingbackchimeonchime。Afterlisteningtothemonthefourthdayhesaidsuddenly:
\"I’dliketobebackinEngland，Mum，thesun’stoohot。\"
\"Verywell，darling。Assoonasyou’refittotravel\"Andatoncehefeltbetter，and——meaner。
Theyhadbeenoutfiveweekswhentheyturnedtowardhome。Jon’sheadwasrestoredtoitspristineclarity，buthewasconfinedtoahatlinedbyhismotherwithmanylayersoforangeandgreensilkandhestillwalkedfromchoiceintheshade。Asthelongstruggleofdiscretionbetweenthemdrewtoitsclose，hewonderedmoreandmorewhethershecouldseehiseagernesstogetbacktothatwhichshehadbroughthimawayfrom。CondemnedbySpanishProvidencetospendadayinMadridbetweentheirtrains，itwasbutnaturaltogoagaintothePrado。JonwaselaboratelycasualthistimebeforehisGoyagirl。Nowthathewasgoingbacktoher，hecouldaffordalesserscrutiny。Itwashismotherwholingeredbeforethepicture，saying:
\"Thefaceandthefigureofthegirlareexquisite。\"
Jonheardheruneasily。Didsheunderstand？Buthefeltoncemorethathewasnomatchforherinself—controlandsubtlety。Shecould，insomesupersensitiveway，ofwhichhehadnotthesecret，feelthepulseofhisthoughts;sheknewbyinstinctwhathehopedandfearedandwished。Itmadehimterriblyuncomfortableandguilty，having，beyondmostboys，aconscience。Hewishedshewouldbefrankwithhim，healmosthopedforanopenstruggle。Butnonecame，andsteadily，silently，theytravellednorth。Thusdidhefirstlearnhowmuchbetterthanmenwomenplayawaitinggame。InParistheyhadagaintopauseforaday。Jonwasgrievedbecauseitlastedtwo，owingtocertainmattersinconnectionwithadressmaker;
asifhismother，wholookedbeautifulinanything，hadanyneedofdresses！ThehappiestmomentofhistravelwasthatwhenhesteppedontotheFolkestoneboat。
Standingbythebulwarkrail，withherarminhis，shesaid\"I’mafraidyouhaven’tenjoyeditmuch，Jon。Butyou’vebeenverysweettome。\"
Jonsqueezedherarm。
\"OhIyes，I’veenjoyeditawfully—exceptformyheadlately。\"
Andnowthattheendhadcome，hereallyhad，feelingasortofglamouroverthepastweeks——akindofpainfulpleasure，suchashehadtriedtoscrewintothoselinesaboutthevoiceinthenightcrying;afeelingsuchashehadknownasasmallboylisteningavidlytoChopin，yetwantingtocry。Andhewonderedwhyitwasthathecouldn’tsaytoherquitesimplywhatshehadsaidtohim:
\"Youwereverysweettome。\"Odd——onenevercouldbeniceandnaturallikethat！Hesubstitutedthewords:\"Iexpectweshallbesick。\"
Theywere，andreachedLondonsomewhatattenuated，havingbeenawaysixweeksandtwodays，withoutasingleallusiontothesubjectwhichhadhardlyeverceasedtooccupytheirminds。
II
FATHERSANDDAUGHTERS
DeprivedofhiswifeandsonbytheSpanishadventure，JolyonfoundthesolitudeatRobinHillintolerable。Aphilosopherwhenhehasallthathewantsisdifferentfromaphilosopherwhenhehasnot。
Accustomed，however，totheidea，ifnottotherealityofresignation，hewouldperhapshavefaceditoutbutforhisdaughterJune。Hewasa\"lameduck\"now，andonherconscience。Havingachieved——momentarily——therescueofanetcherinlowcircumstances，whichshehappenedtohaveinhand，sheappearedatRobinHillafortnightafterIreneandJonhadgone。JunewaslivingnowinatinyhousewithabigstudioatChiswick。AForsyteofthebestperiod，sofarasthelackofresponsibilitywasconcerned，shehadovercomethedifficultyofareducedincomeinamannersatisfactorytoherselfandherfather。TherentoftheGalleryoffCorkStreetwhichhehadboughtforherandherincreasedincometaxhappeningtobalance，ithadbeenquitesimpl——shenolongerpaidhimtherent。
TheGallerymightbeexpectednowatanytime，aftereighteenyearsofbarrenusufruct，topayitsway，sothatshewassureherfatherwouldnotfeelit。Throughthisdeviceshestillhadtwelvehundredayear，andbyreducingwhatsheate，and，inplaceoftwoBelgiansinapoorway，employingoneAustrianinapoorer，practicallythesamesurplusforthereliefofgenius。AfterthreedaysatRobinHillshecarriedherfatherbackwithhertoTown。Inthosethreedaysshehadstumbledonthesecrethehadkeptfortwoyears，andhadinstantlydecidedtocurehim。Sheknew，infact，theveryman。
Hehaddonewonderswith。PaulPost——thatpainteralittleinadvanceofFuturism;andshewasimpatientwithherfatherbecausehiseyebrowswouldgoup，andbecausehehadheardofneither。Ofcourse，ifhehadn’t\"faith\"hewouldnevergetwell！ItwasabsurdnottohavefaithinthemanwhohadhealedPaulPostsothathehadonlyjustrelapsed，fromhavingoverworked，oroverlived，himselfagain。ThegreatthingaboutthishealerwasthathereliedonNature。HehadmadeaspecialstudyofthesymptomsofNature——whenhispatientfailedinanynaturalsymptomhesuppliedthepoisonwhichcausedit——andthereyouwere！Shewasextremelyhopeful。HerfatherhadclearlynotbeenlivinganaturallifeatRobinHill，andsheintendedtoprovidethesymptoms。Hewas——shefelt——outoftouchwiththetimes，whichwasnotnatural;hisheartwantedstimulating。
InthelittleChiswickhousesheandtheAustrian——agratefulsoul，sodevotedtoJuneforrescuingherthatshewasindangerofdeceasefromoverwork——stimulatedJolyoninallsortsofways，preparinghimforhiscure。Buttheycouldnotkeephiseyebrowsdown;as，forexample，whentheAustrianwokehimateighto’clockjustashewasgoingtosleep，orJunetookTheTimesawayfromhim，becauseitwasunnaturaltoread\"thatstuff\"whenheoughttobetakinganinterestin\"life。\"Heneverfailed，indeed，tobeastonishedatherresource，especiallyintheevenings。Forhisbenefit，asshedeclared，thoughhesuspectedthatshealsogotsomethingoutofit，sheassembledtheAgesofarasitwassatellitetogenius;andwithsomesolemnityitwouldmoveupanddownthestudiobeforehimintheFox—trot，andthatmorementalformofdancing——theOne—step——whichsopulledagainstthemusic，thatJolyon’seyebrowswouldbealmostlostinhishairfromwonderatthestrainitmustimposeonthedancer’swill—power。Awarethat，hungonthelineintheWaterColourSociety，hewasabacknumbertothosewithanypretensiontobecalledartists，hewouldsitinthedarkestcornerhecouldfind，andwonderaboutrhythm，onwhichsolongagohehadbeenraised。
AndwhenJunebroughtsomegirloryoungmanuptohim，hewouldrisehumblytotheirlevelsofarasthatwaspossible，andthink:’Dearme！Thisisverydullforthem！’Havinghisfather’sperennialsympathywithYouth，heusedtogetverytiredfromenteringintotheirpointsofview。Butitwasallstimulating，andheneverfailedinadmirationofhisdaughter’sindomitablespirit。Evengeniusitselfattendedthesegatheringsnowandthen，withitsnoseononeside;andJunealwaysintroducedittoherfather。This，shefelt，wasexceptionallygoodforhim，forgeniuswasanaturalsymptomhehadneverhad——fondasshewasofhim。
Certainasamancanbethatshewashisowndaughter，heoftenwonderedwhenceshegotherself——herred—goldhair，nowgreyedintoaspecialcolour;herdirect，spiritedface，sodifferentfromhisownratherfoldedandsubtilisedcountenance，herlittlelithefigure，whenheandmostoftheForsytesweretall。Andhewoulddwellontheoriginofspecies，anddebatewhethershemightbeDanishorCeltic。Celtic，hethought，fromherpugnacity，andhertasteinfilletsanddjibbahs。ItwasnottoomuchtosaythathepreferredhertotheAgewithwhichshewassurrounded，youthfulthough，forthegreaterpart，itwas。Shetook，however，toomuchinterestinhisteeth，forhestillhadsomeofthosenaturalsymptoms。Herdentistatoncefound\"Staphylococcusaureuspresentinpureculture\"
（whichmightcauseboils，ofcourse），andwantedtotakeoutalltheteethhehadandsupplyhimwithtwocompletesetsofunnaturalsymptoms。Jolyon’snativetenacitywasroused，andinthestudiothateveninghedevelopedhisobjections。Hehadneverhadanyboils，andhisownteethwouldlasthistime。Ofcourse——Juneadmitted——theywouldlasthistimeifhedidn’thavethemout！Butifhehadmoreteethhewouldhaveabetterheartandhistimewouldbelonger。Hisrecalcitrance——shesaid——wasasymptomofhiswholeattitude;hewastakingitlyingdown。Heoughttobefighting。
WhenwashegoingtoseethemanwhohadcuredPaulPost？Jolyonwasverysorry，butthefactwashewasnotgoingtoseehim。Junechafed。Pondridge——shesaid——thehealer，wassuchafineman，andhehadsuchdifficultyinmakingtwoendsmeet，andgettinghistheoriesrecognised。Itwasjustsuchindifferenceandprejudiceasherfathermanifestedwhichwaskeepinghimback。Itwouldbesosplendidforbothofthem！
\"Iperceive，\"saidJolyon，\"thatyouaretryingtokilltwobirdswithonestone。\"
\"Tocure，youmean！\"criedJune。
\"Mydear，it’sthesamething。\"
Juneprotested。Itwasunfairtosaythatwithoutatrial。
Jolyonthoughthemightnothavethechance，ofsayingitafter。
\"Dad！\"criedJune，\"you’rehopeless。\"
\"That，\"saidJolyon，\"isafact，butIwishtoremainhopelessaslongaspossible。Ishallletsleepingdogslie，mychild。Theyarequietatpresent。\"
\"That’snotgivingscienceachance，\"criedJune。\"You’venoideahowdevotedPondridgeis。Heputshissciencebeforeeverything。\"
\"Just，\"repliedJolyon，puffingthemildcigarettetowhichhewasreduced，\"asMr。PaulPostputshisart，eh？ArtforArt’ssake——
ScienceforthesakeofScience。Iknowthoseenthusiasticegomaniacgentry。Theyvivisectyouwithoutblinking。I’menoughofaForsytetogivethemthego—by，June。\"
\"Dad，\"saidJune，\"ifyouonlyknewhowold—fashionedthatsounds！
Nobodycanaffordtobehalf—heartednowadays。\"
\"I’mafraid，\"murmuredJolyon，withhissmile，\"that’stheonlynaturalsymptomwithwhichMr。Pondridgeneednotsupplyme。Weareborntobeextremeortobemoderate，mydear;though，ifyou’llforgivemysayingso，halfthepeoplenowadayswhobelievethey’reextremearereallyverymoderate。I’mgettingonaswellasIcanexpect，andImustleaveitatthat。\"
Junewassilent，havingexperiencedinhertimetheinexorablecharacterofherfather’samiableobstinacysofarashisownfreedomofactionwasconcerned。
HowhecametoletherknowwhyIrenehadtakenJontoSpainpuzzledJolyon，forhehadlittleconfidenceinherdiscretion。Aftershehadbroodedonthenews，itbroughtarathersharpdiscussion，duringwhichheperceivedtothefullthefundamentaloppositionbetweenheractivetemperamentandhiswife’spassivity。Heevengatheredthatalittlesorenessstillremainedfromthatgeneration—oldstrugglebetweenthemoverthebodyofPhilipBosinney，inwhichthepassivehadsosignallytriumphedovertheactiveprinciple。
AccordingtoJune，itwasfoolishandevencowardlytohidethepastfromJon。Sheeropportunism，shecalledit。
\"Which，\"Jolyonputinmildly，\"istheworkingprincipleofreallife，mydear。\"
\"Oh！\"criedJune，\"youdon’treallydefendherfornottellingJon，Dad。Ifitwerelefttoyou，youwould。\"
\"Imight，butsimplybecauseIknowhemustfindout，whichwillbeworsethanifwetoldhim。\"
\"Thenwhydon’tyoutellhim？It’sjustsleepingdogsagain。\"
\"Mydear，\"saidJolyon，\"Iwouldn’tfortheworldgoagainstIrene’sinstinct。He’sherboy。\"
\"Yourstoo，\"criedJune。
\"Whatisaman’sinstinctcomparedwithamother’s？\"
\"Well，Ithinkit’sveryweakofyou。\"
\"Idaresay，\"saidJolyon，\"Idaresay。\"
Andthatwasallshegotfromhim;butthematterrankledinherbrain。Shecouldnotbearsleepingdogs。Andtherestirredinheratortuousimpulsetopushthemattertowarddecision。Jonoughttobetold，sothateitherhisfeelingmightbenippedinthebud，or，floweringinspiteofthepast，cometofruition。AndshedeterminedtoseeFleur，andjudgeforherself。WhenJunedeterminedonanything，delicacybecameasomewhatminorconsideration。Afterall，shewasSoames’cousin，andtheywerebothinterestedinpictures。
ShewouldgoandtellhimthatheoughttobuyaPaulPost，orperhapsapieceofsculpturebyBorisStrumolowski，andofcourseshewouldsaynothingtoherfather。ShewentonthefollowingSunday，lookingsodeterminedthatshehadsomedifficultyingettingacabatReadingstation。Therivercountrywaslovelyinthosedaysofherownmonth，andJuneachedatitsloveliness。Shewhohadpassedthroughthislifewithoutknowingwhatunionwashadaloveofnaturalbeautywhichwasalmostmadness。AndwhenshecametothatchoicespotwhereSoameshadpitchedhistent，shedismissedhercab，because，businessover，shewantedtorevelinthebrightwaterandthewoods。Sheappearedathisfrontdoor，therefore，asamerepedestrian，andsentinhercard。ItwasinJune’scharactertoknowthatwhenhernerveswereflutteringshewasdoingsomethingworthwhile。Ifone’snervesdidnotflutter，shewastakingthelineofleastresistance，andknewthatnoblenesswasnotobligingher。Shewasconductedtoadrawing—room，which，thoughnotinherstyle，showedeverymarkoffastidiouselegance。Thinking，’Toomuchtaste—
—toomanyknick—knacks，’shesawinanoldlacquer—framedmirrorthefigureofagirlcominginfromtheverandah。Clothedinwhite，andholdingsomewhiterosesinherhand，shehad，reflectedinthatsilvery—greypoolofglass，avision—likeappearance，asifaprettyghosthadcomeoutofthegreengarden。
\"Howdoyoudo？\"saidJune，turninground。\"I’macousinofyourfather’s。\"
\"Oh，yes;Isawyouinthatconfectioner’s。\"
\"Withmyyoungstepbrother。Isyourfatherin？\"
\"Hewillbedirectly。He’sonlygoneforalittlewalk。\"
Juneslightlynarrowedherblueeyes，andliftedherdecidedchin。
\"Yourname’sFleur，isn’tit？I’veheardofyoufromHolly。WhatdoyouthinkofJon？\"
Thegirlliftedtherosesinherhand，lookedatthem，andansweredcalmly:
\"He’squiteaniceboy。\"
\"NotabitlikeHollyorme，ishe？\"
\"Notabit。\"
’She’scool，’thoughtJune。
Andsuddenlythegirlsaid:\"Iwishyou’dtellmewhyourfamiliesdon’tgeton？\"
Confrontedwiththequestionshehadadvisedherfathertoanswer，Junewassilent;whetherbecausethisgirlwastryingtogetsomethingoutofher，orsimplybecausewhatonewoulddotheoreticallyisnotalwayswhatonewilldowhenitcomestothepoint。
\"Youknow，\"saidthegirl，\"thesurestwaytomakepeoplefindouttheworstistokeepthemignorant。Myfather’stoldmeitwasaquarrelaboutproperty。ButIdon’tbelieveit;we’vebothgotheaps。Theywouldn’thavebeensobourgeoisasallthat。\"
Juneflushed。Thewordappliedtohergrandfatherandfatheroffendedher。
\"Mygrandfather，\"shesaid，\"wasverygenerous，andmyfatheris，too;neitherofthemwasintheleastbourgeois。\"
\"Well，whatwasitthen？\"repeatedthegirl:ConsciousthatthisyoungForsytemeanthavingwhatshewanted，Juneatoncedeterminedtopreventher，andtogetsomethingforherselfinstead。
\"Whydoyouwanttoknow？\"
Thegirlsmelledatherroses。\"Ionlywanttoknowbecausetheywon’ttellme。\"
\"Well，itwasaboutproperty，butthere’smorethanonekind。\"
\"Thatmakesitworse。NowIreallymustknow。\"
June’ssmallandresolutefacequivered。Shewaswearingaroundcap，andherhairhadfluffedoutunderit。Shelookedquiteyoungatthatmoment，rejuvenatedbyencounter。
\"Youknow，\"shesaid，\"Isawyoudropyourhandkerchief。IsthereanythingbetweenyouandJon？Because，ifso，you’dbetterdropthattoo。\"
Thegirlgrewpaler，butshesmiled。
\"Iftherewere，thatisn’tthewaytomakeme。\"
Atthegallantryofthatreply，Juneheldoutherhand。
\"Ilikeyou;butIdon’tlikeyourfather;Ineverhave。Wemayaswellbefrank。\"
\"Didyoucomedowntotellhimthat？\"
Junelaughed。\"No;Icamedowntoseeyou。\"
\"Howdelightfulofyou。\"
Thisgirlcouldfence。
\"I’mtwoandahalftimesyourage，\"saidJune，\"butIquitesympathize。It’shorridnottohaveone’sownway。\"
Thegirlsmiledagain。\"Ireallythinkyoumighttellme。\"
Howthechildstucktoherpoint\"It’snotmysecret。ButI’llseewhatIcando，becauseIthinkbothyouandJonoughttobetold。AndnowI’llsaygood—bye。\"
\"Won’tyouwaitandseeFather？\"
Juneshookherhead。\"HowcanIgetovertotheotherside？\"
\"I’llrowyouacross。\"
\"Look！\"saidJuneimpulsively，\"nexttimeyou’reinLondon，comeandseeme。ThisiswhereIlive。Igenerallyhaveyoungpeopleintheevening。ButIshouldn’ttellyourfatherthatyou’recoming。\"
Thegirlnodded。
Watchinghersculltheskiffacross，Junethought:’She’sawfullyprettyandwellmade。IneverthoughtSoameswouldhaveadaughterasprettyasthis。SheandJonwouldmakealovelycouple。
Theinstincttocouple，starvedwithinherself，wasalwaysatworkinJune。ShestoodwatchingFleurrowback;thegirltookherhandoffasculltowavefarewell，andJunewalkedlanguidlyonbetweenthemeadowsandtheriver，withanacheinherheart。Youthtoyouth，likethedragon—flieschasingeachother，andlovelikethesunwarmingthemthroughandthrough。Heryouth！Solongago——whenPhilandshe——Andsince？Nothing——noonehadbeenquitewhatshehadwanted。Andsoshehadmisseditall。Butwhatacoilwasroundthosetwoyoungthings，iftheyreallywereinlove，asHollywouldhaveit——asherfather，andIrene，andSoameshimselfseemedtodread。Whatacoil，andwhatabarrier！Andtheitchforthefuture，thecontempt，asitwere，forwhatwasoverpast，whichformstheactiveprinciple，movedintheheartofonewhoeverbelievedthatwhatonewantedwasmoreimportantthanwhatotherpeopledidnotwant。Fromthebank，awhile，inthewarmsummerstillness，shewatchedthewater—lilyplantsandwillowleaves，thefishesrising;
sniffedthescentofgrassandmeadow—sweet，wonderinghowshecouldforceeverybodytobehappy。JonandFleur！Twolittlelameducks——
charmingcallowyellowlittleducks！Agreatpity！Surelysomethingcouldbedone！Onemustnottakesuchsituationslyingdown。Shewalkedon，andreachedastation，hotandcross。
Thatevening，faithfultotheimpulsetowarddirectaction，whichmademanypeopleavoidher，shesaidtoherfather:
\"Dad，I’vebeendowntoseeyoungFleur。Ithinkshe’sveryattractive。It’snogoodhidingourheadsunderourwings，isit？\"
ThestartledJolyonsetdownhisbarley—water，andbegancrumblinghisbread。
\"It’swhatyouappeartobedoing，\"hesaid。\"Doyourealisewhosedaughtersheis？\"
\"Can’tthedeadpastburyitsdead？\"
Jolyonrose。
\"Certainthingscanneverbeburied。\"
\"Idisagree，\"saidJune。\"It’sthatwhichstandsinthewayofallhappinessandprogress。Youdon’tunderstandtheAge，Dad。It’sgotnouseforoutgrownthings。WhydoyouthinkitmatterssoterriblythatJonshouldknowabouthismother？Whopaysanyattentiontothatsortofthingnow？ThemarriagelawsarejustastheywerewhenSoamesandIrenecouldn’tgetadivorce，andyouhadtocomein。