VIII
THEDARKTUNE
AsSoameswalkedawayfromthehouseatRobinHillthesunbrokethroughthegreyofthatchillafternoon，insmokyradiance。SoabsorbedinlandscapepaintingthatheseldomlookedseriouslyforeffectsofNatureoutofdoors——hewasstruckbythatmoodyeffulgence——itmournedwithatriumphsuitedtohisownfeeling。
Victoryindefeat。Hisembassyhadcometonaught。Buthewasridofthosepeople，hadregainedhisdaughterattheexpenseof——herhappiness。WhatwouldFleursaytohim？Wouldshebelievehehaddonehisbest？Andunderthatsunlightfaringontheelms，hazels，holliesofthelaneandthoseunexploitedfields，Soamesfeltdread。
Shewouldbeterriblyupset！Hemustappealtoherpride。Thatboyhadgivenherup，declaredpartandlotwiththewomanwhosolongagohadgivenherfatherup！Soamesclenchedhishands。Givenhimup，andwhy？Whathadbeenwrongwithhim？Andoncemorehefeltthemalaiseofonewhocontemplateshimselfasseenbyanother——likeadogwhochancesonhisrefectioninamirrorandisintriguedandanxiousattheunseizablething。
Notinahurrytogethome，hedinedintownattheConnoisseurs。
Whileeatingapearitsuddenlyoccurredtohimthat，ifhehadnotgonedowntoRobinHill，theboymightnothavesodecided。Herememberedtheexpressiononhisfacewhilehismotherwasrefusingthehandhehadheldout。Astrange，anawkwardthought！HadFleurcookedherowngoosebytryingtomaketoosure？
Hereachedhomeathalf—pastnine。Whilethecarwaspassinginatonedrivegateheheardthegrindingsputterofamotor—cyclepassingoutbytheother。YoungMont，nodoubt，soFleurhadnotbeenlonely。Buthewentinwithasinkingheart。Inthecream—panelleddrawing—roomshewassittingwithherelbowsonherknees，andherchinonherclaspedhands，infrontofawhitecamelliaplantwhichfilledthefireplace。Thatglanceatherbeforeshesawhimrenewedhisdread。Whatwassheseeingamongthosewhitecamellias？
\"Well，Father！\"
Soamesshookhishead。Histonguefailedhim。Thiswasmurderouswork！Hesawhereyesdilate，herlipsquivering。
\"What？What？Quick，Father！\"
\"Mydear，\"saidSoames，\"I——Ididmybest，but——\"Andagainheshookhishead。
Fleurrantohim，andputahandoneachofhisshoulders。
\"She？\"
\"No，\"mutteredSoames;\"he。Iwastotellyouthatitwasnouse;hemustdowhathisfatherwishedbeforehedied。\"Hecaughtherbythewaist。\"Come，child，don’tletthemhurtyou。They’renotworthyourlittlefinger。\"
Fleurtoreherselffromhisgrasp。
\"Youdidn’tyou——couldn’thavetried。You——youbetrayedme，Father！\"
Bitterlywounded，Soamesgazedatherpassionatefigurewrithingthereinfrontofhim。
\"Youdidn’ttry——youdidn’t——Iwasafool！Iwon’tbelievehecould——
heevercould！Onlyyesterdayhe——！Oh！whydidIaskyou？\"
\"Yes，\"saidSoames，quietly，\"whydidyou？Iswallowedmyfeelings;
Ididmybestforyou，againstmyjudgment——andthisismyreward。
Good—night！\"
Witheverynerveinhisbodytwitchinghewenttowardthedoor。
Fleurdartedafterhim。
\"Hegivesmeup？Youmeanthat？Father！\"
Soamesturnedandforcedhimselftoanswer:
\"Yes。\"
\"Oh！\"criedFleur。\"Whatdidyou——whatcouldyouhavedoneinthoseolddays？\"
ThebreathlesssenseofreallymonstrousinjusticecutthepowerofspeechinSoames’throat。Whathadhedone！Whathadtheydonetohim！
Andwithquiteunconsciousdignityheputhishandonhisbreast，andlookedather。
\"It’sashame！\"criedFleurpassionately。
Soameswentout。Hemounted，slowandicy，tohispicturegallery，andpacedamonghistreasures。Outrageous！Oh！Outrageous！Shewasspoiled！Ah！andwhohadspoiledher？HestoodstillbeforetheGoyacopy。Accustomedtoherownwayineverything。Flowerofhislife！Andnowthatshecouldn’thaveit！Heturnedtothewindowforsomeair。Daylightwasdying，themoonrising，goldbehindthepoplars！Whatsoundwasthat？Why！Thatpianothing！Adarktune，withathrumandathrob！Shehadsetitgoing——whatcomfortcouldshegetfromthat？Hiseyescaughtmovementdowntherebeyondthelawn，underthetrellisoframblerrosesandyoungacacia—trees，wherethemoonlightfell。Thereshewas，roamingupanddown。Hisheartgavealittlesickeningjump。Whatwouldshedounderthisblow？Howcouldhetell？Whatdidheknowofher——hehadonlylovedherallhislife——lookedonherastheappleofhiseye！Heknewnothing——hadnonotion。Thereshewas——andthatdarktune——andtherivergleaminginthemoonlight！
’Imustgoout，’hethought。
Hehasteneddowntothedrawing—room，lightedjustashehadleftit，withthepianothrummingoutthatwaltz，orfox—trot，orwhatevertheycalleditinthesedays，andpassedthroughontotheverandah。
Wherecouldhewatch，withoutherseeinghim？Andhestoledownthroughthefruitgardentotheboat—house。Hewasbetweenherandtherivernow，andhisheartfeltlighter。Shewashisdaughter，andAnnette’s——shewouldn’tdoanythingfoolish;butthereitwas——hedidn’tknow！Fromtheboathousewindowhecouldseethelastacaciaandthespinofherskirtwhensheturnedinherrestlessmarch。
Thattunehadrundownatlast——thankgoodness！Hecrossedthefloorandlookedthroughthefartherwindowatthewaterslow—flowingpastthelilies。Itmadelittlebubblesagainstthem，brightwhereamoon—streakfell。Herememberedsuddenlythatearlymorningwhenhehadsleptonthehouse—boatafterhisfatherdied，andshehadjustbeenborn——nearlynineteenyearsago！Evennowherecalledtheunaccustomedworldwhenhewokeup，thestrangefeelingithadgivenhim。Thatdaythesecondpassionofhislifebegan——forthisgirlofhis，roamingundertheacacias。Whatacomfortshehadbeentohim！
Andallthesorenessandsenseofoutragelefthim。Ifhecouldmakeherhappyagain，hedidn’tcare！Anowlflew，queeking，queeking;abatflittedby;themoonlightbrightenedandbroadenedonthewater。
Howlongwasshegoingtoroamaboutlikethis！Hewentbacktothewindow，andsuddenlysawhercomingdowntothebank。Shestoodquiteclose，onthelanding—stage。AndSoameswatched，clenchinghishands。Shouldhespeaktoher？Hisexcitementwasintense。Thestillnessofherfigure，itsyouth，itsabsorptionindespair，inlonging，in——itself。Hewouldalwaysrememberit，moonlitlikethat;
andthefaintsweetreekoftheriverandtheshiveringofthewillowleaves。Shehadeverythingintheworldthathecouldgiveher，excepttheonethingthatshecouldnothavebecauseofhim！Theperversityofthingshurthimatthatmoment，asmightafish—boneinhisthroat。
Then，withaninfiniterelief，hesawherturnbacktowardthehouse。
Whatcouldhegivehertomakeamends？Pearls，travel，horses，otheryoungmen——anythingshewanted——thathemightlosethememoryofheryoungfigurelonelybythewater！There！Shehadsetthattunegoingagain！Why——itwasamania！Dark，thrumming，faint，travellingfromthehouse。Itwasasthoughshehadsaid:\"IfI
can’thavesomethingtokeepmegoing，Ishalldieofthis！\"Soamesdimlyunderstood。Well，ifithelpedher，letherkeepitthrummingonallnight！And，mousingbackthroughthefruitgarden，heregainedtheverandah。Thoughhemeanttogoinandspeaktohernow，hestillhesitated，notknowingwhattosay，tryinghardtorecallhowitfelttobethwartedinlove。Heoughttoknow，oughttoremember——andhecouldnot！Gone——allrealrecollection;exceptthatithadhurthimhorribly。Inthisblanknesshestoodpassinghishandkerchiefoverhandsandlips，whichwereverydry。BycraninghisheadhecouldjustseeFleur，standingwithherbacktothatpianostillgrindingoutitstune，herarmstightcrossedonherbreast，alightedcigarettebetweenherlips，whosesmokehalfveiledherface。TheexpressiononitwasstrangetoSoames，theeyesshoneandstared，andeveryfeaturewasalivewithasortofwretchedscornandanger。OnceortwicehehadseenAnnettelooklikethat——thefacewastoovivid，toonaked，nothisdaughter’satthatmoment。
Andhedarednotgoin，realisingthefutilityofanyattemptatconsolation。Hesatdownintheshadowoftheingle—nook。
Monstroustrick，thatFatehadplayedhim！Nemesis！Thatoldunhappymarriage！AndinGod’sname—why？Howwashetoknow，whenhewantedIrenesoviolently，andsheconsentedtobehis，thatshewouldneverlovehim？Thetunediedandwasrenewed，anddiedagain，andstillSoamessatintheshadow，waitingforheknewnotwhat。
ThefagofFleur’scigarette，flungthroughthewindow，fellonthegrass;hewatcheditglowing，burningitselfout。Themoonhadfreedherselfabovethepoplars，andpouredherunrealityonthegarden。
Comfortlesslight，mysterious，withdrawn——likethebeautyofthatwomanwhohadneverlovedhim——dapplingthenemesiasandthestockswithavesturenotofearth。Flowers！Andhisflowersounhappy！
Ah！WhycouldonenotputhappinessintoLocalLoans，gilditsedges，insureitagainstgoingdown？
Lighthadceasedtoflowoutnowfromthedrawing—roomwindow。Allwassilentanddarkinthere。Hadshegoneup？Herose，and，tiptoeing，peeredin。Itseemedso！Heentered。Theverandahkeptthemoonlightout;andatfirsthecouldseenothingbuttheoutlinesoffurnitureblackerthanthedarkness。Hegropedtowardthefartherwindowtoshutit。Hisfootstruckachair，andheheardagasp。
Thereshewas，curledandcrushedintothecornerofthesofa！Hishandhovered。Didshewanthisconsolation？Hestood，gazingatthatballofcrushedfrillsandhairandgracefulyouth，tryingtoburrowitswayoutofsorrow。Howleaveherthere？Atlasthetouchedherhair，andsaid:
\"Come，darling，bettergotobed。I’llmakeituptoyou，somehow。\"
Howfatuous！Butwhatcouldhehavesaid？
IX
UNDERTHEOAK—TREE
WhentheirvisitorhaddisappearedJonandhismotherstoodwithoutspeaking，tillhesaidsuddenly:
\"Ioughttohaveseenhimout。\"
ButSoameswasalreadywalkingdownthedrive，andJonwentupstairstohisfather’sstudio，nottrustinghimselftogoback。
Theexpressiononhismother’sfaceconfrontingthemanshehadoncebeenmarriedto，hadsealedaresolutiongrowingwithinhimeversinceshelefthimthenightbefore。Ithadputthefinishingtouchofreality。TomarryFleurwouldbetohithismotherintheface;
tobetrayhisdeadfather！Itwasnogood！Jonhadtheleastresentfulofnatures。Heborehisparentsnogrudgeinthishourofhisdistress。Foronesoyoungtherewasaratherstrangepowerinhimofseeingthingsinsomesortofproportion。ItwasworseforFleur，worseforhismothereven，thanitwasforhim。Harderthantogiveupwastobegivenup，ortobethecauseofsomeoneyoulovedgivingupforyou。Hemustnot，wouldnotbehavegrudgingly！
Whilehestoodwatchingthetardysunlight，hehadagainthatsuddenvisionoftheworldwhichhadcometohimthenightbefore。Seaonsea，countryoncountry，millionsonmillionsofpeople，allwiththeirownlives，energies，joys，griefs，andsuffering——allwiththingstheyhadtogiveup，andseparatestrugglesforexistence。
Eventhoughhemightbewillingtogiveupallelsefortheonethinghecouldn’thave，hewouldbeafooltothinkhisfeelingsmatteredmuchinsovastaworld，andtobehavelikeacry—babyoracad。Hepicturedthepeoplewhohadnothing——themillionswhohadgivenuplifeintheWar，themillionswhomtheWarhadleftwithlifeandlittleelse;thehungrychildrenhehadreadof，theshatteredmen;
peopleinprison，everykindofunfortunate。And——theydidnothelphimmuch。Ifonehadtomissameal，whatcomfortintheknowledgethatmanyothershadtomissittoo？Therewasmoredistractioninthethoughtofgettingawayoutintothisvastworldofwhichheknewnothingyet。Hecouldnotgoonstayinghere，walledinandsheltered，witheverythingsoslickandcomfortable，andnothingtodobutbroodandthinkwhatmighthavebeen。HecouldnotgobacktoWansdon，andthememoriesofFleur。Ifhesawheragainhecouldnottrusthimself;andifhestayedhereorwentbackthere，hewouldsurelyseeher。Whiletheywerewithinreachofeachotherthatmusthappen。Togofarawayandquicklywastheonlythingtodo。But，howevermuchhelovedhismother，hedidnotwanttogoawaywithher。Thenfeelingthatwasbrutal，hemadeuphisminddesperatelytoproposethattheyshouldgotoItaly。Fortwohoursinthatmelancholyroomhetriedtomasterhimself，thendressedsolemnlyfordinner。
Hismotherhaddonethesame。Theyatelittle，atsomelength，andtalkedofhisfather’scatalogue。TheshowwasarrangedforOctober，andbeyondclericaldetailtherewasnothingmoretodo。
Afterdinnersheputonacloakandtheywentout;walkedalittle，talkedalittle，tilltheywerestandingsilentatlastbeneaththeoak—tree。Ruledbythethought:’IfIshowanything，Ishowall，’
Jonputhisarmthroughhersandsaidquitecasually:
\"Mother，let’sgotoItaly。\"
Irenepressedhisarm，andsaidascasually:
\"Itwouldbeverynice;butI’vebeenthinkingyououghttoseeanddomorethanyouwouldifIwerewithyou。\"
\"Butthenyou’dbealone。\"
\"Iwasoncealoneformorethantwelveyears。Besides，IshouldliketobeherefortheopeningofFather’sshow。\"
Jon’sgriptightenedroundherarm;hewasnotdeceived。
\"Youcouldn’tstayhereallbyyourself;it’stoobig。\"
\"Nothere，perhaps。InLondon，andImightgotoParis，aftertheshowopens。Yououghttohaveayearatleast，Jon，andseetheworld。\"
\"Yes，I’dliketoseetheworldandroughit。ButIdon’twanttoleaveyouallalone。\"
\"Mydear，Ioweyouthatatleast。Ifit’sforyourgood，it’llbeformine。Whynotstarttomorrow？You’vegotyourpassport。\"
\"Yes;ifI’mgoingithadbetterbeatonce。Only——Mother——if——ifI
wantedtostayoutsomewhere——Americaoranywhere，wouldyoumindcomingpresently？\"
\"Whereverandwheneveryousendforme。Butdon’tsenduntilyoureallywantme。\"
Jondrewadeepbreath。
\"IfeelEngland’schoky。\"
Theystoodafewminuteslongerundertheoak—tree——lookingouttowherethegrandstandatEpsomwasveiledinevening。Thebrancheskeptthemoonlightfromthem，sothatitonlyfelleverywhereelse——
overthefieldsandfaraway，andonthewindowsofthecreeperedhousebehind，whichsoonwouldbetolet。
X
FLEUR’SWEDDING
TheOctoberparagraphsdescribingtheweddingofFleurForsytetoMichaelMonthardlyconveyedthesymbolicsignificanceofthisevent。
Intheunionofthegreat—granddaughterof\"SuperiorDosset\"withtheheirofaninthbaronetwastheoutwardandvisiblesignofthatmergerofclassinclasswhichbuttressesthepoliticalstabilityofarealm。ThetimehadcomewhentheForsytesmightresigntheirnaturalresentmentagainsta\"flummery\"nottheirsbybirth，andacceptitasthestillmorenaturaldueoftheirpossessiveinstincts。Besides，theyhadtomounttomakeroomforallthosesomuchmorenewlyrich。InthatquietbuttastefulceremonyinHanoverSquare，andafterwardamongthefurnitureinGreenStreet，ithadbeenimpossibleforthosenotintheknowtodistinguishtheForsytetroopfromtheMontcontingent——sofarawaywas\"SuperiorDosset\"
now。Wasthere，inthecreaseofhistrousers，theexpressionofhismoustache，hisaccent，ortheshineonhistop—hat，apintochoosebetweenSoamesandtheninthbaronethimself？WasnotFleurasself—
possessed，quick，glancing，pretty，andhardasthelikeliestMuskham，Mont，orCharwellfillypresent？Ifanything，theForsyteshaditindressandlooksandmanners。Theyhadbecome\"upperclass\"
andnowtheirnamewouldbeformallyrecordedintheStudBook，theirmoneyjoinedtoland。Whetherthiswasalittlelateintheday，andthoserewardsofthepossessiveinstinct，landsandmoney，destinedforthemelting—pot——wasstillaquestionsomootthatitwasnotmooted。Afterall，TimothyhadsaidConsolsweregoin’up。Timothy，thelast，themissinglink;Timothy，inextremisontheBayswaterRoad——soFranciehadreported。Itwaswhispered，too，thatthisyoungMontwasasortofsocialist——strangelywiseofhim，andinthenatureofinsurance，consideringthedaystheylivedin。Therewasnouneasinessonthatscore。Thelandedclassesproducedthatsortofamiablefoolishnessattimes，turnedtosafeusesandconfinedtotheory。AsGeorgeremarkedtohissisterFrancie:\"They’llsoonbehavingpuppies——that’llgivehimpause。\"
ThechurchwithwhiteflowersandsomethingblueinthemiddleoftheEastwindowlookedextremelychaste，asthoughendeavouringtocounteractthesomewhatluridphraseologyofaServicecalculatedtokeepthethoughtsofallonpuppies。Forsytes，Haymans，Tweetymans，satintheleftaisle;Monts，Charwells;Muskhamsintheright;whileasprinklingofFleur’sfellow—sufferersatschool，andofMont’sfellow—sufferersin，theWar，gapedindiscriminatelyfromeitherside，andthreemaidenladies，whohaddroppedinontheirwayfromSkyward’sbroughtuptherear，togetherwithtwoMontretainersandFleur’soldnurse。Intheunsettledstateofthecountryasfullahouseascouldbeexpected。
Mrs。ValDartie，whosatwithherhusbandinthethirdrow，squeezedhishandmorethanonceduringtheperformance。Toher，whoknewtheplotofthistragi—comedy，itsmostdramaticmomentwaswell—nighpainful。’IwonderifJonknowsbyinstinct，’shethought——Jon，outinBritishColumbia。Shehadreceivedaletterfromhimonlythatmorningwhichhadmadehersmileandsay:
\"Jon’sinBritishColumbia，Val，becausehewantstobeinCalifornia。Hethinksit’stoonicethere。\"
\"Oh！\"saidVal，\"sohe’sbeginningtoseeajokeagain。\"
\"He’sboughtsomelandandsentforhismother。\"
\"Whatonearthwillshedooutthere？\"
\"AllshecaresaboutisJon。Doyoustillthinkitahappyrelease？\"
Val’sshrewdeyesnarrowedtogreypin—pointsbetweentheirdarklashes。
\"Fleurwouldn’thavesuitedhimabit。She’snotbredright。\"
\"PoorlittleFleur！\"sighedHolly。Ah！itwasstrange——thismarriage。Theyoungman，Mont，hadcaughtherontherebound，ofcourse，intherecklessmoodofonewhoseshiphasjustgonedown。
Suchaplungecouldnotbutbe——asValputit——anoutsidechance。
Therewaslittletobetoldfromthebackviewofheryoungcousin’sveil，andHolly’seyesreviewedthegeneralaspectofthisChristianwedding。She，whohadmadealove—matchwhichhadbeensuccessful，hadahorrorofunhappymarriages。Thismightnotbeoneintheend—
—butitwasclearlyatoss—up;andtoconsecrateatoss—upinthisfashionwithmanufacturedunctionbeforeacrowdoffashionablefree—
thinkers——forwhothoughtotherwisethanfreely，ornotatall，whentheywere\"dolled\"up——seemedtoherasnearasinasonecouldfindinanagewhichhadabolishedthem。Hereyeswanderedfromtheprelateinhisrobes（aCharwell—theForsyteshadnotasyetproducedaprelate）toVal，besideher，thinking——shewascertain——oftheMayflyfillyatfifteentoonefortheCambridgeshire。Theypassedonandcaughttheprofileoftheninthbaronet，incounterfeitmentofthekneelingprocess。Shecouldjustseetheneatruckabovehiskneeswherehehadpulledhistrousersup，andthought:’Val’sforgottentopulluphis！’Hereyespassedtothepewinfrontofher，whereWinifred’ssubstantialformwasgownedwithpassion，andonagaintoSoamesandAnnettekneelingsidebyside。Alittlesmilecameonherlips——ProsperProfond，backfromtheSouthSeasoftheChannel，wouldbekneelingtoo，aboutsixrowsbehind。Yes！Thiswasafunny\"small\"business，howeveritturnedout;stillitwasinaproperchurchandwouldbeintheproperpapersto—morrowmorning。
Theyhadbegunahymn;shecouldheartheninthbaronetacrosstheaisle，singingofthehostsofMidian。HerlittlefingertouchedVal’sthumb——theywereholdingthesamehymn—book——andatinythrillpassedthroughher，preserved——fromtwentyyearsago。Hestoopedandwhispered:
\"Isay，d’youremembertherat？\"TheratattheirweddinginCapeColony，whichhadcleaneditswhiskersbehindthetableattheRegistrar’s！Andbetweenherlittleandthirdforgersshesqueezedhisthumbhard。
Thehymnwasover，theprelatehadbeguntodeliverhisdiscourse。
Hetoldthemofthedangeroustimestheylivedin，andtheawfulconductoftheHouseofLordsinconnectionwithdivorce。Theywereallsoldiers——hesaid——inthetrenchesunderthepoisonousgasofthePrinceofDarkness，andmustbemanful。Thepurposeofmarriagewaschildren，notmeresinfulhappiness。
AnimpdancedinHolly’seyes——Val’seyelashesweremeeting。
Whateverhappened;hemustnotsnore。Herfingerandthumbclosedonhisthightillhestirreduneasily。
Thediscoursewasover，thedangerpast。Theyweresigninginthevestry;andgeneralrelaxationhadsetin。
Avoicebehindhersaid:
\"Willshestaythecourse？\"
\"Who’sthat？\"shewhispered。
\"OldGeorgeForsyte！\"
Hollydemurelyscrutinizedoneofwhomshehadoftenheard。FreshfromSouthAfrica，andignorantofherkithandkin，sheneversawonewithoutanalmostchildishcuriosity。Hewasverybig，andverydapper;hiseyesgaveherafunnyfeelingofhavingnoparticularclothes。
\"They’reoff！\"sheheardhimsay。
Theycame，steppingfromthechancel。HollylookedfirstinyoungMont’sface。Hislipsandearsweretwitching，hiseyes，shiftingfromhisfeettothehandwithinhisarm，staredsuddenlybeforethemasiftofaceafiringparty。HegaveHollythefeelingthathewasspirituallyintoxicated。ButFleur！Ah！Thatwasdifferent。Thegirlwasperfectlycomposed，prettierthanever，inherwhiterobesandveiloverherbangeddarkchestnuthair;hereyelidshovereddemureoverherdarkhazeleyes。Outwardly，sheseemedallthere。
Butinwardly，wherewasshe？Asthosetwopassed，Fleurraisedhereyelids——therestlessglintofthoseclearwhitesremainedonHolly’svisionasmighttheflutterofcagedbird’swings。
InGreenStreetWinifredstoodtoreceive，justalittlelesscomposedthanusual。Soames’requestfortheuseofherhousehadcomeonheratadeeplypsychologicalmoment。UndertheinfluenceofaremarkofProsperProfond，shehadbeguntoexchangeherEmpireforExpressionisticfurniture。Therewerethemostamusingarrangements，withviolet，green，andorangeblobsandscriggles，tobehadatMealard’s。Anothermonthandthechangewouldhavebeencomplete。
Justnow，thevery\"intriguing\"recruitsshehadenlisted，didnotmarchtoowellwiththeoldguard。Itwasasifherregimentwerehalfinkhaki，halfinscarletandbearskins。Butherstrongandcomfortablecharactermadethebestofitinadrawing—roomwhichtypified，perhaps，moreperfectlythansheimagined，thesemi—
bolshevizedimperialismofhercountry。Afterall，thiswasadayofmerger，andyoucouldn’thavetoomuchofit！Hereyestravelledindulgentlyamongherguests。Soameshadgrippedthebackofabuhlchair;youngMontwasbehindthat\"awfullyamusing\"screen，whichnooneasyethadbeenabletoexplaintoher。Theninthbaronethadshiedviolentlyataroundscarlettable，inlaidunderglasswithblueAustralianbutteries’wings，andwasclingingtoherLouis—
Quinzecabinet;FrancieForsytehadseizedthenewmantel—board，finelycarvedwithlittlepurplegrotesquesonanebonyground;
George，overbytheoldspinet，washoldingalittlesky—bluebookasifabouttoenterbets;ProsperProfondwastwiddlingtheknoboftheopendoor，blackwithpeacock—bluepanels;andAnnette’shands，closeby，weregraspingherownwaist;twoMuskhamsclungtothebalconyamongtheplants，asiffeelingill;LadyMont，thinandbrave—
looking，hadtakenupherlong—handledglassesandwasgazingatthecentrallightshade，ofivoryandorangedashedwithdeepmagenta，asiftheheavenshadopened。Everybody，infact，seemedholdingontosomething。OnlyFleur，stillinherbridaldress，wasdetachedfromallsupport，flingingherwordsandglancestoleftandright。
Theroomwasfullofthebubbleandthesqueakofconversation。
Nobodycouldhearanythingthatanybodysaid;whichseemedoflittleconsequence，sincenoonewaitedforanythingsoslowasananswer。
ModernconversationseemedtoWinifredsodifferentfromthedaysofherprime，whenadrawlwasallthevogue。Stillitwas\"amusing，\"
which，ofcourse，wasallthatmattered。EventheForsytesweretalkingwithextremerapidity——FleurandChristopher，andImogen，andyoungNicholas’syoungest，Patrick。Soames，ofcourse，wassilent;
butGeorge，bythespinet，keptuparunningcommentary，andFrancie，byhermantel—shelf。Winifreddrewnearertotheninthbaronet。Heseemedtopromiseacertainrepose;hisnosewasfineanddroopedalittle，hisgreymoustachestoo;andshesaid，drawlingthroughhersmile:
\"It’srathernice，isn’tit？\"
Hisreplyshotoutofhissmilelikeasnippedbreadpellet\"D’youremember，inFrazer，thetribethatburiesthebrideuptothewaist？\"
Hespokeasfastasanybody！Hehaddarklivelylittleeyes，too，allcrinkledroundlikeaCatholicpriest’s。Winifredfeltsuddenlyhemightsaythingsshewouldregret。
\"They’realwayssoamusing——weddings，\"shemurmured，andmovedontoSoames。Hewascuriouslystill，andWinifredsawatoncewhatwasdictatinghisimmobility。TohisrightwasGeorgeForsyte，tohisleftAnnetteandProsperProfond。Hecouldnotmovewithouteitherseeingthosetwotogether，orthereflectionoftheminGeorgeForsyte’sjapingeyes。Hewasquiterightnottobetakingnotice。