"In England today, there is no more charming and instructive sight than an upper middle-class family in full plumage." "This particular family is called Forsyte, and they live in Park lane." "Indeed, all the Forsytes live around the park." "It's fashionable and convenient, and property values there continue to rise steadily." "Yet although each Forsyte is impressive enough singly, their true flavor can only be appreciated on the occasions when they gather together at one or other of their well-appointed houses." "No branch of the Forsytes has a genuine liking for any other, but as a group they possess that mysterious concrete tenacity which renders a family so formidable a unit of society." "Today the gathering is at my uncle Timothy's in the Bayswater road." "Yes, my uncle, for I too am a Forsyte." "They call me young Jolyon because my father, old Jolyon, is, at present, head of the family." "My father was one of the first to realize that the english have an insatiable appetite for tea, and has made a blameless fortune out of it." "Aunt Ann, born in 1799, the oldest Forsyte." "She lives here with aunts Juley and Hester." "Together they care for uncle Timothy, the youngest brother, whom you are unlikely to meet very often." "He is probably the most cautious man in England." "Mr. And mrs." "James Forsyte." "Forsyte, bustard and Forsyte, solicitors-at-law." "If anyone's ever met bustard, they don't mention it." "Miss winifred Forsyte." "Mr. Soames Forsyte." "My cousin Soames, the junior partner and a cunning man,they say." "Uncle swithin, James' twin." "The fat and lean of it, my father calls them." "Swithin's an estate and land agent, a bachelor." "Does himself very well." "Claims to have been a devil with the women." "I doubt it." "On the left, uncle Roger, who collects house property as you or I would collect postage stamps." "On the right, uncle nicholas, company director and shrewd investor in the shares of those companies." "They both have large families and incomes to match." "And we all come here, to Timothy's in the Bayswater road, known as Forsyte change, to exchange news and gossip, to re-affirm our confidence in the stability of the family." "And we go away comforted and reassured." "Why not?" "We're the backbone of England." "We?" "Well, Soames is certainly, or will be." "That fellow has a very highly developed sense of property,even for a Forsyte." "And I?" "Well, I suppose I'm a little different." "No better, I assure you, but different," "For one thing, my own sense of property is negligible." "For another, though the aunts and uncles adore Soames," "I dislike him as intensely as he dislikes me." "There are other things, which will be revealed." "But one of them is that I paint." "Only watercolors,but still, I paint." "And every Forsyte knows there isn't any money in that." "Come on, papa." "Hurry up." "Sit still, June." "I'm looking out for grandpapa." "He'll be late in a minute." "Grandpa's never late." "He's like royalty." "You can set your watch by him." "I haven't got a watch." "June, you're supposed to be looking at fraulein." "She doesn't keep spinning round like a top." "I'm a top!" "I'm a top!" "You're a pest." "And I don't think i shall paint you after all." "So." "And when your papa is famous, you'll be sorry." "There's grandpapa." "June!" "Please, papa." "May I?" "All right, run along, pest." "Hopeless." "May I look, please?" "Bad, isn't it?" "No, no." "There's something there of June." "But not much, eh?" "You're right." "Landscape for me." "At best, landscape with cows." "And only if the cows are lying down." "You underestimate yourself." "Do I?" "I think I see myself very clearly." "Papa!" "We're going to the zoo." "And mama's coming with us to see the lions and the monkeys." "You promised we'd see the monkeys." "So you shall." "All alive, all in their cages." "Well, Jo?" "Father, how are you?" "Pretty well, my boy." "No, grandpapa." "Not "guter tag."" "It's guten tag." "Is it?" "What's the difference?" "You'll never learn iI shouldn't bother if I were you." "fraulein Hillmer speaks better english than either of us." "Hello, my dear." "Hello, papa." "Well, now." "Are we all ready?" "Oh, now, June, dear, you're not." "Now, why not?" "Fraulein !" "Oh, no, I'm so sorry." "My fault, Frances." "I kept her." "He was drawing me, only he was being beastly slow." "Beastly?" "Oh, really, June." "Well, he was." "Fraulein..." "Germans." "She's an austrian, father." "Same thing." "Oh, indeed, no, papa." "Quite, quite different." "And fraulein Hillmer's really a most exceptional girl." "Well, a little quiet perhaps, withdrawn, but then that too can be an advantage, don't you know." "Her parents were of quite humble stock, I believe." "They're both dead now, of course." "But it's therefore even more remarkable that she's become such a ladylike person, and a very competent governess." "I dare say." "But what do you want with a foreigner, eh?" "Why not an english governess?" "Because all the ladylike english persons happen to be working in Germany, that's why." "Really, Jo." "No, papa, but she has the languages, you see, and that's so important for a child." "And it's fashionable too." "Bah." "No, no, indeed." "All the princesses have german governesses now." "The queen herself, of course." "It's the thing." "Bah." "But above all, she's very good with June, and the child seems quite taken with her." "Doesn't she, jo?" "I'd say so." "As indeed we all are." "Aren't we, jo?" " Yes." "So you see, papa..." "well, if june gets on with her, that's all that matters." "Anyhow, I'm glad you didn't choose a french one." "Papa, that's absurd, and it's old-fashioned." "That is as may be." "Oh, Jo, you heard the news?" "On Forsyte change?" " Is that what you call it?" "That's pretty good." "Not mine,I'm afraid." "Cousin George'S." "That chap." "That chap." "They tell me he's a wit, I can't see it myself." "Well, what is the news?" " Well, I hear your uncle James has come around and that girl of his is going to get married." "Winifred?" "Mm." "To Monty Dartie?" "That's the fellow." "Haven't met him myself." "But your aunt Emily thinks the world of him, I hear." "But is that a suitable match?" "I've no idea, but James'll make sure of that." "You know him, Jo?" " Oh, slightly." "He's a friend of George'S." "Well, that wouldn't recommend him to me." "Where's that gi... ah." "I'm ready, grandpapa." "Jo, won't you come with us?" "Oh, I'm sorry, father, I..." "no matter, some other time, huh?" "You and Frances must dine with me soon." "Thursday, yes?" "Yes, are we free?" "Yes, I think so." "I'll arrange it with papa." "Oh, and Jo, you won't forget, we're dining at the Ashburtons tonight." "So won't wander off anywhere, will you?" "My love to the monkeys." "Poor devils." "No, Monty, no." "That's quite enough." "There's no such thing as enough." "Monty, you're wicked." "And what's worse, you make me feel wicked too." "Hooray!" "No, Monty, no." "Monty, no, no." "Just look at me." "Whatever would mama say?" "Well, if I know your mama, she'd say jolly good luck." "Yes, and papa?" "Ah, now that's a different matter." "Your papa would probably sniff and say,nobody ever tells him anything but he doesn't know, but he can't think what young people are coming to." "Monty!" "Yet he wouldn't be at all surprised if the price of copper went up and house property came down and we didn't all finish up in Carey street." "You wretch." "And I won't have you make fun of papa" "He's been very good, allowing us to be engaged." "But Freddie, my love, that's just what I mean." "We are engaged." "Yes, we're engaged." "Oh, Monty." "Dear Monty, I do love you very much, and we will have a delightful wedding at st." "George's and all the other Forsyte girls will be bright green with envy because you're so gay and handsome and dashing." "But I shall look down my nose and be quite composed and cool." "But underneath, here, absolute turmoil." "Sounds ghastly." "Agony." "It's blissful agony." "Think we'll be able to go through with it?" "I can." "Can you?" "I dare say we'll survive." "Oh, but none of that really matters." "I've been joking because I'm so happy." "But, darling, I'll be a good wife to you." "I promise." "As long as we live and whatever happens." "There." "That's for my beautiful ring." "I shall be so proud to wear it." "Mama, papa, are you there?" "I want them all to see it." "My dearest child." "I'm so happy for you." "Thank you, mama." "And look." "Oh, exquisite, dear." "Charming." "Five diamonds are always good taste." "Papa, look." "Monty, dear." "That must have cost a pretty penny." "Well, I don't know." "I can't tell." "It'll keep it's value, I shouldn't wonder." "Never mind that, papa." "You're quite right, sir." "There's nothing like value for money." "That's what I always say." "Well, isn't anyone going to congratulate us?" "I shall." "Every happiness, Winifred." "Thank you, Soames." "And to you too, Dartie, congratulations." "Thank you, Forsyte." "And not only do I gain a bride, but also a brother." "There's richness for you." "As mr." "Squeers said when he ladled out the dishwater." "What's that?" "Who's this chap, squeers?" "You know, dear." "One of dicken's characters." "Dickens?" "What's he got to do with it?" "Fellow's been dead for years." "Good riddance too, damned radical." "Now James, don't get into a tizzy." "You know it upsets your digestion." "I'm so pleased it's settled at last, Monty." "Now we can all be comfortable." "Such a distracting time for everyone, especially Winifred, of course." "Girls do feel these things so much more deeply than men,I always think." "Winifred, dearest." "There." "Soames, don't they make a handsome couple?" "Very handsome." "You see, james?" "Soames agrees with me." "And if Soames says so, it is so." "And Soames, dear, you'll be next." "It won't be long now before you're engaged too, and..." "What's that?" "Nobody told me, why didn't some..." "There's nothing to tell father." "Mother's romancing, that's all." "Sure now, you'd tell me if..." "you'll be the first to know." "Don't mind my husband." "He always insists on being told things." "Though why, I can't imagine." "He always finds them disagreeable." "Yes, he does." "Now, Monty,I shall send you away." "Oh, mama, no.Indeed, yes." "Oh, mama... but we shall expect him for dinner, if he's free." "I shall be delighted." "At 7:00, then." "Winifred, you may see him to the front door." "Thank you, mama." "But... remember your decorum if any of the servants are about." "Yes, of course, mama." "Run along, then." "Au revoir, Monty." "Au revoir." "Goodbye, sir." "And thank you." "Yes." "Soames." "Bless you, papa." "I'm so happy." "I dare say, I dare say." "There now." "Now... is there anyone we should ask for tonight, I wonder?" "Not enough notice." "Well, perhaps you're right, but isn't there someone you'd like just to make up the number?" "Eleanor Otway, perhaps?" "Millie Bannister?" "No." "Oh, pity." "Just the family then." "But we must have something special." "I shall go and see cook at once." "Plover's eggs?" "Lobster?" "I wonder if Monty likes lobster." "Oh, we'd better have both." "Well, Soames?" "You don't say much." "What do you think of him?" "Oh, he's an oily bounder." "Ill-bred." "Too much of a clown for me." "I don't care for witticism." "Why should you?" "I don't myself." "Still, it might be worse." "You think so?" "Winifred's 24." "Twenty-four, eh?" "It's time she was married." "Yes, yes, a great girl like that." "Your mother was 18." "Yes, I know." "You were 40." "That's too wide a gap." "I had my way to make." "Well, that's the next point." "We don't have to know his family because he hasn't got any." "He's already come into his money, such as it is." "Eight thousand, he tells me, and the house in Green street." "That is freehold?" "Oh, yes, yes." "I've asked to see the deeds." "He's got this seat on the stock exchange." "Whether he works there, I don't know." "I can't tell, but I daresay there's some income there." "Well, as long as he brings every penny into the settlement." "He's agreed to that." "Well, keep him up to it, won't you?" "He'll try and wriggle out if he can." "But as I say, it might be worse." "As long as Winifred's secure." "Oh, she will be." "I'm putting her own 5000 in trust, and she'll get her allowance quarterly." "He'll not lay a finger on my money if I can help it." "I'm not easy, my boy." "Can't say I am." "But there, between your mother and Winifred... always thought that girl was a real Forsyte, level-headed." "She's in love with the chap, I suppose." "Oh, there's no doubt about that." "That's the most important thing, father." "You'll see your grandchildren." "No!" "No, it can never be possible, Jo!" "I won't think about it, and neither shall you, so, please, please don't try to persuade me any longer." "I can't believe that I've allowed myself to put you in this position." "It's shameful and dishonest, and I hate myself for it." "Can you understand?" "I love you so much, and I always will." "All I want is to be with you." "My body is yours, and my life." "Whatever you want of me, you shall have whenever you need it." "And I demand nothing of you, nothing." "Except your love." "If you love me, I am content." "I ask no more than that." "So please, Jo." "Please." "Helene, Helene, come here." "No." "Then I must come to you." "Oh, my poor love, you are in a state." "Come on, come on." "Stop crying, please." "Try and stop crying." "Sh." "Quiet, quiet." "You must try and stop crying, it can't be good for you." "Besides, listen, it makes you excessively damp." "There, that's better." "Come and sit down." "I want to talk to you." "There's nothing more to say." "That's where you're wrong." "First, are you comfortable?" "Oh, yes." "Good." "Now I gather you are content to remain my mistress." "Yes, jo." "And that this relationship should continue indefinitely." "As long as you wish it." "On the grounds that I'm supposed to be a respectable person:" "Good family." "Social background...in short, a Forsyte." "I am only thinking, Jo, of your father and June." "They'd be hurt most dreadfully." "Of course they'll be hurt, especially my father." "June's too young to care much." "And your wife?" " Frances won't be hurt at all." "Oh, in her pride, perhaps." "And it may be inconvenient for her socially for a month or two." "But you must know, my darling, that for years our marriage has meant nothing to either of us except as a social convenience." "When we married, we were too young." "We didn't know each other." "And now that we do, nothing remains, not even liking, let alone love." "No, I suppose this doesn't matter, normally,in our society." "Jack takes a mistress, Jill consoles herself elsewhere, or goes in for good works." "As long as the façade remains intact, the show of respectability,that's what counts." "Oh, you're so cynical." "No, my darling, truthful." "Then why don't you play this game?" "Do you want me to?" "Do you really want me to?" "And let me ask you something else." "If I were free of all these obligations, would you marry me?" "Oh, yes, Jo." "Then that's what must happen." "Frances must divorce me, and I shall marry you." "Is it so simple?" "No, no, it isn't." "It's the very devil of a coil." "We shan't be forgiven for not playing this game, as you care to call it." "I shall be an outcast, a traitor to my class and that monstrous family I belong to." "And you won't mind?" "Of course I'll mind." "I was brought up to this." "It's part of me." "Though God knows, sometimes i think it's the worst part." "Money." "Possessions." "The security of the social stockade." "We'll be out in the jungle." "I have always lived there, but you... then I must .. one thing's certain, my love, I can't lead two lives." "It must be a clean break or nothing." "Loving you, I can't live with Frances." "I think for a little while, you must try." "Why?" "No, my darling, listen." "You must try because we don't know how strong that other part of you might be." "What you call the worst part." "If you decide without trying, you may regret it and then you'd hate me." "Oh!" "That I couldn't bear." "Now, look, Jo, take that little house in Chelsea." "I'll tell your wife I must leave at once, and I'll go there to Chelsea, and you'll come to see me whenever you can." "And then... after a while, we shall know." "I don't think I can do that." "You have to, if only for June's sake, and your father'S." "Oh, Jo, you will come, won't you?" "Often?" "Ah, hello, dearest." "Ready for bed?" "I had a huge supper." "Not too much, I hope." "What are you doing?" "I'm writing invitations to a dinner party." "Why are you doing it now?" "I thought you were going out." "Yes, we are, but your papa isn't dressed yet." "I know." "He came and kissed me good night and read me a story." "I see." "May I stay up?" "No." "I mean, for the dinner party?" "No, dear." "You're far too young." "When may I?" "I've told you before, when you're 16." "Come in." "Yes, fraulein?" "May I speak with you a moment, madam?" "Yes, of course now." "June, dear, say good night and run upstairs." "There's a good girl." "Mm, you do smell nice." "I should hope so." "Goodnight, dearest." "Night, mama." "Yes, fraulein?" "Madam, I regret, but I must give you my notice to leave" "Leave?" "You want to leave us?" "But why?" "For personal reasons." "Aren't you well?" "Quite well." "I'm so sorry,I must go." "But I thought you were happy here." "Oh, yes, I have been happy,but..." "But you aren't any longer?" "Is it money?" "No, I don't suppose you'd do better elsewhere." "Have you another situation to go to?" "No, madam.Well, then." "That is, yes.In a way." "Fraulein, I have no wish to interfere in your private affairs but aren't you being a little rash?" "I mean, shouldn't you stay here till you're quite sure of another post?" "I would rather go as soon as possible." "Very well." "You must do as you wish, of course." "And I shan't hold you to your month's notice." "Here are your wages for last month." "Thank and a few pounds extra, just in case." "Oh, no, madam." "No, thank you." "I must take only what you owe me." "Really, fraulein, if I choose to be generous, it's only because you've done well here, and I think you've earned it." "Please, I'd rather not." "As you wish." "Well, you'll come and see me before you go, won't you?" "And if at any time you need a reference..." "Thank you." "Well, then..." "good evening, fraulein." "Madam." "Extraordinary girl." "A house in Chelsea?" "George, dear, you must be mistaken." "Not in the least, aunt Hester, I assure you." "Father saw them as plainly as I did." "Plain as a pikestaff." "Chap had a latchkey, ushered her in as bold as brass." "He's keeping her." "Hm." "The young devil!" "Oh, really, Swithin." "That's not quite nice." "Isn't it, by jove?" "Wish I had my time over again." "Pretty little thing, they tell me." "Is she pretty, Roger?" "Pretty?" "How should I know?" "A young woman, that's all I saw." "Quite enough too." "Oh, she's pretty, if you like that type, which I don't much, great dark eyes, trim little figure." "He could have property there, I suppose." "Nonsense." "Property's down there is no value at all." "In that case, Roger, what were you and george doing in Chelsea?" "Well..." "don't tell me that you... now look here, Swithin..." "don't, father." "Qui s'excuse, s'accuse." "Anyways, property or no property why take that german governess,unless...?" "Especially since she's left their employment." "Left there?" "Oh, yes, Nicholas." "I met Frances in the stores,and she told me." "Well, that's good enough for me." "The young rogue." "He's at least 32." "Just wait until old Jolyon hears about this." "He's not to be told." "Do you hear me?" "Not one of you is to utter a word about this to anyone." "If what you suspect is true, he'll hear soon enough." "And if Jo has disgraced himself in this way, it's quite shocking, and very sad." "But if you talk about it all over London, then we shall have a scandal." "And I will not have this family involved in a scandal." "So mind what I say, all of you." "Mr. And mrs." "James Forsyte, ma'am." "Miss winifred, mr." "Soames and mr." "Dartie." "Thank you, Smither." "You may bring in tea." "Our duty call, Ann, as I promised, to introduce you all to dear monty." "Miss Forsyte, mr." "Dartie." "How do you do?" "I am very well." "Now as soon as you've met the others, you shall come and sit here by me, and you must tell me all about yourself." "My darling child, this is indeed a happy occasion." "Come along, Monty." "Miss Hester Forsyte, mr." "Dartie." "How do you do?" "Mrs. Septimus Small." "Well, aunt Juley, that is." "Mr. Dartie." "Mr. Swithin Forsyte, mr." "Dartie." "How do you do, sir?" "Mr. Nicholas Forsyte." "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "Mr. George... oh, how stupid of me." "You know George, of course." "Do you know George's father, mr." "Roger Forsyte?" "How do you do, sir?" "How do you do?" "Well, he's launched." "Hm." "Quite an ordeal." "What?" "Oh, yes, I suppose so." "Mind you, he's got a way with him." "Yes, they call it charm." "Oh, do they, well, they can call it what they like, I've no use for it." "Father, do you remember the herons?" "Herons?" "Yes, he was a professor, a client of yours." "You're a trustee." "Oh, I remember, yes." "Died two years ago." "Didn't cut up for much." "What about him?" "Well, he left a young widow, second wife, much younger than himself." "We had a letter from her today in the office." "She's finding it difficult to live on her money." "Not surprised." "I find it deuced hard myself." "Well, I've had a look at her investments." "They're very sound." "So I should hope." "But I think we might do better." "You think so?" "Perhaps I should go down to Southwater." "There may be..." "where's that?" "In Hampshire." "There may be other assets we can bring into the trust." "Yes, well, don't commit yourself." "Perhaps you'd rather go yourself." "I?" "Why should I want to go, a journey like that?" "No, no." "You attend to it." "Very well." "Ah, tea." "Ah, tea." "Mrs. Heron's expecting me, mr." "Forsyte." "Yes, sir." "Please come in." "Quite a nice day, isn't it, sir?" "Yes." "It's very nice." "Shall I take your coat, sir?" "Thank you." "I'll do that." "Oh, thank you, sir." "I'm sure." "This way, if you please, sir." "Mr. Forsyte, ma'am." "Mr. Forsyte, how do you do?" "We met before, I think, in london." "Yes." "How do you do?" "May I introduce mr." "Lomax?" "Mr. Forsyte." "How do you do?" "How do you do?" "Do sit down, mr." "Forsyte." "You had pleasant journey down," "I hope, Forsyte?" " Thank you, yes" "Mr. Lomax is a very good friend and near neighbor of mine." "He knows all about my situation and the fact that I wrote to you for advice." "I'll leave you if you prefer it, Forsyte." "No, not at all." "If mrs." "Heron..." "My father would have come down himself, since he is co-trustee with you." "But, well, he's not young anymore, so perhaps you'll accept me as his deputy." "It's most good of you to come so far on such trifling business as mine, mr." "Forsyte." "Nothing to do with money is trifling, mrs." "Heron." "Indeed, no." "Particularly when one has so little." "Mr. Lomax has been kind enough to help me since my husband died." "In such matters as he can." "I am not a financial wizard, or course, don't you know." "But I felt that mrs." "Heron should have professional advice." "Quite." "Before I left London, I drew up a list of possible investments, mrs." "Heron." "That is a copy." "Are they quite, quite safe?" "Our brokers recommended them, and so does my father." "And you, mr." "Forsyte?" "Certainly." "Then naturally,one has every confidence." "You have no other source of income?" "No land, no property?" "No.Professors are seldom rich,mr." "Forsyte." "And this house?" "Only a lease, I'm afraid." "That can be worth something." "Not when there's only two years to run." "Quite." "And that's all?" "Nothing more." "Oh, Irene has an annuity of 50 pounds a year but naturally that is hers entirely, and at present being devoted to her education." "Irene...?" "My stepdaughter." "Ah, yes." "Then I'm glad to that by making the changes" "I've suggested there, you should be able to augment your income to some extent." "To what extent?" "Possibly 150 pounds a year." "As much as that?" "Every company fluctuates in its dividends now and then of course, but that is a reasonable estimate." "Well, this is perfectly wonderful, mr." "Forsyte." "How stupid I was not to consult you before." "Yes, you've certainly taken a great deal of trouble, Forsyte." "Trouble?" "Not at all." "Do you wish to think about this for a day or two?" "How soon can the transfers be managed?" "That might take a little time, possibly a month." "I'd like to study the market variations for a week or two and buy at the best price." "I see." "Then, as a trustee, you must sign an authorization, which I'll bring down to you." "Oh, that will be a nuisance for you." "Not at all." "Well, at least we shall have the pleasure of seeing you again." "Thank you." "Oh, there is one other thing." "If you wish it, and only if you wish it." "May I suggest to my father that he gives up the trusteeship?" "And that I be appointed in his place?" "Of course, what a good idea!" "As I say, he's getting on..." "Don't you think so, Willie?" "Oh, upon my soul, yes, yes." "Excellent idea, Forsyte." "A young fellow like you." "See us all out, what?" "Quite." "Then if mrs." "Heron approves...?" "I do, indeed." "Good." "I shall so advise my father." "Now if you'll excuse me." "Won't you stay to tea?" "I was just about to ring." "Thank you, no, my train... ah, of course." "But next time, mr." "Forsyte, do come earlier and stay to luncheon." "What a pity you can't meet Irene." "Yes, she's off to Paris next week." "Indeed?" "Yes, she obtained a scholarship at the conservatory to study the piano." "Such a gifted child, isn't she, Willie?" "Oh, no doubt about it." "And with so little money, a career of some sort is quite necessary." "Music teaching." "Can't say i should care for it myself." "A lot of frightful infants banging away at bach and beethoven." "What do you say, Forsyte, I'm sure there are many worse ways of earning a living." "Well, we shall look forward to your next visit." "And believe me, I'm most grateful." "Not at all." "Goodbye, Forsyte." "Is mr." "Timothy coming down to tea, do you know?" "He said not, ma'am." "So I took him a tray upstairs." "Thank you, Smither." "What's keeping Juley, I wonder?" "I haven't any idea." "Thank you, Smither." "Juley, you're very nearly late for tea." "Where have you been?" "Well, when dear septimus was alive, we always had tea at 5:00." "So I cannot accustom myself... after 15 years?" "Really, Juley." "Nonsense." "Have you been out?" "Just in the park for a short walk." "Everything looked so pretty in the sunlight." "Yes, yes, but did you meet anyone?" "Only mrs." "Roger and mrs." "Nicholas." "I wanted to talk to them about the wedding." "Oh, the Rogers are giving silver." "They always do." "But the only thing they could think about was, you know, the chelsea adventure." "What's that?" "Who told them?" "Oh, I've no idea, dear." "Now, Juley." "But Ann, dear, Roger was the first to find out." "Don't you remember?" "He was bound to tell mrs." "Roger." "And she was bound to tell mrs." "Nicholas, and so it goes on, tittle-tattle." "Oh, really, dear,but it's only in the family." "And Hester, it appears that young George, so enterprising," "actually went to see the estate agents in Chelsea." "Roger knows them, of course." "And what do you imagine he found out?" "What?" "The german girl is living there, but she's not the tenant." "Who is?" "I give you one guess." "Now, Juley." "I have told you not..." "Mr. Jolyon, ma'am." "Oh, Jolyon, how nice!" "I've had board meetings all day." "Dry stuff." "I thought I'd look in for a moment." "Ann, how's Timothy?" "He's a little upset today." "He's always upset." "What is it this time?" "The german emperor." "Timothy read in the times of his attempted assassination." "Was too dreadful." "I don't know, blustering chap." "Oh, Jolyon." "Anyway, what's he got to do with Timothy?" "He's not a german." "He's anxious about the price of shares." "Timothy's in consols,isn't he?" "Three percent for his money, that's all he gets." "All he will ever get, more fool him." "Oh, Jolyon." "You can tell Timothy from me, that if 10 german emperors were assassinated tomorrow, consols would not budge one farthing." "I will tell him." "Thank you, Jolyon." "Dear Jolyon." "So reassuring." "Speaking of germans..." "Juley!" "Yes, I was only going... what is it?" "Juley?" "I see you're bursting with something." "I am not interested in discussing the germans." "Neither, I'm sure, is Jolyon." "When you arrived, we were talking about winifred's wedding." "I hear the Rogers are giving silver." "What shall you give, Jolyon?" "I dare say, they'll entertain quite a bit.Emily will see to that." "A dinner service." "Jolyon always gives a dinner service." "Royal worcester, I fancy." "You get your money's worth." "Very appropriate, Jolyon." "And Winifred is sure to look after it." "Such a very sensible, level-headed girl." "Is it all right?" "Oh, it will be, mademoiselle." "It will be." "Madame Debrie, you're married aren't you?" "I was." "Now no longer." "I'm sorry." "What happened?" "The prussians happened." "Nine years ago." "The war happened, mademoiselle." "Was your husband killed?" "He was." "I won..." "no, perhaps I shouldn'T." "Now, we take off the gown." "Careful." "Careful, please." "Yes, since 1870," "France is full of widows." "What's it like to be married?" "but this you should ask your mother." "Heavens." "I couldn't do that." "No?" "Well, we'd both be dreadfully embarrassed." "Embarrassed?" "Mon dieu." "In France..." "oh, but I forgot." "This is england." "Are you quite ignorant, then?" "Oh, don't misunderstand me." "I know what I suppose i ought to, about men and women." "Well, then?" "But to be married." "To leave your own home and live alone with someone who's really quite strange to you." "To be a wife, responsible, instead of just a girl with only herself to think about." "All this you will learn,if you want to." "For the rest, marriage is like life itself." "Sometimes heaven...and sometimes hell." "How much of each depends on whom you marry." "Madame Debrie, still here?" "Just finished, madam." "Splendid." "Winifred." "Monty's downstairs." "Monty!" "I'll go down at once." "Like that?" "Winifred, my love." "Oh, mama." "He asked me to give you this." "Something rather special, I believe." "Madame, the scissors." "May I?" "Oh... pearls." "Oh, how beautiful." ""For my Freddie, to mark the happiest event in my life, monty."" "Well, he is a thoughtful boy." "Madame...?" "Oh." "But they're exquisite." "Mama, will you tell him I'll be down directly to thank him?" "Yes, dear." "I shall." "Oh, they do suit you." "Just the thing to wear with white." "What do you think, madame Debrie?" "They're charming, madam." "Such a generous gift." "Dear Monty." "Jo?" "Jo?" "Now where on earth...?" "Oh, there you are." "We're going to be late." "Jo!" "You're not dressed." "Oh, how could you?" "If there's one unforgivable thing, it's being late at a wedding." "I'm not going to the wedding." "Of course you're going." "If you go directly, you'll still have time." "Frances, I told you 10 days ago i should not be going." "I don't remember." "You do." "But you didn't choose to believe it." "Well, why should I believe it?" " I thought it was a caprice,one of your moods." "Heaven knows there have been enough of those lately." "Yes, I know, I apologize." "You apologize!" "Well, that's splendid." "But that's all you do." "And I must tell you,it isn't enough." "You've been behaving like this for months now." "Refusing invitations coming home late when i've invited people to dinner, taking no interest in anything as far as I can see." "Don't you realize the importance of our social life, of holding your position in society?" "Frances, please sit down." "I want to talk to you." "I haven't got time to talk, even if you have." "This is your cousin's wedding, not mine." "It's your family that's going to be offended and vexed if you're not there." "And June." "She's a bridesmaid for the first time, you know she'll be utterly wretched." "If none of that means anything to you, what about me?" "Don't I deserve your courtesy at least?" "How do you think I'm going to feel if I have to go there without you?" " Well, you don't have to go, either." "Not go?" "But, I want to go." "It is right and proper that I should go." "And that you should take me." "All I'm asking is that you should behave like the gentleman you were brought up to be." "Frances!" "Sometimes I think you are the most typical Forsyte of us all." "Is that so bad a thing?" "Well, will you come?" "uncle Jolyon." "Winifred." "I'm so glad you could come." "I'm enjoying myself." "..kiss the bride." "Well, young fellow?" " A fine girl you got here." "You look after her." "Yes, sir, I will." "And uncle on, many, many thanks for our present." "I shall feel so grand at our first dinner party." "You must come to it." "You won't want a pack of old stagers." "Are these the famous pearls?" "Yes, aren't they lovely?" " Famous, sir?" "Forsyte change has talked of nothing else for the past two weeks." "Really?" "Yes." "Now, don't spend all your money, you'll need it when the young Darties come along." "Oh, really, sir!" "Mrs. Bannister!" "Oh, and Millie, what a pretty frock." "Look, did you ever see such a rumty-too collection of people?" "Forsytes one and all." "I know, old boy, you're going to tell you're not." "I know that." "Perhaps only 20 percent are." "But look at them, alike as peas in a pod." "And a wedding, partridge, a Forsyte wedding." "That's when you see us in our most splendiferous splendor." "In all the glory of property." "That's what it is, Partridge, old boy:" "A major property transaction." "And all the family have come to the market to see fair do's." "Look at my uncle James." "He's lost a daughter and gained a son." "Swap one piece of property for another." "And damned if he knows whether he's got a bargain or a disaster." "Well, my little one, you carried that train like a trojan." "I did, didn't I?" "And it was beastly heavy, too." "Seen your father anywhere?" " No." "Mama's over there, but I haven't seen papa." "Perhaps he didn't come." "Nonsense." "He's here somewhere." "Look, let's look for him, shall we?" " All right." "Yes, rather." "Four-in-hand Forsyte, they used to call me in the old days when my brother Jolyon and his partner nick treffry... wild chap, nick." "Used to drive down to richmond together." "Mind you, I can only manage a pair these days, but the name sticks, don't you know?" "Anytime you'd like an airing, my dear, I'll drive you out." "Anytime." "A smart turn-out needs a pretty woman to set it off." "Soames, do you know mrs." "Steel?" "My nephew, Soames." "Your father's doing us very well." "I'm glad you think so, uncle." "Yes, by jove." "Not as good as my heidseick." "But a decent wine, a very pretty little wine." "Soames!" "Soames!" "Yes, uncle?" "They tell me you're a long-headed chap." "That's very good of them, uncle." "Huh?" "What?" " Oh, your uncle Nick and i are having an argument." "It's a legal matter, in a way." "Nothing to do with me." "Not my affair at all." "No?" "What's that?" "Well, it's about some property of mine in shoreditch." "In short, the sitting tenants..." "uncle Roger." "Yes, my boy?" "It sounds a complicated problem." "what do you mean?" " You haven't heard it yet." "Perhaps we should discuss it at the office." "Shall I call around on monday?" " What?" "No." "Oh, I'll talk to your father about it." "Very well, uncle." "Swollen-headed, they should have said." "Come now, Roger, you asked for that." "Why should he miss a fee?" "That boy's no fool." "Ann, dear, I do think it was noble of you to come." "I wouldn't have missed it for the world." "James, everything has gone exceedingly well." "Mr. Dartie seems a nice young man." "I liked the way he spoke up in the responses." "I cannot bear not to hear what people say in church" "You don't think we've overdone it?" " Too ostentatious?" "Fiddlesticks." "That's what weddings are for." "I do agree." "Who'd want to go to a quiet wedding?" "Dear Soames, I'm sure you've been a pillar of strength." "I wish..." "I just wish I may live to see you as happy as your sister." "But of course we shall come." "Thursday next, you said." "We should be delighted." "That is, if I can persuade my husband to stir out." "I'm afraid he's becoming a positive recluse, these days." "Excuse me, please." "Frances, may I have a word with you?" "Yes, of course." "Excuse me." "Frances, where's Jo?" "I haven't seen him, is he here?" "No, papa." "As a matter of fact, he didn't come." "Didn't come?" "Didn't come?" "!" "Why not, may I ask?" " I've no idea, papa." "Perhaps he had something better to do with his time." "What should he have to do?" " Something's wrong." "He's not ill?" " You're not keeping it from me?" "No, no, of course not, papa." "He's perfectly well." "What is it?" "What is it?" " Something amiss between you two?" "Frances!" "Papa, please.You're making a scene." "Oh, Isabelle, my dear, how lovely to see you." "Well, naturally we've sworn not to tell a soul." "Not even our nearest and dearest." "And that's as it should be, because if got to Jolyon's ears, who knows what he'd do." "Oh, Frances." "Well, my dear, we cannot tell whether she knows or not." "But can a husband keep such a thing from his wife?" "A german girl." "Yes, their own governess." "A little house in Chelsea, so Roger assures me." "Chelsea." "Well, she's really quite a common girl." "Helene?" "Helene!" "Where are you?" "Here, jo!" "Up here." "Aren't you well?" "A touch of migraine." "Nothing at all." "Oh, Jo, I'm so pleased to see you." "But I thought... when it came to the point, I dug my heels in." "You sure you're all right?" "Oh, yes, now that you're here." "Oh, Jo, should you have dug your heels in?" "Was it awful?" "Oh... not good." "oh, then you should have gone to that wedding." "My darling, it would have been the easiest thing in the world to go, sit in the church, rub shoulders with all my friends and relations, kiss the old aunts, drink the champagne," "listen politely while my uncles talk about their money." "They don't." "Walk around with Frances, hand in hand, all smiles and small talk, pretending that everything's perfect." "That we're the most devoted, loving couple in the whole of london." "And who knows what's being said behind our backs?" "What?" "Oh, make no mistake, it's got around." "I've heard enough to be sure of that." "Oh, no." "Are you sure?" "Nothing remains a secret in my family, my love." "I've told you." "Absolutely nothing." "Not that they mind.Even the ladies, especially the dear ladies." "They get a delicious thrill of shock at the mere hint of wickedness." "I expect they all think that i'm the very devil of a fellow." "And the ironic thing is, I'm not, nor do I want to be." "In fact, I think i'm constitutionally incapable of being the devil of a fellow." "All I want is to live openly, decently and lovingly...with one woman." "And you shall, Jo." "Forgive me, but how could I know that you weren't like most men, greedy and selfish, taking pleasure of women without love?" "But... but you're not." "I'm so happy." "I'm so wonderfully happy... because I have something to tell you." "We're going to have a child." "To talk of morality, in terms of the Forsyte family, is to talk of the practical rather than the ideal." "The Forsytes don't approve of what they call immorality because it threatens the solid structure of society.Their society." "There's always a danger, they feel, that property may be diverted from the family into dubious and even uncontrollable hands." "So I was aware, as I drove from chelsea to Mayfair, that I was already condemned." "Yet I could think only of Helene and our child that was coming." "A love child if ever there was one." "Papa!" "Papa!" "Papa isn't here." "Where has he got to?" " I've really no idea, June." "But I wanted to tell him about the wedding." "Yes, dearest." "Well, you can tell him tomorrow" "Now, look, run upstairs." "There's a good gal." "Nanny's waiting for you." "But say thank you to cousin Soames first." "Thank you, cousin Soames." "It was very kind of you to bring us home." "Really, children nowadays, no manners whatsoever." "But it was kind of you, Soames." "Oh, the heat in that room." "I'm exhausted." "Frances, did anything happen to upset you?" "I mean, is there anything..." "upset me?" " No, of course not." "Only the heat." "Appalling, wasn't it?" "But it was a lovely reception, and Winifred looked very happy." "I'm so glad for her." "Yes." "Oh, thank goodness for that." "Really, the hats this year are too much." "Well, Soames, I really mustn't keep you any longer." "You've already done far more than your cousinly duty, and I'm really most grateful." "Hello, Soames." "Soames very kindly brought us back from the reception." "So early?" "June was tired." "Yes, of course." "Now you must get back." "I'm obliged to you." "Not at all." "I looked everywhere for your father, but he'd already gone." "I saw him go." "He seemed distressed about something." "You don't miss much, do you?" " No, I try not to." "And I might add, things are being said." "Are they, indeed?" "It's none of my business..." "None at all." "But I'd take care if I were you." "Yes, but I'm not much good at that Soames." "Thank you." "Goodbye." "Don't say i didn't warn you." "Frances." "Not now." "Please, Jo, I have a raging headache." "I'm sorry." "Did you hear what Soames said?" " Of course." "You know what he was hinting at?" "Jo, please." "Do you?" "I am not blind or deaf." "And I'm not totally stupid." "No, of course not." "Well, what have you heard?" "Very little." "You don't imagine I'd listen to poisonous gossip, do you?" "But I've guessed a great deal." "For instance?" "That you're keeping a woman somewhere." "Chelsea, isn't it?" "You didn't guess that." "No." "No." "That, I think, was your dear aunt Juley." "Someone else casually mentioned the number of the street." "I can't remember which particular cat that was." "But you don't know the woman's name?" "Is that important?" " It is to me." "Oh, naturally." "But why should I care?" "One creature of that is very much like any other, I imagine." "This case is perhaps a little different, Frances." "You'll have to know because..." "I want to know nothing." "Nothing at all about it." "After all, it isn't an uncommon situation." "Filthy and degrading, of course, especially for you, but not uncommon." "The thought of it doesn't hurt you?" "I' m not gelous, if that's what you mean." "After all, it isn't as if were exact young lovers." "In fact we are not lovers in any sense of the word, are we?" "So just keep me out of it, jo" "And when you change this mistress for another, as you wil" "I don't wish to know anything about her, either." "And you'd be content for us to continue living together on those terms?" "Have I any choice?" "But there is one thing I should like to know, because it does concern me, and that is why you had to be such a fool about it." "Apparently,our dirty linen is on show all over London." "So if you must indulge in these sordid affairs, try to be a little more discreet about them." "For June's sake, if not for mine." "Scandal soon die down if there's nothing new to feed them on." "This one won'T." "I've had a note from my father." "He wants to see me immediately." "Then you'd better go." "Only when I've said what I have to say." "Please." "In a sense, you've made things easier for me." "That was not my..." "don't interrupt.Just listen." "Now you'll be content for this situation to remain as it is as long as everything is kept quiet and respectable." "Well, I can't live like that, and I don't intend to." "I have to choose, Frances,between living with you, or with Helene Hillmer." "And I choose helene." "Hillmer?" "Not fraulein?" "Oh, well, I see." "That explains a great deal, doesn't it?" "Whole thing's even grubbier than I thought." "Oh, Jo, how could you?" "Under our own roof." "It's disgusting." "Frances, you're avoiding the issue." "I want you to divorce me." "Divorce?" "Are you telling me that you want to marry this common little governess?" "Yes, I want to marry her." "Oh, you're out of your mind." "She's going to have a child, Frances." "My child." "Oh, how romantic." "How quite delightful for you both." "But I really don't see how that affects anything." "She won't be the first slut to have bastards." "Yes, Jo, and better men than you have fathered them." "Oh, Simpson." "Will you call me a cab, please?" "I'm going out." "Oh, thank goodness that's over." "Soames, dear, you've been wonderful." "What your father and I would have done without you... it went quite well." "Yes, dear, it did." "But did you ever see such a collection of stuffy people?" "Just what I was saying to young Partridge." "George, you startled me." "I'm sorry, aunt, but as i said to young partridge, everywhere you look, nothing but Forsytes." "Droves and herds of Forsytes." "Male and female, created he them superb." "George, dear, are you drunk?" "Not in the least." "Slightly elevated,perhaps." "Then may I suggest that you go home now?" "You know we're all dining with your parents tonight" "Excellent." "If I'm wanted, I shall be at my club." "He is drunk." "If I am, aunt, I am George..." "I don't..." "ah, yes." "Thirsty work, this marriage, as prince Arthur once remarked." "Did he really?" "The dear prince." "When?" "In the year 1501,I believe." "Goodbye, all." "But I don't understand." "It's all right,mother." "He wasn't referring to the duke of cannaught." "Now don't you think we ought to go up and change?" "Yes, indeed." "Your father will fuss if we're late." "Oh, one moment,though." "What was it I came in here for?" "Ah, yes." "Warmson." "Warmson, you've been so helpful." "Thank you, madam" "Now I do hope there's something special for you all tonight in the servant's hall." "Yes, madam." "Mr. Soames has arranged for an ample sufficiency." "Ah, good." "And we're all looking forward to toasting the happiness of mr. and mrs." "Dartie." "Splendid." "Something wrong?" "No, not really." "Everything's been perfect." "Except one tiny thing, perhaps." "Your uncle Jolyon never said goodbye." "So unlike him,I thought." "Yes, he left early." "Jo wasn't here, you know." "I think that upset him." "Oh, dear me, yes." "That wicked young man, to hurt his father so." "And poor Frances." "Oh, she won't take it lying down." "And as for uncle Jolyon, if I'm any judge, there's a great deal more trouble to come." "Well, there it is, father." "Not a very edifying story, I know, but I hope you'll agree that the decision I've made is both right and honorable." "Right?" "Honorable?" "You don't know what you're talking about." "You telling me it's right to abandon your wife?" "That it's honorable to drag her into a divorce action, through scandal and mud?" "That's a pretty sort of honor." "Maybe you're right." "Perhaps I shouldn't have used those words." "No, by God,you shouldn't!" "Perhaps they're only for other people." "Moralists, preachers, judges." "All those people with a vested interest in things as they are." "The established order of society." "Which I belong to." "And so do you." "You've accepted the benefits of this ordered society, and don't pretend you haven't." "Father, I'm trying desperately hard not to pretend any longer." "I've accepted, of course I have, the easy way of life you've given me." "But ever since I've been old enough to look clearly and think for myself, I've realized that I'm nothing." "I do nothing.I create nothing." "I produce nothing." "I'm a parasite..." "living on your kindness and generosity." "I've never heard such nonsense." "Why, Jo, everything I've done has been for you." "First for your mother, and then for you." "That's the whole point." "Father did the same for us." "All of us!" "None of us started from the bottom." "But he did." "His father was fairly small beer." "Yeoman stock,farmers down Dorset way." "But your grandfather had drive and vision." "He came up and took a look at London." "The place was growing like a mushroom, houses needed everywhere." "So your grandfather built them, thousands of them." "Good, practical houses." "He built them, and they built his fortune." "Ten children he had." "Six sons." "And he educated us." "Not Eton and Cambridge like you, Jo." "Well..." "well enough." "Well enough." "Each son got 10,000 pound to himself." "And there was enough for the girls." "Well, that's what we built on." "The education and the money that our father gave us." "Look at us now, one of the best respected families in London." "Do you ever hear your uncles complain about the start he gave us?" "Do I complain?" "I do not because that's the way it should be." "A family growing in prosperity because it is a family." "Pushing up the social ladder." "Each son higher than his father." "The aristocracy of wealth." "What?" "Well, why not?" "Just as good as the other sort." "Better, in some ways." "We don't squander our money." "We invest it." "Shipping, steel, textiles, overseas trade." "It's our capital that's built this country's wealth and don't you forget it." "Oh, jo... this ordered society you object to is just a collection of families like ours." "I know, father." "I'm well aware of it." "And you, you choose to opt out?" "I wouldn't if there was anything useful for me to do inside." "But in any case, I shan't have the choice, shall I?" "You're society will see to that." "They'll call the tune." "They'll accept Frances, who doesn't love me, and reject Helene, who does." "Well, if they reject her, by God, they reject me." "The question is, father, where do you stand?" "That's a hard question." "The hardest I've ever had to answer." "So I'll ask you one or two first." "Very well." "If Frances agrees to divorce you, what do you intend to live on?" "I've been accepted in a syndicate at Lloyds." "Insurance?" "What you know about insurance?" "Nothing." "But I can learn." "Needs capital." "How much?" "Five thousand." "I've already deposited the securities." "I see." "All the money your mother left you." "Well, all but a thousand." "We can live on that to begin with." "Syndicates pay their accounts three years in arrear." "Are you aware of that?" "Yes." "When your income does start, it'll be 250 pounds a year!" "Oh, father, families have lived on a lot less." "In a very bad year, it might be nothing." "I know." "What about Frances?" "She has her own money." "I've made over the settlement." "Her parents are well-to-do." "I don't they they'll come down too hard on me." "People can be vindictive, though." "And june?" "What about june?" "In all this mess you've created, have you once thought about june?" "Of course I have, father." "Deeply!" "And I realize it's not possible to take her with me.I wish it were." "But there again,I had to make a choice between June who has everything..." "Except a father." "I know!" "But she has a mother and two grandfathers and a grandmother and god knows how many uncles and aunts all ready to fuss over her and pet her and bring her up the way she should be brought up." "She's rich." "But Helene's baby will be poor." "He'll only have me." "So where do you stand?" "Jo, I've never preached at you, and I don't intend to now." "I'm getting to be an old chap, finished with passion and all that." "But I know the power of it, what it can do to a man." "Think, jo." "You have a wife." "Who despises me." "Never mind." "You married her." "You made certain promises." "You signed a contract,a firm contract." "Now you're proposing to welsh on it." "That I never could abide." "I'm not going to condone it in you." "You have duties." "Responsibilities to you wife, to June." "And I must say it, to me." "If you're going to run away from them, well, jo, I can't support you." "I see." "Well, what do you suggest?" "Frances is quite prepared to accept me with a mistress, as long as nobody hears about it." "You agree?" "No." "She's wrong to think it." "You must give this girl up." "Give her up?" "Yes." "I can be generous." "On your behalf, I will be." "She'll be taken care of." "And the child." "Father..." "I couldn't dream of doing anything so cruel." "It's a cruel world sometimes." "But you've brought this on yourself." "You're not a boy." "You make your own decisions." "And if you make the wrong one, you can expect no help from me, now or in the future." "Now I tell you again, jo." "Keep to your contract." "This isn't a business transaction, father, although you seem to think it is but even a business contract can be broken, on agreed terms." "Not this one, because there's no honest basis of agreement." "For all her faults, your wife is a good woman." "She's kept her side of the bargain." "Has she?" "You have June." "And nothing else." "No affection." "No comfort." "No humor." "No love." "No son of my own." "But I may have a son now, waiting to be born." "Am I not allowed to acknowledge him because of a contract made over 10 years ago?" "Because of some rules laid down by that precious society you're so proud of?" "Well, if that's the best they can do," "I'd rather live in poverty and disgrace for the rest of my days." "That's your decision?" "Goodbye, father." "Jo." "Look, boy." "I've been harsh." "I had make you see reason." "But you won't, and there's an end of it." "But you're my son, and i will not see you destitute." "Whatever you do, I'll give you half your allowance." "The other half to frances." "That's like you to offer that, but no." "From now on, father, i make my own way." "Fraulein Hillmer, good evening." "May I come in?" "Please do." "Won't you sit down?" "Thank you." "Well, what a cozy little room." "Are you quite comfortable here?" "Yes." "I'm so glad." "But aren't you going to sit down?" "After all, it is your house, isn't it?" "You know whose house it is." "Why did you come?" "For several reasons." "For one thing, I've never seen a love nest before." "That is the polite word for it, I believe." "I don't know that word." "Well, you do now, fraulein." "It's a charming expression, don't you think?" "Almost idyllic." "One has a picture of innocent... well, almost innocent rapture in warm and secluded surroundings." "Yes, it's a pretty word for an ugly thing." "Madam..." "Please don't interrupt me, fraulein." "And won't you sit down?" "You're not very tall, but if there's one thing I can't bear, it's a crick in the neck." "Especially with the hats they're making us wear this season." "Yes, that's better." "After all, if we're going to have a little chat, we may as well be comfortable." "Now then, where was I?" " Oh, yes." "Yes, our english lesson." "Do you know the word "meiosis", fraulein?" "No?" "Oh, but you should." "All foreign ladies, especially governesses, should know the meaning of the word." "Because in England nowadays, we employ it constantly." "Not the word itself, of course, but what it stands for." "Let me give you an example." "Cultivated english persons nowadays, no longer talk of a "stench", or a "stink."" "They refer to an "unpleasant odor."" "Do you follow me?" ""Adultery" is called "infidelity", or at worst, "misconduct."" "A "prostitute" is a "fallen woman", and a "pregnant lady" is described as being "in a delicate state of health."" "That, fraulein, is meiosis." "Your meaning is quite clear." "I'm glad." "I wanted you to understand because, of course, between us, this glossing over of reality would be ludicrous." "In conversation with you, therefore..." "Madam, I have no wish to converse with you." "You speak like an english lady, but you behave like a german fishwife." "So please tell me why you're here, and then go." "Very well." "It occurred to me that you might be ignorant of certain facts concerning your relationship with my husband." "I don't think." "Oh, surely you know, of course,his father is a rich man" "That is why he tried to seduce you." "You are used to riches." "I'm not." "No, but you'd like to be." "Compared to you, madam, I am rich." "I love a man who loves me and that's all I want." "You love a poor man and I hope you realize that His father won't left a finger..." "I know all thiss." "I Know exactly the situation." "Is there anything else..." "Yes." "Yes, there is one thing" "I'm going to pay you a compliment, fraulein." "I believe you're sincere." "Thank you." "But you're also a fool and short sighted." "So let me tell you." "Love does't last long." "and lust is over even sooner." "And that is all between you:" "A lust and a sentimental attachment." "While that lasts, you may be happy." "The world well lost, and so on." "But just think of the consequences." "Because of you he would have give up everything his home, financial security his father affection and that means a great deal." "Whether I divorcee of him or not he will lost his daughter and his friends." "He'll drop right out the life he has known" "And to what?" "Can you make up to him for the loss of all that?" "Can you?" "through years and year of grow indiference, you and he, isolated...?" "Well, you may be that kind of ...," "I doubt it, fraulein." "I doubt it." "Madame... you wish to say something?" "I had an idea you were here" "Your cab is waiting." "Jo, it was horrible!" "God, Jo!" "She begun to talk about you, Jo." "For all you have lose." "Then I became frightened because I begun to think." "I started to believe what she said." "And I believe it now." "Yes, she was right." "You must leave me and go back to your family." "Your father and June, you have affection for them and they for you she said so and it's true." "You must go back to them." "You must go!" "Helene" "Helene, listen to me." "Listen!" "I've just come from my father." "The chapter's is closed." "For ever, you hear me?" "Please, stop it." "Listen to me." "You mustn't think about it never again." "Quiet" "Ssh, my darling." "Morning, mr." "Soames." "Morning." "Is my father in?" "Not yet, but I am expecting him." "He has some appointments." "Anything for me?" "Let's see now." "Yes, the case for the Chancery" "Came wednesday fortnight." "Who' s the judge?" "Button, I believe." "i believe." ".." "We ..." "Have you read it?" "He suggest we drop the case." "Does he, indeed." "What do you think?" ".." ".." "He doesn't care for the fee." "15 guinees.It should be enough.." "I read your opinion" "I still tink we got a case." "You might be right." "What a fine morning, sir." "Don't say it, I'm late." "Your father called me up at breakfast" "I don't think ... always tell a nonsense one after another." "This time is a bal." "He wants to give a bal" "A ball?" "What for?" "Is precisely what I said." "What for ?" "For Winnifried and Dartie." "Precisely what I said ." "After all the expenses of the wedding... .." "I put my foot down." ".." "If there is nothing.." "Yes, of course.." "Don't waste your time." "Mr Forsyte to see you, sir." "Show him in" "Come in, Jolyon." "I was expecting you." "I hope so.We had an appointment, didn't we?" "yes, if you want Soames to ...my father ...I wish to see James." "You are so close to retirement.." "Retire?" "Certainly not." "why should I retire?" "If he do something, I'm sure he let you know." "Good morning." "Soames!" "Sir?" "I'll have ...you understand?" "I'm an old man, and sorely harassed." "Something I want to ask you." "Your cousin, Jo, I've not heard from him for two months." "I understand he's left Chelsea." "I believe so, sir...." "No, sir." "You are acting my daughter in law, I hear?" "It's true, Soames does." ".." ".." "Have you any idea where?" "No, but I have the adress of his..." "And ..." "He's still a member I'm obliged to you." "I'll be in my room, father." "That young fellow, a cold fish." "He's an excellent man of business, that I don't doubt." "James, I want to see my will." "You want to change it?" "I want to see it." "what news of winifred and what's-his-name, dartie?" "They've settled in at green street." "Good property, that." "They'll do very well there." "Enjoy their honeymoon?" " Enjoy it?" "How should I know?" " Why shouldn't they enjoy it?" " Spent enough money, I know that." "Going off to france." "Bournemouth was good enough for us." "Well, there you are." "Always rushing about." "Shouldn't wonder if they'd caught something." "Water's very bad there, they tell me." "Well, do you want me to leave you?" "No, no." "Sit down, James." "When I've read this, I want to talk to you." "Here's your post,mr." "Soames." "Nothing very special." "Thank you." "And this one,marked personal." "I think it's a lady's hand, I'd say." "Oh, you would, would you?" "Oh, yes, very florid." "Old southwater postmark." "That's mrs." "Heron." "It's like her to frank it personal." "Right." "Gradman, bring me the trust file." "Very good, sir." "Let me know when it's ready, and I'll come in and sign." "No need for that,Jolyon." "We'll send it round to you." "Your man can witness your signature." "Very well." "Good day to you, James." "Well?" "He's changed his will." "I thought he might." "Nothing for Jo." "Nothing at all." "Cut right out?" " I didn't think he'd go that far." "He's very bitter." "I can't say I blame him." "Everything goes to june, in trust, of course, with a life interest for Frances." "That makes june a considerable heiress." "Have you any idea how much?" "No, no." "He keeps his business to himself." "But make no mistake, he's a warm man." "A warm man." "And so he should be." "He hasn't got my expenses." "I dare say." "Father, I've heard from mrs." "Heron." "What does she want?" "To see me." ""I have the most interesting news."" "It's pretty obvious what that it is." ""And as it will affect the trust, I should so much like to discuss it with you."" "She's asked me down to luncheon on saturday." "I suppose I shall have to go." "Well, it's your time, but don't waste it." "Nothing to be got out of them except fresh air.No, no, no." "You don't grow." "No, sir." "Thank you, sir." "Mrs. Heron's in the kitchen, but if you'll just mrs..." "Millie!" "Come here at once." "All right,I know the way." "Thank you, sir." "You're mr." "Forsyte." "I'm Irene Heron." "I interrupted you." "Forgive me." "Not a bit of it." "I can play all day long if I wish." "No, no,please go on." "You like schumann?" "So do I. Especially this piece." "He wrote it as a love song, you know, for clara." "This is the version by list, for the piano." "Won't you finish it?" "Of course." "You play very well,miss Heron." "Not a quarter as well as I'd like to." "And not a tenth as well as any good concert pianist." "There's plenty of time, surely." "You're still very young..." "Not young enough" "Mozart made his debut at five." "And mendelssohn at 10." "And now paderewski." "Have you heard him?" "No?" "I did, two months ago, in Paris.." "Is superbe." "So good it makes you despair." "People like that make you feel... oh, I don't know, as if they were born knowing all the technique the rest of us spend years trying to learn." "And then, if you please, they just go on getting better and better while we poor mortals limp further behind them." "But, forgive me... if you never feel that you're going to get anywhere near the top... you mean, why continue?" " Hm." "Why indeed, when the gap is so wide." "But mr." "Forsyte, you're a lawyer." "A clever one, my step mother says" "If that is true, so you must be ambitious, yes?" "Well, I... but will you ever become lord chancellor of England?" "That's not my, uh,line of country." "My ambition, such as it is, doesn't look in that direction." "But I see your point." "Of course you do." "Your talent is for the law." "Well and good." "Who cares if you never sit on the woolsack?" "Very uncomfortable that must be too, when you come to think of it." "But surely you must reach, even if you can't grasp." "I reach for what I know i can grasp." "I go on reaching until I get it." "Lucky you." "But in doing that, you...you extend yourself, don't you?" "And next time you stretch a bit further." "In music, it's the same." "I know." "I absolutely know i can never be a clara schumann or a paderewski." "But I have a small talent, so I must develop it." "After all, it's the only one I've got." "And you know what the bible says about burying talents." "My teacher in paris is quite amusing about that." ""Mademoiselle heron",he says." "I speak french perfectly adequately, you know, but he refuses to believe it." ""Mademoiselle Heron," ""somewhere deep, deep down," ""there may be some tiny spark." ""So we shall dig and dig," ""and one day perhaps, who knows?" ""Boom!" "A volcano."" "He's wrong, of course." "If I ever learn to play well enough to give pleasure to myself and perhaps to others, uncritical friends,that will be all." "Will that be enough?" "I don't know." "But I think I may have a gift for teaching." "Well, does that need any more than just application or hard work?" "Oh, I think so." "Indeed, I must hope so, because otherwise it would be plain drudgery." "You'd be satisfied with such a life?" " That I don't know yet." "But anything can happen." "Indeed, it can." "I, uh..." "I might find a new infant mozart, even here in southwater." "Why not?" "They have to come from somewhere, so why not here?" "That would be a joy." "Yes." "I think I could be satisfied with that." "Hm." "Life at secondhand." "That's hardly right for someone like you, if you'll forgive me for saying so." "How much longer have you got in paris?" "Nine months." "And then my diploma, I hope." "I go back next week." "Do you know Paris?" "A little." "Well, hardly at all." "It's wonderful." "I live in a convent, you know, on two pence a week." "And we're guarded everywhere we go, like..." "like ladies in a harem." "But still it's fun." "Something in the air." "Freedom, perhaps." "Don't you think that's the one really important thing?" "I've always considered it overrated." "Ah." "That's because you're a man." "You have it already." "My dear mr." "Forsyte, how can I apologize for keeping you waiting?" "No, I took an early train and walked along the front." "Delightful." "So invigorating." "That will be mr." "Lomax." "Well, at least you had irene to keep you company." "Has she played for you?" " A little." "She plays admirably." "There, I knew you'd think so." "Such a clever girlie." "Aren't you, my pet?" "Mr. Lomax, ma'am." "And lunch is ready." "Thank you, Millie." "Hello." "Hello, Forsyte." "How are you?" "I'm well,thank you." "I simply can't delay our news a moment longer," "Mr. Lomax and i are going to be married." "May I congratulate you both?" "Thank you." "Th it was all settled last week." "Mind you, though, it's been looming for some time." "So you see, there will be plenty to discuss after lunch." "Oh, yes, indeed." "Well, I must go and have a word with cook." "Willie, go along and attend to the wine." "Yes, certainly, my dear." "Irene, dear, will you bring mr." "Forsyte into the dining room?" "That's right." "Miss Heron..." "are you not pleased?" "About this wedding, I mean." "Of course." "My stepmama's been lonely since my father died." "And you?" "When you come back from paris, may I call to see you?" "If you wish." "I believe that have econcts down reduring the winter." "Perhaps we might go together." "Yes." "Yes, perhaps we might." "Now, shall we go in?" "Fair enough.That all sounds perfectly splendid, mr." "Forsyte.So clearly put too." "Don't you think so, willie?" "No, it may be clear to you, my dear, but it was all greek to me." "Nonsense, will you're not nearly so unworldly as you make out." "Is he, mr." "Forsyte?" "In my opinion, that would be nearly impossible." "You're not going, willie?" "Just a stroll down to the station with Forsyte,if he doesn't mind." "No, not at all." "A little breath of air after that magnificent luncheon." "Well, run along then." "Just a little point or two you might clear up for me." "Nothing much." "Just a question or so, eh?" "See you at tea time, then." "Yes, certainly, my dear." "Yes." "So good of you to come and give us your excellent advice." "And don't forget, we shall... we shall all be delighted to see you anytime if sea breezes" "Goodbye S. Heron." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Irene!" "Please attend when I'm speaking to you." "Yes?" "In one of your moods, I see." "I thought you were positively uncivil at luncheon." "I beg your pardon?" "I thought I was rather specially polite." "But you didn't say anything. "Yes" and "no."" ""Please" and "thank you."" "It's too bad of you, when in fact, you can talk quite intelligently if you wish." "I'm sorry." "That nice mr." "Forsyte, such a shy young man." "You could have helped a little bit." "I don't think he's shy." "Of course he is." "He hardly talked at all." "Well, that's because..." "I think it's because he only speaks when he's got something he's got to say." "But if we all behaved like that, there'd be no such thing as conversation." "Depends upon what you mean by conversation." "Irene!" "Not when I'm speaking to you, please." "Sorry." "Anyway, it didn't matter." "You and Mr Lomax.." "Somebody had to." "I only hope mr." "Forsyte didn't notice anything, well, odd." "Your being so silent, I mean." "Anyone would think you positively disliked him." "And even if you do..." "I don't dislike him." "He seems a kind-hearted person." "But I don't like him, either." "Why should I?" " Because he's useful to us,and will be more so." "He's an extremely valuable connection." "Is that why you like him so much?" "It never does any harm to have influential friends, as you'll find out, my girl, before you're much older." "The Forsytes are an important and a wealthy family." "I mean, really wealthy." "And what is more, I happen to know that this boy, Soames, is an only son." "Well, aunt, I must go now, but it's nice to see you looking so bobbish." "It was good of you to come, george." "An old lady has very few pleasures and I like to hear what the young ones are doing." "Their parents never tell me." "That's probably because they don't know." "And just as well too." "You're a wicked boy." "Up to all kinds of mischief, I'll be bound." "Where are you off to now?" "To my club." "I have to see a man about a horse." "Oh, that's, let me see." "yes, I remember now." "Your uncle Jolyon put up for it very many years ago but they wouldn't take him because he was in trade." "Oh, such nonsense." "He was as good as any of them." "Better than most, I'd say." "But, uh... yet they accepted jo, didn't they?" "Yes, aunt, they did." "Eton and cambridge, you see." "Yes." "Do you ever see...?" "I do, occasionally,my dear aunt, and we pass the time of day." "But if you want to know how he's managing to live on bread and cheese and kisses, I'm afraid i can't tell you." "Why?" "Because he doesn't confide in me." "And what's more, I shouldn't care for it if he did." "Thank the lord, I say, for decent english reticence." "But george..." "I know." "You've always had a soft spot for Jo." "I don't mind him myself, except that he's such a fool about women." "Now don't you be cynical about that." "It may happen to you one day." "But I hope not." "Nothing happens to me." "And if I can help it, nothing ever will." "George, do you know where jo is living?" "St. John's wood,I believe." "St. John's wood?" "That's not exactly..." "I know." "Not exactly Forsyte country, is it?" "But still, it's cheap." "Cheap?" " And quite close to lords too." "So if he ever gets fed up with, uh..." "how shall I put it?" "With "extramarital bliss he can always go and watch the cricket." "You're a wretch." "But you do me good." "Well, ann, we've had a delightful chat with Timothy." "Delightful." "And I must say, for a man who claims to be so poorly... he is poorly." "He's not himself at all." "He seems to be in the most robust health." "Well, there's a great deal of diphtheria in London, just now... quite an epidemic." "Yes, he's very anxious about it." "Then all I can say is it appears to suit him." "Well, goodbye,my dear aunt." "Oh, George." "Are you leaving?" " Immediately." "Oh, may I take you home?" "Thank you, dear." "will you be so good as to call a cab?" "I'll certainly call one." "Whether he'll answer is quite a different matter." "Dear George." "Such a droll." "And what news of the young couple?" " Oh, splendid." "They're dining with us tonight, and we're going to the opera." "Winifred's happy, then?" " Oh, blooming,I'm glad to say." "Sometimes she looks positively pretty." "A nice, sensible child." "Is there any sign yet?" " Oh, good gracios, no." "after all, Ann, they've only been married four months." "Monty, darling, don't be such a clown." "Now behave yourself." "We'll be late." "And you know how papa fusses if anyone's late." "Well, he's got nothing to be late for, I have." "Monty, please!" "I'll never get this done." "It's practically impossible, anyway." "Why men have to wear such things..." "corsets to you,my love." "All right." "But keep still, do." "Ah." "Monty." "Huh?" "Shall we tell them?" " About what?" "You know perfectly well about what." "Shall we?" "Well, if we tell your mother, the whole of London will know in 24 hours." "Do you mind?" " No, but... well, a fellow comes in for a lot of chaff." "Coulsn't we postpone it?" "We can not indefinitely" "Much as I like to spare your feelings, there comes a time." "I suppose so." "But tonight?" "Tonight." "I shall tell mama when we leave you after dinner, and if you care to break it to papa over your port...?" "There." "You look gorgeous." "Well, don't worry,he'll be delighted." "I dare say.But the troubles is, he'll go on about it.On and on." "Look, I think we'll just let your mother tell him after we've gone." "Then he can complain to her that nobody told him anything about it before it happened." "Now what do you say?" "All right, darling." "But you're an awful coward." "I know." "Now hurry up." "Freddie, my love." "There's a button loose on this." "Do you think you could get someone to fix it?" "Yes." "Do you want to wear it tomorrow?" " Yes, I'd like to." "Then I'll do it myself." "It won't take a minute." "Thank you." "Monty...please come here at once." "What's the matter?" "At this hour of the evening, Forsytes all over london are dressing for dinner." "Most of them slightly over-dressing, perhaps, whether for a party at home, or at some well-furnished table belonging to relatives or friends." "So the carriages roll up to the doors, and the coachman awaits his orders." "But behind these discreet and respectable façades, who knows what dramas may be reaching a crisis?" "Well, where did you get that from?" "It must have dropped out of your coat." "Is it true?" " Of course it's true." "Nobody sends a letter like that for the fun of it." "Five hundred pounds." "You owe these people 500 pounds." "Damn it, Freddie, they've had 300 out of me already... but that was months ago." "And now they're going to sue you for the rest." "Oh, Monty, how could you?" "How could I what?" "I had the money put aside, and then I hadn't." "Something else came up." "Hey!" "What are you doing?" " Taking them off, of course." "Except that I can'T." "Help me." "Why should I?" "Because they're not mine,that's why." "Do you think I go around wearing pearls that don't belong to me?" "You may be a criminal,but I'm not." "Look here.Steady on." "Don't you think it's a crime to buy things and not pay for them?" "Not if you pay in the end." "Fellows I know haven't paid their tailors for 20 years." "This is different." "And if you don't sit... they'll have to be sent back." "That's all there is about it." "Oh, Monty!" "Oh, come on now, freddie." "It isn't as bad as all that." "It is." "It is." "Yes, but I..." "It's worse!" "suppose they don't take them back and sue you anyway." "That's the last thing they'd do." "We can't give them up, you know." "I mean, think what the family would have to say." "They'd be bound to find out." "Oh, no." "Oh, yes." "Can't you really find the money?" "Well, I could..." "if it weren't for your father." "It's all his fault, really." "Papa's fault?" "Well, certainly." "Sewing up all my capital in the settlement like that." "But Monty, papa always says that nobody spends capital." "Yeah, well, that's all he knows." "Well, what are we going to do?" "I'll tell you." "Your papa is going to pay this little bill." "Never." "He'd have a blue fit." "Not him." "He knows a good investment when he sees one." "Pearls always appreciate." "Why, in six years, this necklace will be worth over a thousand." "And now, with a grandchild coming along, well, he'll want to be generous." "Do you really think...?" "You trust Monty." "Now, then... you put it to your mother, after you've told her about the child." "She'll soon talk the old boy around." "Why, it seems dreadfully wrong." "Rubbish." "Now dry your eyes, my chicken." "Yes, but...and look sharp about it." "But if... we don't want to upset anyone, do we?" "Not tonight of all nights." "The birth of a child in our family is normally an occasion for rejoicing, particularly if it should be a boy." "After all, a new male Forsyte is potentially an asset, a piece of property not to be sneezed at." "In our case, well, we rejoiced, and left it at that." "Ah." "Well?" "Another glass, doctor?" " No, thank you." "I'm on my way to another confinement." "It was good of you to look in again." "Not a bit." "I like to know how my patients are doing." "She's all right, isn't she?" "She's doing very well." "Delicate, of course,but organically sound." "And you've got a fine son." "Thanks to you." "You know better than that, don't you?" "Yours?" "Yes." "I had to do something." "Yesterday was a long day." "I like it." "I like it very much." "Thank you." "Do you sell any?" "Oh, I'm beginning to." "Not much, I'm afraid." "Then suppose we say two guineas?" "But doctor, that's your fee." "I'd sooner have the picture." "You're extremely kind." "But it isn't finished." "I... oh, well finish it, I'll pick it up the next time I'm here." "I always thought that I could paint, but I don't know, I never had the time." "Has your wife no mother?" "No, I'm afraid not." "A relation, perhaps?" "No, no." "There's a decent sort of woman, a mrs." "Hawkins." "I'll send her around in the morning." "Yes, six pence an hour, and all the tea she can drink." "I'm tremendously grateful to you, doctor." "Not a bit." "Not a bit." "Letter for you." "Ah." "Thank you." "Late delivery." "Goodbye now." "And look after that wife of yours." "She's a good, brave girl." "Bye, doctor." "Goodbye." "And..." "Don't wake him up." "Is the doctor gone?" "And he says you're a good brave girl, but ought n't you to be getting some sleep?" "Come on." "I am not tired at all now." "Oh, Jo, it's wonderful." "He's just had his supper, and you wouldn't believe how clever he is." "He seems to know all about it, much more than I do." "He takes all he wants, then four hiccups and he's fast asleep." "Really, seeps to be quite an experienced baby." "It's almost alarming." "Certainly it looks like he knows everything." "Nonsense." "He's beautiful." "And fresh and new." "And what's more,he enjoys being alive." "He's sort of jolly about it all." "So it should be." "Oh, darling,that's an idea." "You know he's the fifth Jolyon..." "I know." "You want to call him Jolly." "Well, Jolly." "Jolly for sure." "Then that's what he'll be." "Jolly." "You don't think he'll mind." "I mean, when he grows up?" " I don't see why." "People have the oddest names." "Especially in England." "What about Wolfgang, and Kurt and Sigmund, if you please?" "I grant you those." "But what about Soames?" "There's a name." "And Swithin.And what about Jolyon?" "All right, I surrender." "Hellen, I wrote to my father." "You did?" "I'm glad." "Then that's over." "What other news?" "Some good, some bad." "Which will you have first?" "The good." "The doctor bought the drawing I did yesterday." "oh, he's a kind man." "But he's got a bargain." "He doesn't think so." "Bread upon the waters." "Well, as you say,he's a kind man." "Mrs. Hawkins is coming to look after you, daily." "Jo, can we afford this?" "She lives on sixpence an hour and all the tea she can drink." "We can." "That's all the good, I'm afraid." "And the bad?" "I've had a letter from my wife's lawyer, mr." "Soames Forsyte,in answer to mine." "Yes?" "In no circumstances will mrs." "Jolyon Forsyte ever sue for a divorce." "So... oh, my darling..." "I did so want you to be my wife." "I am your wife." "Oh, yes, jo." "Now I really am your wife." "This is dated a month ago, the latest of how many?" "Three letters you've had from him?" " Yes." "Each one asking for a divorce." "Did you answer them?" "Not the first two." "Why not?" "Wouldn't it have been courteous?" " Perhaps, but I wasn't sure what to say or do." "I didn't want to commit myself." "Then this one arrived." "I consulted Soames, and he replied for me two days ago." "Finally closing the door?" "Yes." "May I ask what decided you?" "The more I thought about that woman, the more convinced I became that she wasn't the right wife for jo." "Well, supposing I allowed them to marry, and it didn't last?" "I'm sure it won't." "It can't last." "Well, what then?" "Another divorce?" "Another scandal?" "No, far better, I thought, to let this affair run its natural course." "Do you expect him to come back to you in the end?" "Would you wish it?" "I don't know." "In time, perhaps." "That's a pretty bleak prospect." "Well, I've had a letter too." "They've got a son." "Oh?" "Illegitimate." "That was inevitable, wasn't it?" "Whatever I did." "True enough, but suppose they have more children?" "If they do, they know what to expect." "They're human." "Yes, human." "Not animals." "They have the power to choose, as we all have." "If they choose to degrade themselves, to behave like animals, they do so with their eyes open, facing the consequences." "You're hard." "Realistic." "Well, I can't blame you." "Passion... it's a strange thing, no accounting for it." "However, Frances, right or wrong," "I support you in this." "Thank you.But what about yourself?" "You're a young woman." "You may find someone else." "You may want to marry again." "Oh, no." "Never." "Once is enough." "No, I'm sick of it, sick of the whole messy business." "No, we shall go down to Leicestershire, june and I." "You don't mean to live there?" "Yes." "Away from london and the clacking tongues, into the fresh air and the quiet countryside." "But June." "It'll do her all the good in the world." "Children shouldn't be brought up in cities." "The values are all wrong." "I shall miss her." "Well, we shall come up from time to time, of course." "But I'm sure it's for the best." "I dare say, if you think so." "I dare say." "May I call the carriage for you?" "Thank you, no." "I shall walk." "Well, you will bring little June up to see me before you leave London?" " Yes, of course." "Well, goodbye, papa." "And thank you for being so helpful." "Goodbye, Frances." "Try not to fret." "Perhaps it will all come right." "Help!" "I didn't want her to die." "I didn't." "You must have thought so, but I swear I didn't." "But she's dead, and I must be to blame." "I must be." "It's my fault." "No, my darling." "Oh, yes, it is!" "If it weren't for me, it wouldn't have happened." "But I promise you, jo, I swear to you, I didn't want her to die." "Oh, jo!" "Jo!" "Please." "Darling, please." "Well, there it is Jolyon." "They're married now, and there's no more to be said." "No more to be said." "Shall you see jo?" " No, I think not." "I can't bring myself to suggest it." "It would mean, in a way, condoning what's happened,and I couldn't do that." "No, dear, I do not think you could." "Anyway, jo shows no sign." "Stubborn." "I wrote to him, when I heard they were married, sent him a check for 500." "That was generous." "No." "I fancy they could do with it." "I don't know how they make ends meet." "Well, he sent it back,with a note." "Here, ann,I'll read it to you." ""My dearest father:" ""Your generous gift was welcome as a sign" ""that you might think worse of me." ""I return it,but should you think fit to invest it" ""for the benefit of the little fellow," ""we call him jolly, "who bears our christian and, by courtesy, our surname," ""I shall be very glad." ""I hope with all my heart that your health is good as ever." "Your loving son, Jo."" "And that is a generous letter." "Yes." "He always was an amiable chap." "And what about june?" "Ah, now I went down to leicestershire for the funeral." "Jo wasn't there." "Well, that would scarcely have been proper." "No, but I felt the family should be represented." "Indeed, yes." "I didn't care for it much." "Great rambling place they've got there." "Well, I spoke to the parents and it was settled that june should come back to me." "To you?" "They've got dozens of other grandchildren." "I haven'T." "I know, but... you think I'm too old to look after a child." "I'm not,not by a long chalk." "She's fond of me, I think." "Damn it, ann,it's my money she'll inherit." "But what will jo think about this?" "He wanted her of course, but I put a stopper on that." "It wouldn't be fitting,and I told him so." "I suppose you're right, but, Jolyon... it will put a barrier between you forever." "It was there already." "well, I'm off." "Now, take care of yourself." "Ann, you're the only one left i can talk to." "Oh, dear Jolyon." "Mr. Swithin Forsyte, ma'am." "Well, Ann..." "ah, Jolyon, we don't see much of you these days." "They tell me you've had some trouble." "Nothing that need concern you, swithin, though I'm obliged for your interest." "Good day to you." "He's getting a bit peppery." "You were not very tactful, swithin." "He's me own brother,isn't he?" "We've come to a pretty pass,what?" "Tactful with me own brother?" "Tactful, indeed." "You're alone." "Where's everyone got to?" " Timothy is having a little rest." "A rest from what?" " Timothy always has a rest after luncheon." "He takes good care of himself." "Hester's gone to sit with mrs." "Nicholas." "Her back is worse, you know." "Now, that's odd." "So is mine." "It catches me sometimes, just here." "Juley will be here in a minute." "She's taking a stroll in the park." "Oh, Smither, look." "This poor little dog has followed me all the way home from the park." "Oh, lawks, ma'am, a dog!" "He must be lost, and hungry." "What shall we do?" "Oh, poor little thing." "Shall I get cook to give it some scraps?" "Would you?" "Yes." "Come on, boy." "Shh!" "Be quiet, Smither, and be quick." "Juley?" "Oh, Timothy, you gave me such a fright." "Why?" "What have you been up to?" "I've just been on a pleasant walk in the park." "You shouldn't walk in the park alone." "Anything might happen." "Oh, what do you mean?" "I read in the papers that mr." "Gladstone often takes a little walk in the park." "Yes, that shows you." "Ann always says mr." "Gladstone has the highest principles, whatever his politics, and we should not judge him." "Judge him?" "I'd hang him." "Oh, Timothy, dear, that's not quite a nice thing to say on a sunday." "Better the day,better the deed." "Oh..." "what is that, a dog?" "There is a dog just around the corner at number nine." "That's not 'round any corner, it's downstairs." "Timothy..." "Juley, out with it." "Have you bought a dog?" "Certainly not." "It just followed me home." "followed you?" "And you let it in?" "You must be out of your mind." "Oh, it was so thin." "Cook's giving it some scraps." "Then cook must be out of her mind." "Feeding a dog, you'll never get rid of it." "I don't want to." "What?" "A stray mongrel?" "It might be bringing in fleas, for all we know." "No, it's very well-bred." "How do you know?" "You don't know a dog from a doormat." "Oh, Timothy." "It was a christian act." "Ha!" "And if you'd been to church, you wouldn't talk like that." "Well, take my advice and get it out of the house." "Dogs messing up the carpets, what next?" "And don't let me see it." "Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am." "It got away from me." "It's that agile." "Never mind, smither." "What sort of a dog is it?" "Would you happen to know?" "Hm." "Looks like a bit of yorkshire, ma'am." "Oh." "Good little doggy." "Did he eat his scraps?" " Every bite, ma'am." "Then I shall take him upstairs." "To the drawing room?" "Oh, lawks." "Whatever will miss ann say?" " Now..." "There." "I said it was inside the house." "Juley!" "Good lord." "It is a dog." "Has Timothy seen it?" " No, but he knows it's here." "Has he had a fit?" " Not yet." "He was lost in the park, and he followed me home." "Without an intro...?" " Without your inviting him?" "I spoke to him because he was lost." "You should think before you speak." "Dogs take advantage." "Well, I'm glad, and that's flat." "Such a how-dee-doo." "Come here." "Let's have a look at you." "Why, it's a bitch." "Swithin, I do not think you should call it that in a drawing room." "Stuff and nonsense." "It's a puppy." "Title tyke." "Go on, you go over there." "Ring the bell." "Juley, stop it." "Oh, disgraceful." "Smither must take it to the police station at once." "No." "I want to keep him..." "her, I mean." "Where's Timothy?" "I should like to see her bite his legs." "Go on!" "Find Timothy!" "Oh, no." "She's mine." "She's mine." "Come along." "And what will you do with the puppies?" "Ten to one she'll have pups." "Puppies, indeed." "A little thing like this." "Well, she ought to be worth something." "I should advertise, if I were you." "There might be a reward." "Well, Ann, I'm off." "Nicholas asked me to look in." "Goodbye, Juley." "You come for a drive one day." "I'll take you to the lost dogs home." "There you sit, Ann." "Little dogs of that sex are not to be trusted." "You ought to know that at your age." "But now that we are alone, I can speak freely." "It will have followers." "I want to keep her." "But we've never had a dog." "I don't want you to have one now." "I want her." "I want something human." "I mean... well, if I can't keep her here, I shall go away and take her with me." "And that's flat." "I think you should take a dose of sal volitale, getting into fantods like this." "And you know you cannot leave here." "You have not got the money, so it is no good talking like that." "I'll put an advertisement in the paper, and if the owner comes, I'll give it up." "But if not i'll ask Jolyon for the money." "He won't let you bully me." "You forget yourself." "I do not think I bully you." "I'm upset." "I didn't mean... dear Ann... but I do so want the little dog." "Very well, dear." "It will be a sacrifice, but if it will make you happier... subject, of course, Juley, to James' opinion." "We must be quite sure of the legal situation." "Warmson." "Sir?" " Tell cook, an excellent sweet..." "thank you, sir." "But I like it browner." "Yes, sir." "A little more, Winifred?" " No, thank you, mama." "Well, I had a letter this morning from the police." "The requisite number of days are up, and Juley can keep her dog." "Oh, go though what she wants with a dog at her age, I don't know." "What else should she want, at her age?" "Monty." "Why shouldn't she keep it without all this business?" "Police, indeed." "Because legally,she was committing an offense." "Even now, if the real owner... no, I think we've covered every possibility." "It would surprise me if you hadn'T." "Well, I don't know.I can't tell." "Have you told her yet?" "I thought we might drive around to Timothy's this afternoon." "Does he know about it?" "Will you come, Soames?" " If you'll forgive me, no." "I have a train to catch, and if I'm not going to miss it, I..." "train?" "What train?" "You know perfectly well what train, dear." "I told you myself Excuse me." "I'll be back tomorrow evening, mother." "Yes, dear." "Thank you, warmson." "A fine thing, rushing off down there every weekend." "I don't know." "It's perfectly natural, dear." "You were young yourself once." "What's that got to do with it?" " Everything I should imagine." "There's a girl in it somewhere, I'll be bound." "Girl?" "What girl?" " A miss Heron, I believe." "Soames has mentioned her once or twice." "Oh, that won't come to much." "She hasn't a penny," "I know for a fact." "Soames has more sense, he..." "Soames will do the right thing, you may be be sure of that." "Now, we shall leave you two to your wine." "Well, speaking of money, winifred, I shall increase your allowance, when the child is born, by 300." "Oh, James, dear,that is kind." "Oh, indeed, sir.It was most generous." "It would have been more, but as you know, I've had a lot of extra expense lately,what with..." "James.You promised not to mention that again.Winifred?" "Darling." "Monty..." "dear..." "I think you'd better take me home." "Ring for warmson." "The carriage." "Wouldn't a cab be quicker?" " Whatever's quickest,darling, you get it." "I'm sure we shouldn't want your child to be born in the street." "Good gracious me." "In the street." "Hurry, Monty." "Never mind, warmson." "No, wait." "Has mr." "Soames left the house?" " Yes, sir." "I knew how it would be." "We must have him back." "Papa, for goodness sake, what for?" "He ought to be here." "What nonsense, James." "I shall telegraph at once to that infernal place, what-you-may-call-it." "You'll do no such thing." "Let him be." "There's absolutely nothing Soames can do, or you either, for that matter." "Now come along, winifred." "You can sit in the hall until the cab comes." "Thank you, warmson, but I'm perfectly all right." "Careful, dear eh?" "Wonderful." "Didn't you think it wonderful?" "Marvelous." "So young and so brilliant." "Don't you agree?" "Hm?" " Yes, of course." "Soames, I believe you were half-asleep." "No, that's unfair." "And impossible, with all that going on." "Heroic, wasn't it?" " And I do agree." "He's very skillful." "He's... great concentration and precision." "Quit yes, but all good pianists must have those qualities." "Didn't you feel there was more?" "More?" "Subtlety of phrasing, delicacy of touch, a deep understanding of what beethoven intended." "But more even than that, I..." "I don't quite know how to describe it." "It's foolish of me to try and put into words something you either feel or you don'T." "But I believe i'm talking about love." "Love?" "I think so." "A great love for the thing itself, for the music." "And it's so strong in him that it... that it reaches out and gathers you in to be a part of it." "It possesses you, and you surrender, totally, completely." "And when it's over, you feel you've given something too, and you're... well, you're content." "Do I sound stupid?" "No, not at all." "But music... oh, poor Soames." "I'm ridiculously intense about it, and it's a shame, when you so generously take me out to concerts." "I hope I may take you to many more." "Of course you may." "And I'll come look at paintings with you in solemn galleries, and you can tell me how you feel when you look at a Rembrandt." "That is, if there are any rembrandts in southwater, which I very much doubt." "No...but there are one or two stubbs, and I think I've spotted a John Crome." "If the price is right..." "Soames?" "Don't talk of buying things." "Have a chocolate." "No." "Irene, I have to go back to london tonight." "Oh, so soon?" "But I hope to see you again soon." "I had a telegram from my father." "Not bad news?" "Oh, no, no, no." "Nothing like that." "Quite the contrary." "Oh, good." "My sister... my sister winifred has had a son." "Come on, George." "No heel-taps." "Let's have another." "So, my brave one... when you celebrate, you celebrate." "I should jolly well think so too." "Here!" "Eh... eh... hey!" "Next time we'll celebrate at your club." "Meanwhile, pipe down." "Two more of the same,please, Meyrick." "i say, it's a pretty state of affairs." "Can't buy me own cousin-in-law a drink,on a celebrated occasion." "It hurts me more than it hurts you." "As the nag said to the jockey." "But as a man of the world, and I am a man of the world, george, don't you forget it." "What's more, I'm a married man of the world." "Now you should get married, George." "Oh, not I. Greatest little woman." "Here's to freddie." "Here's to dear... extraordinary thing." "I'll tell you what, George." "Let's have another." "Good idea." "After all, it isn't every day a fellow has a son." "And damn me, there's another fellow who's had a son." "Extraordinary coincidence." "Shake hands, Forsyte." "Excuse me." "No, no." "You've got to sit down and have some brandy." "Everybody's got to have so to celebrate an extraordinary coincidence." "Your friend's a little noisy tonight, isn't he?" "Not too noisy for me." "Oh, you... you don't want to drink with us, eh?" "Oh, you're quite right too." "I don't blame you." "After all, there's nothing to be proud of in your son, wrong side of the blanket, what?" "Hear you've married the girl though, more fool you." "Manners, Dartie, manners." "I shouldn't." "He'd eat you." "Oh, thank you, Meyrick." "I hear they're calling their boy Jolly." "Seems a trifle cynical to me, in the circumstances." "Thank you, sir." "What's yours going to be?" "Haven't the faintest idea." "Freddie wanted something distinguished, you know, classical." "Well, what about caesar augustus?" " Don't be an ass." "I know." "Call him Cato." "Cato?" "That's not a name." "I won a tenner yesterday on a nag called Cato." "Here, wait a jiffy." "Damned if I'm going to call my son after a horse." "I'm damned if I am." "Here we are, in the roman stud-book." "Cato, Publius Valerius Cato, by virgil out of lydia." "If you don't like Cato..." "I don't somehow." "Then call him Publius Valerius." "There's a name that's got the right classical ring to it." "Publius..." "I think Freddie might rather like that." "But why not James?" " Wouldn't the old man...?" "Ah, no, now that's reserved." "Reserved?" " Yeah." "You mean there's another colt on the way somewhere?" "Not that I know of." "But I tell you what, me old george, that fellow Soames has got a look in his eye." "Gracious me, girl,where have you been?" " Out for a walk." "Why?" "I didn't know." "Should I have told you?" "I'm sorry." "Not here." "Go upstairs directly and make yourself look nice." "Why?" "What's happening?" " Mr. Forsyte's here." "Soames." "Is that all?" "He's come especially to see you." "Well, at least tidy your hair, and give me that." "Why aren't you with him?" "Because Millie's out, and I'm making the tea." "Now go along in, and don't be aggravating." "Be nice." "You can be if you wish." "Soames?" "I'm out here." "I had no idea you were in southwater." "No, I...it was an impulse." "That's not like you, to be impulsive." "May we sit down?" "Why not?" "You're quite right,of course." "I'm not impulsive." "I think before I speak." "And I think again before taking action." "But today... ah, today the sun is shining and all the daffodils are out." "It's spring, Soames, and even you can't resist that." "Even I?" "I'm a man like other men." "But more cautious than most." "I should hope so." "As I explained to your stepmother, if I am successfulin my profession, and I'm beginning to be, it's because people trust me with their secrets and their business." "I'm discreet,and I don't give advice until I'm sure of my facts." "A lawyer who has these principles and who works hard, is bound to do well and make a lot of money." "Of course you'll do well, Soames." "It's impossible to doubt it... even now..." "I needn't go on." "It's strange." "i've never heard you speak of yourself before." "No, I don'T." "But I must to you." "Because I want you to understand my position, the position I can offer you." "Offer me?" "Well, Irene... you must have guessed." "Surely, you must know I love you." "From the very first moment, since the day I came through that door and saw you for the first time, it was as if I'd known you all my life." "For six months I had no peace." "I dreamt about you day and night." "And then when you came back, and I saw you again, so beautiful, more beautiful than before, I knew there could be nobody else." "No other woman could be my wife." "No other shall be." "Irene..." "no, Soames!" "No." "Don't touch me." "Please." "Irene." "I suppose I'm a fool." "I should have known." "You've been so attentive and kind to me." "But I never thought... you must have done!" "A man isn't attentive to a woman for nothing." "I thought women had an instinct about these things." "Yes, and I have too." "Other men have... have wanted me, and I've always known, so I could draw back at once and they've been discouraged." "But between us, I've felt nothing." "Nothing?" "No." "And perhaps that's why I'm certain we should never marry." "I don't accept that." "You must." "In time, now that you're aware that I love you..." "No!" "If I hurt you, I'm sorry." "Truly, I am, because I admire you and respect you." "You'll be a good husband, but not for me." "If I sound immodest, Soames, please forgive me." "I've had to work things out for myself since I was quite young." "I know very little about love, but all girls think about it." "Some think of nothing else." "I'm not one of them, but I've learned this." "When a man shows interest in a woman, the woman knows it because in her there is some response, whoever he is." "If he persists, the response can grow or die away." "If it grows, then she falls in love." "If she likes and admires him as well, then she'll move heaven and earth to get him." "Then a man must persist." "Yes, but if the original spark isn't there,there's nothing to grow." "Don't you see that?" "No, I don'T.I think very few women know about love until after they're married." "Yes, and what a risk they take." "I'm sure it's possible to know." "Soames, you remember the Beethoven concerto we heard together?" "I do." "Well... and I remember every word you said." "Because I spoke of love, and you were already in love with me." "But that was only music." "If marriage can't do that, that and a hundred times more, then marriage is not for me." "I've said this before." "I'll say it again." "I don't accept your refusal." "I shall never accept it." "Please don't make it so hard for us both." "I can't marry you, Soames." "We shall see." "Well, really, my dear child," "I don't know what you think you're doing." "To refuse a man once is perfectly proper, indeed, one is almost obliged to refuse him the first time." "But twice!" "Why, it's tempting providence." "Not that I hold any brief for the chap." "Not my sort at all." "Too damn close, if you know what I mean." "But I tell you straight, girl, if you turn him down, you're a fool." "And before he's finished, if I'm any judge, he'll be stinking rich." "It's charming." "Quite charming." "You are a lucky girl." "You're not suggesting for a minute that I should keep it." "Keep it?" "Why not, dear?" "Why not?" "You know perfectly well why not." "I shall send it back directly." "I love you, Irene." "Nothing can prevent me from loving you." "Whatever you ask of me,you shall have." "Whatever conditions you make," "I'll agree to and abid as hold me but you must marry me." "I shall never stop asking you until you consent." "I've no patience with you." "There you sit, playing the piano." "There's nothing else i'd rather do." "One word, and you could be mistress of a fine house in london." "All the servants you need, good clothes, jewels, a carriage of your own, theatres, the opera, London society open to receive you, and a husband that any girl, any girl, could be proud of." "Now just tell me, once and for all, what's wrong with you?" " Nothing." "Then what's wrong with him?" " Again, nothing." "He's everything you say, but... but you don't love him." "No." "Then you'd better learn how to, him or some other man." "Because I tell you frankly, irene, there will be no home for you here." "You're not my child." "Thank God." "You dare to say that, after all I've tried to do for you." "But let it pass,I'm not vindictive." "As you know, the lease of this house will be up in 6 months, and we shall move to bradford." "Mr. Lomax will be engaged in business there." "Now you may come with us or not, as you please." "Thank you." "I shall not come." "Perhaps you have forgotten." "Until you're 21," "I am still your legal guardian." "I hadn't forgotten." "So that when I said, as you please, I meant, naturally, subject to your marrying." "If you don't, of course, you'll come with us." "And I shall put up with your moods and tantrums until you come of age." "After that, your future is your own affair." "And I shudder to think what it may be." "I will not come with you." "Well, as I say, the choice is yours." "But don't be a silly girl." "Chances like this don't come every day,you understand." "And I know what my choice would be." "Crying?" "Oh, come now, little girl, that won't do." "There's no need for that at all." "You're far to pretty to cry over a chap like that." "He's not worth it,you can take my word." "A cold, legal sort of fellow, now that's not the kind of man for you, and you know it,don't you, eh?" "That's why you'll have nothing to do with him." "Well, I don't blame you." "Money's not everything, what?" " Oh, no, no, no,don't run away." "And don't pay any attention to the wife." "She doesn't know what's in you, but I do." "Please let me go." "No, not a bit of it." "You've got warm blood in you, but it takes a man to rouse it, a real man." "I know what a girl like you needs, damned if I don't, and I'll see you get it." "You'll forget about Forsyte." "You come along northwith us, lovey, and we'll have a lot of fun together, hm?" "Hey, come back!" "Irene?" "What's the matter?" "Irene!" "Irene!" "Irene." "What happened?" "Soames..." "I don't love you." "I don't think i can ever love you, but in one of your letters, you said that if I made conditions, you would agree to them." "I meant what I said." "Do you really think it possible to marry with conditions or reservations?" " I don't know.I'm prepared to try." "What is it you want?" "If I marry you, Soames," "I'll do my utmost to be a good and loving wife to you, in every way that a woman should." "But this is my condition:" "I have no right to impose it upon you, none at all, but I must." "If I should fail...you won't fail." "But if I should, then I will ask you to let me go." "To set me free again, in whatever way these things can be arranged." "You must promise me now that if I ask you this, you will agree." "Will you swear it?" "I swear it, on my honor." "Then I will marry you." "With this ring,I thee wed." "With this ring, I thee wed." "With my body, I thee worship." "With my body, I thee worship." "And with all my worldly goods, I thee endow." "With all my worldly goods, I thee endow." "Those whom god hath joined together, let no man put asunder." "It has been remarked before that nothing happens in the closed circle of the Forsyte family without, in due course, every member getting to hear of it." "The account they receive may be garbled, but once it has been sifted out and notes compared on Forsyte 'change... it may be regarded as pretty accurate." "Now, a Forsyte doesn't give away anything for nothing, especially his own secrets." "So where does this information come from?" "Forsytes are forever asking each other this question." "Naturally, they ignore the servants, that numerous body of trained observers who attend to nearly every detail of their personal lives." "Keeping them warm and mobile and extremely well-fed." "And they forget, if ever they knew, that these servants are human beings much like themselves," "with loves and hopes and fears, and just as much relish for gossip, particularly about their masters." "How otherwise could it be known that my cousin Soames and his beautiful wife, Irene, after two years ardent courtship, and four of marriage, are not exactly the most blissful couple south of the park?" ""They tell me", says aunt Juley to aunt Hester... they tell me but don't breath a word,you know what people are." "Not a word." "They say that dear Irene has asked dear Soames for a separate room." "Never." "It may be true, but it's hardly an item of news that Irene, far less Soames, would be likely to circulate." "Being an outcast, with only a daily mrs." "Hawkins," "I am immune." "But my daughter..." "miss June Forsyte." "Whom I haven't seen for nearly 8 years, has now reached the interesting age of 17." "And the tongues are ready to start clacking." "Dear girl." "Dear little girl." "Aunt Hester." "Ah, dear." "Aunt Juley." "Dear little girl." "Is she engaged or is she not engaged?" "I can't seem to get a straight answer." "Then you must wait, mustn't you, dear, like the rest of us." "I do so love to see you children." "And it was good of you, June, to think of coming here this afternoon." "Particularly when everybody says you're so affairée." "What is he like, your young man?" "I don't know if I should..." "June, you know we're all simply dying to hear about him." "Is he handsome?" "Well..." "of course he is." "All young men are, unless they're positively repulsive." "Well, no,I don't think he's handsome." "I'm delighted to hear it." "Handsome men are usually slightly conceited." "He's not that either." "Well, I'm disappointed." "If a man hasn't good looks..." "all I can say is you won't be disappointed when you see him." "He'S... he's different." "Different?" "Different from what,dear, may I ask?" "From the usual run." "Ah he's not glossy or smooth or flirtatious." "He's not interested in clothes or social occasions or grand dinners or possessions and money." "Why, he once lived for a week on cocoa." "Oh, dear me, how very odd." "I hope he won't ask you to live on cocoa." "He sounds delightful, if a trifle eccentric." "He's odd." "Eccentric." "Not a bit, he's just sensible and intelligent." "Now, now, now." "Stop badgering the child." "What is his name, dear?" "Philip, Philip Bosinney." "Bosinney." "What an unusual name." "Oh, I like it." "It's original." "Original?" "Unusual." "And what is his profession?" "He's an architect." "Indeed." "Your great-grandfather used to employ architects sometimes." "He built a large number of houses, you know." "And very profitably too." "But June, what does uncle Jolyon say?" "Has he met mr." "Bosinney?" " Yes." "And what does he say to all this?" "Nothing yet." "That's why I must go soon." "Philip is seeing my grandfather this afternoon." "Mr. Bosinney, sir." "Good afternoon, sir." "Well, Bosinney, you're in excellent time." "Don't you rather approve of punctuality?" "What?" "Yes, I do." "So I should imagine." "And that being so, wouldn't it be stupid, as well as discourteous, if I were late?" "Whatever else you may be, sir, you do not strike me as being stupid." "I'm obliged to you, sir." "Will you sit down?" " Thank you." "Cigar?" " No, thank you, sir." "Cigars are not what they were, but these... are not bad." "Now, to business." "Excuse me, sir." "Yes?" " Will you not sit down?" "I'm at a disadvantage." "You're a cool customer." "Far from it." "I'm as nervous as a cat." "And you know it." "This is your house, and a very grand house it is, if I may say so." "It's a little vieux jeu, perhaps, but that's natural." "You're the master of it, and all that implies, while I am the humble petitioner." "Do you really need the extra authority of the hearth rug?" "The added advantage, as it were, in military terms,of the high ground?" "You take the offensive." "Why?" " Because my position is weak." "If I don't attack, I may be lost." "I have no reserves." "You know what I think?" " What?" "You're taking the wrong line." "Don't be aggressive." "I'm not your enemy." "And to prove it, I'll give you a glass of my old Madeira." "My father used to swear by Madeira." "I believe he considered it the wine of the aristocracy." "He, of course,was not an aristocrat." "He made money." "But he was right about Madeira." "It is the aristocrat of wines." "There." "Now we're on equal terms." "Never that." "How do you find it?" "Oh, it's excellent." "Thank you." "Then may I continue?" "Am I right in saying you met my granddaughter at the house of your uncle, Baynes, the architect?" "The alleged architect." "That is a matter of opinion." "I understand that he makes a good living out of his profession, and that's as much, surely, as a man is expected to do." "If he's a greengrocer, yes." "You worked in his office, I believe, after qualifying." "Why did you leave?" "To better myself." "I beg your pardon?" "My uncle's preoccupation with neo-gothic town halls was driving me slowly insane." "Indeed." "I assure you." "And so I took a knapsack and I walked around europe for six months studying some real architecture." "Foreign stuff, eh?" "That won't get you far in england." "Well, that depends what you mean by far." "I mean, sir,acceptance in your profession, and, uh, the working up of a practice." "I take that to be your intention, now that you've set up on your own." "Yes." "Well, let me give you a piece of information." "We'll not regard it as advice." "People who want things built:" "Houses, town halls, station hotels, whatever you like, are the people with money." "People without money do not employ architects." "What follows from that?" "That an architect must.." "to the rich..." "I would only suggest that he need not bite their hands off, whatever his private feelings." "That brings me back to June." "I understand that you wish to marry her." "I do, sir." "And she, on her part..." "Let's leave her emotions out of it." "I've had enough of those in the past weeks." "You interest me much more, at the moment." "Why do you want to marry her?" "There are two ways of answering that... unfair question." "Unfair?" "Well, I can give you the conventional truth, that I'm in love with June, all the more so because she loves me." "Because she's the only girl I've ever wanted to marry." "Because of her decency, her loyalty, her honesty." "And because I should want her for my wife if, instead of being an heiress, she hadn't had a penny in the world." "Or I could tell you that at this stage in my career, it would be useful for me to marry money." "At the very least, a connection with your family could only be of advantage." "And that I persuaded your charming granddaughter to fall in love with me simply towards that end." "Now, the point is not which story is the true one, but which you choose to believe." "And tell me which are you most likely to believe, whatever I say?" "And that's why I call it an unfair question." "I am interested in one thing only:" "June's happiness and security." "And so am I. Then for once we agree." "What's your present situation?" "Financially?" " Mm." "I have two consulting appointments at 20 pounds a year each and a secured annuity of 150 from my father's estate." "You live on that?" "At the moment, yes." "You wouldn't expect june... oh, no, hardly." "We can't marry yet, I realize that." "But there's a commission or two in the offing..." "excuse me." "Not my way to beat about the bush." "I don't know you, and from what you've said," "I'm inclined to distrust your views." "Too up in the air for me." "But you're a clever fellow,I can see that." "And with June beside you, you may do well." "She's got a mind of her own, and if she sets her heart on something, she'll have it." "So I agree to this engagement... thank you." "On one condition." "Whatever you say." "No talk of marriage until you can show me you're earning 400 a year." "Sir?" "Ah, Parfitt." "Has miss June come in yet?" "I think not, sir." "Here she is now, sir." "Well, gran?" "Mr. Forsyte... has agreed to our engagement." "Oh, Phil!" "Oh, gran." "On one condition." "What condition?" "That before we marry, I must earn 400 a year." "But that's nothing." "You'll manage that in no time at all." "This is going to be a very short engagement." "Thank you, gran." "Thank you." "You're so good to me." "Mm." "That remains to be seen." "Phil, shouldn't you go home and change?" "Your aunt's expecting us at 7:00." "Are you dining with mrs." "Baynes tonight?" "It was arranged days ago, gran." "Oh, your uncle has forgiven you?" "Not bad for an alleged architect." "Forgiven you for what?" "Well, my aunt is a charitable woman." "She thinks I need regular nourishment." "What does gran mean?" "Goodbye, sir." "Goodbye." "And thank you again." "Don't keep her out too late." "She wears herself to nothing." "He'll look after me." "I'll see you to the door, phil." "That's a good boy." "Come on, then." "Are they off, then?" "Oh, yes, jo." "So funny and so touching." "Jolly on one side, very manly, in charge of the party, striding along, planting his heels, you know the way he does." "And Holly, on the other side of mrs." "Hawkins, very quiet and demure, but excited inside, you know?" "Yes, I know." "And mrs." "Hawkins in the middle, stiff like a lamppost, and so proud in her best hat." "It was a very ugly hat." "Maybe we should have gone too." "Oh, no." "Not on mrs." "Hawkins' birthday." "It's her treat." "Madame Tussaud's waxworks and tea afterwards in Baker street." "We'd only spoil things for them." "Well, I hope she doesn't take them to the chamber of horrors." "Of course not." "I made her promise not to." "Then she won't." "Darling, why do you persist in calling her mrs. 'Awkins, when she has a perfectly good "h" to her name?" "Because she calls herself "'awkins", or rather, she calls her husband "mr. 'Awkins", so that's what they're called." "What's an h, after all?" " My name is Helene.No "H."" "But everybody except you, my darling, calls me Helen." "There's a sort of mad logic about that, I suppose." "Oh, I like that." "You paint better and better." "I do not." "I paint worse and worse." "Except, well, every now and then, I seem to catch a little something... but mostly I despair." "Look." "I'm trying to paint light in watercolor." "The sky." "Now, nobody's really been able to paint skies since the early italians, and they used tempera." "So why don't you?" "Because we can't afford the eggs." "Oh, jo, I could catch as many eggs as..." "No, my darling, no." "I'm only joking." "No, I haven't the talent,that's why." "Jo, something's happened." "You're upset." "No, not a bit." "Oh, yes." "I can feel it." "Tell me." "A little bit of the past has emerged, as it will from time to time." "Your father?" "The morning post,four days old." ""An engagement is announced between mr." "Philip Bosinney and miss June Forsyte, granddaughter of mr." "Jolyon Forsyte."" "Granddaughter." "Granddaughter." "Why not daughter?" "Oh, Jo, they should have told you." "They should." "Whatever's happened,she's your daughter." "How can they be so cruel?" "Helene, now believe me, I have no feeling for it,none at all." "My family, even June, they mean nothing." "All that's over, many, many years ago." "I have you, Jolly and little Holly and mrs. 'Awkins." "Don't laugh at me, jo." "I shall not be laughed at." "My darling, I'm trying to point out how unimportant it all is." "What else should we do but laugh?" "We should be angry, as I am," "at the way your father treats you." "I can never forgive him, and god help me,Jo, I can never forgive myself." "I brought it myself because I wanted yours to arrive first." "That was kind, but I'm rather cross with you, all the same." "Why?" "What have I done?" "Well, for one thing, you've grown up all of a sudden." "I couldn't help that." "No, but you might have warned me you were going to." "And now you're engaged, to a perfectly charming young man, I'm sure." "And I haven't been allowed to meet him." "Nobody's met him yet except grandpapa." "You'd have been the first, you know you would." "I tried to arrange it several times, but, well, Phil hates social things." "Calls at homes and things like that." "I hope he's going to appear at this one." "He will, if I have to fetch him myself." "Is it as bad as that?" " Of course not." "He's really very good at it, when he likes." "He talks extremely well if he's interested." "But it's just that I think he believes... perhaps he believes there are more important things than social gossip." "Yes, that's it." "That's it exactly." "What things, for instance?" "Well, he's an artist, and I think artists look at everything from a special point of view." "Somehow they have to concentrate more." "That's very true." "They have to know more." "I mean, about the shape and essence of things." "Phil's interested, deeply interested, in the structure of materials." "Stone and wood and glass and cement and so on." "He has to know how they can all be matched and fitted together into... what's the word he uses?" " Harmony." "A decent harmony." "Without this, he says, there can be no beauty." "I'm awfully stupid about explaining it." "No." "No, go on." "What else does he say?" "Well, he says that if you spend a lot of time thinking about material structures, how to create beauty in that sense, then you begin to see that life itself, the whole of life, ought to be built around the same idea, the beauty of harmony." "If we don't think like that, we might as well be dinosaurs swilling about in the primeval swamp." "In fact, he says, most of us are." "He's not far wrong." "So those are the things your philip likes to talk about." "Oh, that's just a weak sort of glimmering." "When you meet him, you'll realize how feeble I am at expressing his thoughts." "I'll look forward to it." "At least it'll be a change from the chitchat at uncle Timothy'S." "That stuffy lot." "And whatever the family may say," "I think you're lucky to find such a man." "I know I am." "And you love him?" " With all my heart and soul." "And body?" "And body." "I'm glad." "We've spoken a little of this before." "Well, you've had no one else." "I won't talk of my own situation." "I believe you understand something of it,though not all." "Not all, and I pray to god you never will because to understand a life such as mine, you have to live it." "But if you have any doubt in any way, if you feel there's the slightest chance that you can't give yourself completely to Philip, rejoicing in the gift, then I beg of you, June,do not marry him." "I have no doubts." "Then I'm very happy for you." "Irene..." "what?" " Is there nothing you can do?" " No." "No, I don't think there is." "Look." "This shall go on our chimney-piece." "You won't have to come and fetch me." "Well..." "June." "Well..." "Soames." "I believe you're to be congratulated." "I'm sure I am." "And he's an architect,they say." "Do they say he's a good one?" "As to that, I wouldn't know." "I've never heard of him." "You will." "You're home early, Soames." "Shall I ring for tea?" "Not for me, Irene, thank you." "I promised grandpapa I'd be home early." "But I should like some." "Very well." "Goodbye, Soames." "Goodbye." "You rang, sir?" "Bilson, would you please bring mr." "Forsyte some tea?" "Certainly, madam." "In here?" "In here, Soames?" "Please." "Very good, sir." "What did June want?" "Must everybody want something?" "In my experience, they usually do." "Well, perhaps." "She came to talk to me about her lover." "I don't know what uncle Jolyon's thinking about." "The fellow has no position,no money." "He's a regular bohemian, they tell me." "Artistic." "Oh, they're all alike, these people." "No standards, no balance about them." "Well, that makes two of them." "She's just the same." "Soames, you do amuse me sometimes." "Oh you're always buying paintings." "There's at least 20 upstairs in your study, and you spend hours looking at them." "Who do you imagine created them, the dealers you buy them from?" "I buy good work because I know it will appreciate in value." "Perhaps mr." "Bosinney's work will too." "But you'll wait until he's dead." "June tells me he's clever." "What does she know about anything?" "I think you're seeing far too much of that young flibbertigibbet." "Where are you going?" "I have things to do upstairs." "I'd prefer you to stay here." "Very well." "Oh, yes, you have plenty of time for your friends, but when I come home, you..." ""to meet mr." "Philip bosinney."" "Well, we shall have to go,I suppose." "Though what the family's going to make of him, I don't know." "There must be something about the fellow, otherwise uncle Jolyon would never... aren't we dining with the Rogers' tonight?" "Yes." "Tell Bilson I'll have tea upstairs in my study." "Well, my dear." "I hear you've added to your brood since I last saw you." "Oh, yes, indeed, uncle." "Let's see, there's val, Isobel... no, Imogen." "And...?" "And Maud." "That's a fine old english name." "Dartie, you must be proud of your wife." "Certainly, sir." "We're very proud of each other." "Well,the more the merrier." "As the bookie said...where's June?" " Oh, yes,she's over there." "I'm looking forward so much to meeting mr." "Bosinney." "Come along, Monty." "Mr. And mrs." "Tweetyman." "The old boy seems to think we're running a stud, what?" "Monty, sh!" "June!" "winifred and Monty." "How nice." "Philip, this is my cousin winifred Dartie and her husband, Monty" "At last, mr." "Bosinney." "June's been keeping you very dark." "What nonsense." "And I can't say I blame her." "You are different." "Is that a compliment?" " What else?" "June, dear, I must ask... you keen on racing?" "Racing what?" "Miss Forsyte." "Ann, my dear." "Jolyon." "You were able to come." "Miss Hester Forsyte." " Mrs. Small." " Don't wait for Juley." "She always lags behind." "Parfitt." "Madam?" " Parfitt, come here." "Parfitt, look." "A strange cat." "How could you permit such a thing?" "Shoo." "Shoo." "It doesn't budge." "Excuse me, madam." "That is a hat,not a cat." "Rubbish, man." "Oh." "Is it?" "But who would come calling in a hat like that?" "Mr. Bosinney, madam." "Mr...?" "Oh." "Extraordinary." "So you're off to wales for a whole month to stay with your aunts, I believe, mr." "Bosinney." "Yes, my mother's sisters." "Ah." "You'll get a lot of rain down there, I shouldn't wonder." "Your grandfather is going to miss you, June." "Yes.." "Oh." "Oh, thank you very much." "Thank you." "And how are you, uncle James?" " Poorly, thank you." "This isn't real old worcester." "Now, that set I gave your mother when she married was the genuine thing." "It'll keep it's price." "I'll see you when I come back." "Yes, dear." "Philip?" "Everybody's been most kind, coming to congratulate her." "She ought to be very happy." "I can't say." "That young Bosinney's a pauper." "When Winifred married Dartie, I made him bring every penny into settlement." "Good thing too." "They'd have nothing by now." "Yes, but James... well, I couldn't help it if Irene had no money." "Soames would have her." "In my opinion, it's just as well as it is." "She won't get any ideas in her head." "A soft hat?" "You must be mistaken." "No, I assure you." "You thought it was a cat?" " Really, juley." "It quite put me about." "A soft hat." "Very haughty." "The wild buccaneer." "Buccaneer." "The very name for him." "Le mot juste." "George, dear, I don't know what we'd do without you." "Nor do I, quite frankly." "Come and meet millie." "He's an odd-looking devil, isn't he?" "Like a half-tamed leopard." "I shouldn't be surprised if he made a bolt for it." "I don't see Timothy." "Wouldn't he come?" " No, dear, no." "He didn't think it wise." "Why not?" "All these people, such a crush." "You never know, do you?" "And Timothy, so liable to catch things." "I can't afford to take the care of myself that he does." "Hester?" " Excuse me, dear." "Yes, Juley?" " Well, nick?" "How are you?" " I'm bad." "Been bad all week." "The doctor can't tell why." "He's a clever fellow, or I shouldn't have him." "But all I get are bills." "Doctors?" "They tell you anything." "I've had all the doctors in London one time or another." "They can't help you." "There's Swithin now." "There he is,bigger than ever." "They can't get his weight down." "Look at him." "Well, how are you?" "Yes, how are you?" "We were just saying, you don't get any thinner." "Thinner?" "I'm in good case." "Not one of your thread papers like James there." "I'm very well in myself, but my nerves are out of order and I worry too much." "I shall have to go to bath." "I've tried Harrogate." "That's no good." "What I need... you all talk to much about your ailments." "Now, look at us." "For our ages, we're probably the healthiest men in England." "Excuse me." "Steady, Monty." "It shows." "What?" " Oh, yeah." "All the same, there is something about her." "There is, indeed." ""I'm beautiful, but don't touch."" "Irresistible." "Uncle Jolyon, I'm so sorry we're late." "Soames had work at his office." "Never mind." "Always a pleasure to see you." "Ah, Soames." "Nose down to business?" "Shouldn't I?" " What?" "Oh, but don't deprive your pretty wife of her pleasures." "Come." "She's a good-looking woman." "I'm told they don't get on." "She'd no money." "What was her father?" " A professor,I believe." "No money in that." "They say her mother's father was cement." "But he went bankrupt." "Soames had better watch her." "There's a foreign look about her." "I call her distinguished." "I'm sorry for James." "He's had trouble with Dartie." "The fellow went a bear on oil and couldn't settle." "James had to pay." "A capital figure." "Yes, she's a good-looking woman." "Soames, dear." "I haven't seen you for an age." "Well, what do you think of the engagement?" "They're well-suited." "I think he's intelligent." "Romantic too." "Those bones.So fine drawn." "They tell me he's occasionally short of food." "Soames." "Have you heard George's nickname for him?" "No." "No?" "The wild buccaneer." "I wonder what June will think of that." "Oh, she'll tame him." "I know he'll miss me, Phil." "He's bound to." "But after all, it's just as well for him to get used to being... what are you looking at?" " Who is that?" "Where?" " Irene!" "Irene!" "Excuse me, please." "Irene, where have you been?" " We've been waiting for you for ages." "You're so late." "I didn't hear Parfitt announce you." "We were too late, I think, even for even that." "Now, phil." "Irene is my greatest chum." "So you'd better be good friends, you two." "I resign." "Another game?" " Revanche?" "Why not?" " Jo, I'm sorry to interrupt, but have you got time?" " Eh... oh, lord, no." "You'll have to excuse me, doctor, i promised to meet this art dealer chap, eberhardt,at the club." "Are we getting known?" "A one-man show, perhaps?" " I shouldn't think so." "I should think so." "Look here." "This is important." "And look at me, I'm in on the ground floor." "I am the possessor of an original, signed, hand-painted Forsyte watercolor." "I'll walk down the road with you." "Thank you." "Shan't be a moment." "I'll just run up and say good night to the children." "Well, dear lady, and how are you keeping?" " Oh, splendidly,thank you." "No more of these bad headaches?" "No... not very often." "But you still get them?" "Occasionally." "Those tablets I gave you,any good?" "Yes, but... ah, but they leave you depressed, eh?" "How did you know?" "Well, they sometimes have that effect." "Dr. Dewar." " Is there anything wrong with me?" " No." "I think you're a perfectly normal, healthy young woman." "Normal?" "Mm-hm." "Am I?" "At one moment, I'm like a bird, high in the air, full of gaiety and laughter." "Life is wonderful." "And the next second, like that..." "I'm raging." "Raging?" "Oh, yes." "Raging about something quite trivial." "Or I'm sunk so low in spirit that I wish to die." "Is that normal?" "It'S... it's not uncommon." "To this extent?" "Well, we all feel the same way to some extent." "It's a matter of temperament." "Now you, maybe you feel things more deeply than others." "That's why your heights are sublime and your depths..." "I know... all about my depths." "You worry too much, and it's a strain on your nerves." "And as I've said, not an uncommon condition." "Doctors haven't got a name for it." "some likely lad invents one and makes a name for himself." "So what am I to do?" " You must try to be calm." "Very well, doctor." "I shall try to be calm." "Isn't that the hotch-potch club?" "That's right, sir." "Pull over there and stop." "Right you are, guv'n" "These are very difficult times." "It's good of you to see me." "I shall wait till I hear from you, then." "Good night, sir." "Good evening." "Sir?" " Mr. Jolyon Forsyte is still a member of this club?" "Yes, sir." "In the club now." "What name, sir?" " His father." "Very good, sir." "If you'll just... why, there he is, sir." "How are you, my boy?" "How are you, father?" "Just thought I'd drop in." "Very good of you." "I've got a cab outside." "If you're going my way, I'll give you a lift." "Thank you." "You're looking well, father." "Middling, thanks." "Middling." "I've been to the opera." "Alone?" " Yes." "June is away on a visit." "She's engaged to be married." "Did you know?" "Yes, I read it in the paper." "She's far too young, but they're... what was the opera?" "Mozart?" "No, one of those new fangled german pantomimes." "You don't care for wagner?" "Do you?" " Bombastic chap." "And the singers." "Wretched, poor things." "I remember when you used to come down from cambridge, and I'd take you..." "Fidelio," "The barber of seville." "We had some real music in those days." "There's no opera now." "Perhaps it's us, father, not the music." "Us?" "Well, me, you mean." "Perhaps you're right." "Old age is a damnable thing, jo." "You lose the flavor of things." "I still kept my palate,thank God." "Yes, the finest palate in London." "That's just what old Nick Treffry used to say in the old days, when we started in the tea business." ""With your palate, my boy", he said," ""we'll make our fortunes." And we did." "Father... what does June look like now?" "She's a little thing." "They say she's like me." "That's nonsense." "More like your mother." "Same eyes and hair." "Pretty?" "Not bad-looking." "Regular Forsyte chin." "I shall miss her here when she's gone." "She must be all wrapped up in him." "What will you do with yourself?" " Do with myself?" "How should I know?" "Jo, I should like to hear what sort of water you're in." "I suppose you're in debt." "No." "No, I'm not in debt." "No, I shouldn't have mentioned it, I... will you come in for a minute?" "No, father, you must excuse me." "My wife is expecting me home." "Yes, well..." "No, take the cab on." "And Jo..." "take care of yourself." "Good night, sir." "Good night." "Here." "That's for you." "Oh, thank you, guv'nor." "Drive on." "Right." "Giddap, there!" "That's a very pretty gown." "The color suits you." "Yes?" "Here." "I got you this to go with it." "Thank you.It's beautiful." "Please wear it tonight." "I already..." "I'd..." "I'd prefer you to wear this one." "If you wish it." "May I?" "Is there nothing, nothing at all?" "Nothing." "Whatever you do, whatever you give me, nothing." "I'm sorry." "Sorry?" "Oh, you're a fine sort of wife." "It's time we were leaving." "My uncle Swithin doesn't like waiting for his dinner." "Yes, now..." "Jolyon drinks a glass." "Not more than two." "James can't take his wine these days, never could for that matter." "Soames, careful chap." "Emily, Winifred, Bosinney." "Can't tell." "Too dry for poor Hester." "She's got no palate." "June, she's young." "Mrs. Soames." "Two glasses, perhaps, but she'll appreciate it." "Myself, well..." "Dartie?" "He'll drink whatever you give him." "Adolf?" " Sir?" "Put in another bottle." "Yes, sir." "And Adolf... the least touch of the west india when you come to the ham." "Very good, sir." "Thank you." "I suppose Ann doesn't come down in the mornings these days." "No." "But she's still very spry." "Just a little, thank you." "She's 88 next year, you know." "She's getting very shaky." "And so will you be, soon." "None of us are getting any younger, you know." "Well, what do you think of Swithin's mutton?" " Southdown, isn't it?" "Southdown's all right for a leg or a shoulder, but for a saddle, give me Dartmoor." "So you always say." "I'll stick to welsh." "Always have, always will." "Nicholas says there's no flavor to that." "And Nicholas, he buys New zealand." "Says there's nothing like it." "He's right." "I've tasted it." "Your uncle Roger swears by german." "Oh, I know." "We dined there the other night, and he showed us the butcher's bill to prove it." "I don't know what all the fuss is about." "One piece of mutton's the same as any other." "Don't you think it's extraordinary?" "What?" "Why, only the other sunday, and you should have been in church, Soames." "Mr. Scoles was so witty in his sermon, so sarcastic." "He said, "what shall it profit a man if he gain his own soul and lose his property?"" "He said that was the motto of the middle class." "What do you suppose he meant?" "How should I know?" "Abandon hope all ye who enter here." "I heard such an amusing story yesterday about your little valerius." "Oh, not Valerius, aunt Juley, if you don't mind." "Didn't you know?" "Winifred's decided to drop it, and Publius too." "So difficult for the poor boy when he goes to school." "They'd probably call him Pubby." "Dear me." "So it's to be Val from now on, just plain Val." "How do you like this, my dear?" "Very much." "Not too dry for you, eh?" "Not at all." "It's perfect." "You're a woman of taste, not like... ah... that's a pretty thing." "Now, what do you pay for a thing like that nowadays?" "I don't know." "Soames gave it to me." "I dare say you're dull at home." "You come and dine with me any day you like." "I'll give you as good a bottle of wine as you'll get in london." "Thank you, uncle swithin." "You're very kind." "Eat your strawberries, Soames." "They're very good." "Do cheer up." "Is anything wrong?" " No, no, no." "I've been thinking." "Irene's seeing far too much of June." "Oh, surely she'sa harmless little thing." "No, I don't agree." "She gets around with the wrong people." "It's not a friendship i want to encourage." "Honestly, Soames." "They're cousins by marriage." "I don't see..." "all right." "Never mind." "I'd like your opinion on something." "You want my opinion." "My dear boy, what's come over you?" "That chap, Bosinney." "Would you say he was reliable?" "Hard to say." "He's clever, modern,difficult to please." "But I'd say if he tackled anything, he'd see it through, if only to satisfy himself." "Reliable in that sense, yes." "And as a member of the family, he wouldn't be too difficult to deal with in matters of money." "I mean, he'd probably accept a nominal fee." "Soames, tell me." "No, no, no." "Nothing." "I've decided nothing, yet." "Soames!" "And on the way back, we saw a beautiful site for a house." "Eh?" "Now where was that?" "On the river, near Sonning." "I suppose you wouldn't know whether the land about there was freehold, or what the price of it's likely to be?" " Yes." "I made inquiries." "What?" "You're not thinking of buying land?" "Of course not." "But I thought it would be a splendid place for you or someone to build a house." "Land ought to be very dear about there." "You should go into the country, uncle James." "Why don't you?" "It would do you a lot of good." "Good?" "What's to be got out of buying land?" "Building houses?" "I couldn't get four percent for my money." "What does that matter?" " You'd get fresh air." "I?" "What should I do with fresh air?" "Everybody needs fresh air." "You don't know the value of money." "No, and I hope I never shall." "Hello." "What's up?" "My relations, that's all." "They make me sick." "Swithin asked me to pour out." "Cream for you, Juley?" " Yes, please, dear." "Four hundred pounds?" " You gave 400 pounds for that?" "I did, but mind you, it's a regular work of art." "It's a lot of money." "A lot of wasted money." "I don't regret a penny of it." "That's not common english." "It's genuine modern italian." "There's a great deal of work there." "The poor foreign devil who made it asked 500, so I gave him four." "Half-starved, he looked." "Artists are seedy-looking chaps." "Don't know how they live." "Still, 400..." "I could get eight for it today." "I wouldn't give you two." "And I wouldn't give you two shilling not for that or any other collections of bronze goddesses." "Give me the real thing any day." "What do you say, Soames?" "Stucco." "Stucco, indeed." "I'd like to see anything in your house half as good." "As an architect, Bosinney, what do you think of it?" "Yes, bosinney." "Let's have your opinion." "The work is a remarkable one." "Remarkable for what?" "For its... naiveté." "Eh?" "Naiveté, hm?" "Well, if you've finished, we'll join the ladies." "Did you hear the one about...?" " Yes, 40 years ago." "Bosinney?" "Well?" "If you've nothing better to do on sunday, come down to Robin hill with me." "I'd like your opinion on a site." "Are you going to build?" "I might." "But don't speak of it." "I won't." "Why ask me?" " You could afford one of the swells." "Do you want to come or not?" "Of course." "Tell me, is it because I'm engaged to June?" "Partly, I suppose." "That's one of the things I like about the Forsytes." "They stick together." "Robin hill, that's 12 miles." "How will your wife like being so far out?" "I hope she'll approve of anything I choose to do." "I hope so too." "But then women are the devil, aren't they?" "Well, I'll see you on sunday."