Standing by the french-window,looking out across the terrace at the oak tree,were two figures,middle-aged and young,and he thought:'Who's that boy?Surely they never had a child.'
The elder figure turned.The meeting of those two Forsytes of the second generation,so much more sophisticated than the first,in the house built for the one and owned and occupied by the other,was marked by subtle defensiveness beneath distinct attempt at cordiality.'Has he come about his wife?'Jolyon was thinking;and Soames,'How shall I begin?'while Val,brought to break the ice,stood negligently scrutinising this 'bearded pard'from under his dark,thick eyelashes.
"This is Val Dartie,"said Soames,"my sister's son.He's just going up to Oxford.I thought I'd like him to know your boy.""Ah!I'm sorry Jolly's away.What college?""B.N.C.,"replied Val.
"Jolly's at the 'House,'but he'll be delighted to look you up.""Thanks awfully."
"Holly's in--if you could put up with a female relation,she'd show you round.You'll find her in the hall if you go through the curtains.I was just painting her."With another "Thanks,awfully!"Val vanished,leaving the two cousins with the ice unbroken.
"I see you've some drawings at the 'Water Colours,'"said Soames.
Jolyon winced.He had been out of touch with the Forsyte family at large for twenty-six years,but they were connected in his mind with Frith's 'Derby Day'and Landseer prints.He had heard from June that Soames was a connoisseur,which made it worse.He had become aware,too,of a curious sensation of repugnance.
"I haven't seen you for a long time,"he said.
"No,"answered Soames between close lips,"not since--as a matter of fact,it's about that I've come.You're her trustee,I'm told."Jolyon nodded.
"Twelve years is a long time,"said Soames rapidly:"I--I'm tired of it."Jolyon found no more appropriate answer than:
"Won't you smoke?"
"No,thanks."
Jolyon himself lit a cigarette.
"I wish to be free,"said Soames abruptly.
"I don't see her,"murmured Jolyon through the fume of his cigarette.
"But you know where she lives,I suppose?"
Jolyon nodded.He did not mean to give her address without permission.Soames seemed to divine his thought.
"I don't want her address,"he said;"I know it.""What exactly do you want?"
"She deserted me.I want a divorce."
"Rather late in the day,isn't it?"
"Yes,"said Soames.And there was a silence.
"I don't know much about these things--at least,I've forgotten,"said Jolyon with a wry smile.He himself had had to wait for death to grant him a divorce from the first Mrs.Jolyon."Do you wish me to see her about it?"Soames raised his eyes to his cousin's face."I suppose there's someone,"he said.
A shrug moved Jolyon's shoulders.
"I don't know at all.I imagine you may have both lived as if the other were dead.It's usual in these cases."Soames turned to the window.A few early fallen oak-leaves strewed the terrace already,and were rolling round in the wind.Jolyon saw the figures of Holly and Val Dartie moving across the lawn towards the stables.'I'm not going to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds,'he thought.'I must act for her.The Dad would have wished that.'And for a swift moment he seemed to see his father's figure in the old armchair,just beyond Soames,sitting with knees crossed,The Times in his hand.It vanished.
"My father was fond of her,"he said quietly.
"Why he should have been I don't know,"Soames answered without looking round."She brought trouble to your daughter June;she brought trouble to everyone.I gave her all she wanted.I would have given her even--forgiveness--but she chose to leave me."In Jolyon compassion was checked by the tone of that close voice.
What was there in the fellow that made it so difficult to be sorry for him?
"I can go and see her,if you like,"he said."I suppose she might be glad of a divorce,but I know nothing."Soames nodded.
"Yes,please go.As I say,I know her address;but I've no wish to see her."His tongue was busy with his lips,as if they were very dry.
"You'll have some tea?"said Jolyon,stifling the words:'And see the house.'And he led the way into the hall.When he had rung the bell and ordered tea,he went to his easel to turn his drawing to the wall.He could not bear,somehow,that his work should be seen by Soames,who was standing there in the middle of the great room which had been designed expressly to afford wall space for his own pictures.In his cousin's face,with its unseizable family likeness to himself,and its chinny,narrow,concentrated look,Jolyon saw that which moved him to the thought:'That chap could never forget anything--nor ever give himself away.He's pathetic!'