man of property-第59章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to admire！
She was not really ill…natured； but； in maintaining her position after the trying circumstances of her married life； she had found it so necessary to be 'full of information；' that the idea of holding her tongue about 'those two' in the Park never occurred to her。
And it so happened that she was dining that very evening at Timothy's； where she went sometimes to 'cheer the old things up；' as she was wont to put it。 The same people were always asked to meet her： Winifred Dartie and her husband； Francie； because she belonged to the artistic circles； for Mrs。 MacAnder was known to contribute articles on dress to 'The Ladies Kingdom Come'； and for her to flirt with； provided they could be obtained； two of the Hayman boys； who； though they never said anything； were believed to be fast and thoroughly intimate with all that was latest in smart Society。
At twenty…five minutes past seven she turned out the electric light in her little hall； and wrapped in her opera cloak with the chinchilla collar； came out into the corridor； pausing a moment to make sure she had her latch…key。 These little self…contained flats were convenient； to be sure； she had no light and no air； but she could shut it up whenever she liked and go away。 There was no bother with servants； and she never felt tied as she used to when poor； dear Fred was always about； in his mooney way。 She retained no rancour against poor； dear Fred； he was such a fool； but the thought of that actress drew from her； even now； a little； bitter； derisive smile。
Firmly snapping the door to； she crossed the corridor； with its gloomy； yellow…ochre walls； and its infinite vista of brown； numbered doors。 The lift was going down； and wrapped to the ears in the high cloak； with every one of her auburn hairs in its place； she waited motionless for it to stop at her floor。 The iron gates clanked open； she entered。 There were already three occupants； a man in a great white waistcoat； with a large； smooth face like a baby's； and two old ladies in black； with mittened hands。
Mrs。 MacAnder smiled at them； she knew everybody； and all these three； who had been admirably silent before； began to talk at once。 This was Mrs。 MacAnder's successful secret。 She provoked conversation。
Throughout a descent of five stories the conversation continued； the lift boy standing with his back turned； his cynical face protruding through the bars。
At the bottom they separated； the man in the white waistcoat sentimentally to the billiard room； the old ladies to dine and say to each other： 〃A dear little woman！〃 〃Such a rattle！〃 and Mrs。 MacAnder to her cab。
When Mrs。 MacAnder dined at Timothy's； the conversation （although Timothy himself could never be induced to be present） took that wider； man…of…the…world tone current among Forsytes at large； and this； no doubt； was what put her at a premium there。
Mrs。 Small and Aunt Hester found it an exhilarating change。 〃If only；〃 they said； 〃Timothy would meet her！〃 It was felt that she would do him good。 She could tell you； for instance； the latest story of Sir Charles Fiste's son at Monte Carlo； who was the real heroine of Tynemouth Eddy's fashionable novel that everyone was holding up their hands over； and what they were doing in Paris about wearing bloomers。 She was so sensible； too； knowing all about that vexed question； whether to send young Nicholas' eldest into the navy as his mother wished； or make him an accountant as his father thought would be safer。 She strongly deprecated the navy。 If you were not exceptionally brilliant or exceptionally well connected； they passed you over so disgracefully； and what was it after all to look forward to； even if you became an admirala pittance！ An accountant had many more chances； but let him be put with a good firm； where there was no risk at starting！
Sometimes she would give them a tip on the Stock Exchange； not that Mrs。 Small or Aunt Hester ever took it。 They had indeed no money to invest； but it seemed to bring them into such exciting touch with the realities of life。 It was an event。 They would ask Timothy； they said。 But they never did； knowing in advance that it would upset him。 Surreptitiously； however； for weeks after they would look in that paper； which they took with respect on account of its really fashionable proclivities； to see whether 'Bright's Rubies' or 'The Woollen Mackintosh Company' were up or down。 Sometimes they could not find the name of the company at all； and they would wait until James or Roger or even Swithin came in； and ask them in voices trembling with curiosity how that 'Bolivia Lime and Speltrate was doingthey could not find it in the paper。
And Roger would answer： 〃What do you want to know for？ Some trash！ You'll go burning your fingersinvesting your money in lime； and things you know nothing about！ Who told you？〃 and ascertaining what they had been told； he would go away； and； making inquiries in the City； would perhaps invest some of his own money in the concern。
It was about the middle of dinner； just in fact as the saddle of mutton had been brought in by Smither； that Mrs。 MacAnder； looking airily round； said： 〃Oh！ and whom do you think I passed to…day in Richmond Park？ You'll never guessMrs。 Soames and Mr。 Bosinney。 They must have been down to look at the house！〃
Winifred Dartie coughed； and no one said a word。 It was the piece of evidence they had all unconsciously been waiting for。
To do Mrs。 MacAnder justice； she had been to Switzerland and the Italian lakes with a party of three； and had not heard of Soames' rupture with his architect。 She could not tell； therefore； the profound impression her words would make。
Upright and a little flushed； she moved her small； shrewd eyes from face to face； trying to gauge the effect of her words。 On either side of her a Hayman boy； his lean； taciturn； hungry face turned towards his plate； ate his mutton steadily。
These two； Giles and Jesse； were so alike and so inseparable that they were known as the Dromios。 They never talked； and seemed always completely occupied in doing nothing。 It was popularly supposed that they were cramming for an important examination。 They walked without hats for long hours in the Gardens attached to their house； books in their hands； a fox…terrier at their heels； never saying a word； and smoking all the time。 Every morning； about fifty yards apart； they trotted down Campden Hill on two lean hacks； with legs as long as their own； and every morning about an hour later； still fifty yards apart； they cantered up again。 Every evening； wherever they had dined； they might be observed about half…past ten； leaning over the balustrade of the Alhambra promenade。
They were never seen otherwise than together； in this way passing their lives； apparently perfectly content。
Inspired by some dumb stirring within them of the feelings of gentlemen； they turned at this painful moment to Mrs。 MacAnder； and said in precisely the same voice： 〃Have you seen the。。。？〃
Such was her surprise at being thus addressed that she put down her fork； and Smither； who was passing； promptly removed her plate。 Mrs。 MacAnder； however； with presence of mind； said instantly： 〃I must have a little more of that nice mutton。〃
But afterwards in the drawingroom she sat down by Mrs。 Small； determined to get to the bottom of the matter。 And she began：
〃What a charming woman； Mrs。 Soames； such a sympathetic temperament！ Soames is a really lucky man！〃
Her anxiety for information had not made sufficient allowance for that inner Forsyte skin which refuses to share its troubles with outsiders。
Mrs。 Septimus Small； drawing herself up with a creak and rustle of her whole person； said； shivering in her dignity：
〃My dear； it is a subject we do not talk about！〃
CHAPTER II
NIGHT IN THE PARK
Although with her infallible instinct Mrs。 Small had said the very thing to make her guest 'more intriguee than ever；' it is difficult to see how else she could truthfully have spoken。
It was not a subject which the Forsytes could talk about even among themselvesto use the word Soames had invented to characterize to himself the situation； it was 'subterranean。'
Yet；
