Their residences, placed at stated intervals round the park, watched like sentinels, lest the fair heart of this London, where their desires were fixed, should slip from their clutches, and leave them lower in their own estimations.
There was old Jolyon in Stanhope Place; the Jameses in Park Lane; Swithin in the lonely glory of orange and blue chambers in Hyde Park Mansions he had never married, not he the Soamses in their nest off Knightsbridge; the Rogers in Princes Gardens (Roger was that remarkable Forsyte who had conceived and carried out the notion of bringing up his four sons to a new profession. Collect house property, nothing like it, he would say; I never did anything else).
The Haymans again Mrs. Hayman was the one married Forsyte sister in a house high up on Campden Hill, shaped like a giraffe, and so tall that it gave the observer a crick in the neck; the Nicholases in Ladbroke Grove, a spacious abode and a great bargain; and last, but not least, Timothys on the Bayswater Road, where Ann, and Juley, and Hester, lived under his protection.
But all this time James was musing, and now he inquired of his host and brother what he had given for that house in Montpellier Square. He himself had had his eye on a house there for the last two years, but they wanted such a price.
Old Jolyon recounted the details of his purchase.
Twenty-two years to run? repeated James; The very house I was after youve given too much for it!
Old Jolyon frowned.
Its not that I want it, said James hastily; it wouldnt suit my purpose at that price. Soames knows the house, well hell tell you its too dear his opinions worth having.
I dont, said old Jolyon, care a fig for his opinion.
Well, murmured James, you will have your own way its a good opinion. Good-bye! Were going to drive down to Hurlingham. They tell me Junes going to Wales. Youll be lonely tomorrow. Whatll you do with yourself? Youd better come and dine with us!
Old Jolyon refused. He went down to the front door and saw them into their barouche, and twinkled at them, having already forgotten his spleen Mrs. James facing the horses, tall and majestic with auburn hair; on her left, Irene the two husbands, father and son, sitting forward, as though they expected something, opposite their wives. Bobbing and bounding upon the spring cushions, silent, swaying to each motion of their chariot, old Jolyon watched them drive away under the sunlight.
During the drive the silence was broken by Mrs. James.
Did you ever see such a collection of rumty-too[7] people?
Soames, glancing at her beneath his eyelids, nodded, and he saw Irene steal at him one of her unfathomable looks. It is likely enough that each branch of the Forsyte family made that remark as they drove away from old Jolyons At Home!
Amongst the last of the departing guests the fourth and fifth brothers, Nicholas and Roger, walked away together, directing their steps alongside Hyde Park towards the Praed Street Station of the Underground. Like all other Forsytes of a certain age they kept carriages of their own, and never took cabs if by any means they could avoid it.
The day was bright, the trees of the Park in the full beauty of mid-June foliage; the brothers did not seem to notice phenomena, which contributed, nevertheless, to the jauntiness of promenade and conversation.
Yes, said Roger, shes a good-lookin woman, that wife of Soamess. Im told they dont get on.
This brother had a high forehead, and the freshest colour of any of the Forsytes; his light grey eyes measured the street frontage of the houses by the way, and now and then he would level his, umbrella and take a lunar, as he expressed it, of the varying heights.
Shed no money, replied Nicholas.
He himself had married a good deal of money, of which, it being then the golden age before the Married Womens Property Act[8], he had mercifully been enabled to make a successful use.
What was her father?
Heron was his name, a Professor, so they tell me.
Roger shook his head.
Theres no money in that, he said.
They say her mothers father was cement.
Rogers face brightened.
But he went bankrupt, went on Nicholas.
Ah! exclaimed Roger, Soames will have trouble with her; you mark my words, hell have trouble shes got a foreign look.
Nicholas licked his lips.
Shes a pretty woman, and he waved aside a crossing-sweeper.
How did he get hold of her? asked Roger presently. She must cost him a pretty penny in dress!
Ann tells me, replied Nicholas, he was half-cracked about her. She refused him five times. James, hes nervous about it, I can see.
Ah! said Roger again; Im sorry for James; he had trouble with Dartie. His pleasant colour was heightened by exercise, he swung his umbrella to the level of his eye more frequently than ever. Nicholass face also wore a pleasant look.
Too pale for me, he said, but her figures capital!
Roger made no reply.
I call her distinguished-looking, he said at last it was the highest praise in the Forsyte vocabulary. That young Bosinney will never do any good for himself. They say at Burkitts hes one of these artistic chaps got an idea of improving English architecture; theres no money in that! I should like to hear what Timothy would say to it.