第2章
"Youshalljudgeforyourselfaboutallthosethingsasyougrowup。"
LittleJonrepliedinacalculatingmanner:
"Idon’twanttogrowup，much。Idon’twanttogotoschool。"A
suddenoverwhelmingdesiretosaysomethingmore，tosaywhathereallyfelt，turnedhimred。"I——Iwanttostaywithyou，andbeyourlover，Mum。"
Thenwithaninstincttoimprovethesituation，headdedquickly"I
don’twanttogotobedto—night，either。I’msimplytiredofgoingtobed，everynight。"
"Haveyouhadanymorenightmares？"
"Onlyaboutone。MayIleavethedooropenintoyourroomto—night，Mum？"
"Yes，justalittle。"LittleJonheavedasighofsatisfaction。
"WhatdidyouseeinGlensofantrim？"
"Nothingbutbeauty，darling。"
"Whatexactlyisbeauty？"
"Whatexactlyis——Oh！Jon，that’saposer。"
"CanIseeit，forinstance？"Hismothergotup，andsatbesidehim。"Youdo，everyday。Theskyisbeautiful，thestars，andmoonlitnights，andthenthebirds，theflowers，thetrees——they’reallbeautiful。Lookoutofthewindow——there’sbeautyforyou，Jon。"
"Oh！yes，that’stheview。Isthatall？"
"All？no。Theseaiswonderfullybeautiful，andthewaves，withtheirfoamflyingback。"
"Didyourisefromiteveryday，Mum？"
Hismothersmiled。"Well，webathed。"
LittleJonsuddenlyreachedoutandcaughtherneckinhishands。
"Iknow，"hesaidmysteriously，"you’reit，really，andalltherestismake—believe。"
Shesighed，laughed，said:"Oh！Jon！"
LittleJonsaidcritically:
"DoyouthinkBellabeautiful，forinstance？Ihardlydo。"
"Bellaisyoung;that’ssomething。"
"Butyoulookyounger，Mum。IfyoubumpagainstBellashehurts。
Idon’tbelieve’Da’wasbeautiful，whenIcometothinkofit;andMademoiselle’salmostugly。"
"Mademoisellehasaveryniceface。""Oh！yes;nice。Iloveyourlittlerays，Mum。"
"Rays？"
LittleJonputhisfingertotheoutercornerofhereye。
"Oh！Those？Butthey’reasignofage。"
"Theycomewhenyousmile。"
"Buttheyusen’tto。"
"Oh！well，Ilikethem。Doyouloveme，Mum？"
"Ido——Idoloveyou，darling。"
"Everso？"
"Everso！"
"MorethanIthoughtyoudid？"
"Much——muchmore。"
"Well，sodoI;sothatmakesiteven。"
Consciousthathehadneverinhislifesogivenhimselfaway，hefeltasuddenreactiontothemanlinessofSirLamorac，DickNeedham，HuckFinn，andotherheroes。
"ShallIshowyouathingortwo？"hesaid;andslippingoutofherarms，hestoodonhishead。Then，firedbyherobviousadmiration，hemountedthebed，andthrewhimselfheadforemostfromhisfeetontohisback，withouttouchinganythingwithhishands。Hedidthisseveraltimes。
Thatevening，havinginspectedwhattheyhadbrought，hestayeduptodinner，sittingbetweenthematthelittleroundtabletheyusedwhentheywerealone。Hewasextremelyexcited。HismotherworeaFrench—greydress，withcreamylacemadeoutoflittlescrigglyroses，roundherneck，whichwasbrownerthanthelace。Hekeptlookingather，tillatlasthisfather’sfunnysmilemadehimsuddenlyattentivetohissliceofpineapple。Itwaslaterthanhehadeverstayedup，whenhewenttobed。Hismotherwentupwithhim，andheundressedveryslowlysoastokeepherthere。Whenatlasthehadnothingonbuthispyjamas，hesaid:
"Promiseyouwon’tgowhileIsaymyprayers！"
"Ipromise。"
Kneelingdownandplunginghisfaceintothebed，littleJonhurriedup，underhisbreath，openingoneeyenowandthen，toseeherstandingperfectlystillwithasmileonherface。"OurFather"——sowenthislastprayer，"whichartinheaven，hallowedbethyMum，thyKingdomMum——onEarthasitisinheaven，giveusthisdayourdailyMumandforgiveusourtrespassesonearthasitisinheavenandtrespassagainstus，forthineistheevilthepowerandthegloryforeverandever。Amum！Lookout！"Hesprang，andforalongminuteremainedinherarms。Onceinbed，hecontinuedtoholdherhand。
"Youwon’tshutthedooranymorethanthat，willyou？Areyougoingtobelong，Mum？"
"ImustgodownandplaytoDaddy。"
"Oh！well，Ishallhearyou。"
"Ihopenot;youmustgotosleep。"
"Icansleepanynight。"
"Well，thisisjustanightlikeanyother。"
"Oh！no——it’sextraspecial。"
"Onextraspecialnightsonealwayssleepssoundest。"
"ButifIgotosleep，Mum，Ishan’thearyoucomeup。"
"Well，whenIdo，I’llcomeinandgiveyouakiss，thenifyou’reawakeyou’llknow，andifyou’renotyou’llstillknowyou’vehadone。"
LittleJonsighed，"Allright！"hesaid:"IsupposeImustputupwiththat。Mum？"
"Yes？"
"WhatwashernamethatDaddybelievesin？VenusAnnaDiomedes？"
"Oh！myangel！Anadyomene。"
"Yes！butIlikemynameforyoumuchbetter。"
"Whatisyours，Jon？"
LittleJonansweredshyly:
"Guinevere！it’soutoftheRoundTableI’veonlyjustthoughtofit，onlyofcourseherhairwasdown。"
Hismother’seyes，lookingpasthim，seemedtofloat。
"Youwon’tforgettocome，Mum？"
"Notifyou’llgotosleep。"
"That’sabargain，then。"AndlittleJonscreweduphiseyes。
Hefeltherlipsonhisforehead，heardherfootsteps;openedhiseyestoseeherglidingthroughthedoorway，and，sighing，screwedthemupagain。
ThenTimebegan。
Forsometenminutesofithetriedloyallytosleep，countingagreatnumberofthistlesinarow，"Da’s"oldrecipeforbringingslumber。Heseemedtohavebeenhourscounting。Itmust，hethought，benearlytimeforhertocomeupnow。Hethrewthebedclothesback。"I’mhot！"hesaid，andhisvoicesoundedfunnyinthedarkness，likesomeoneelse’s。Whydidn’tshecome？Hesatup。
Hemustlook！Hegotoutofbed，wenttothewindowandpulledthecurtainasliceaside。Itwasn’tdark，buthecouldn’ttellwhetherbecauseofdaylightorthemoon，whichwasverybig。Ithadafunny，wickedface，asiflaughingathim，andhedidnotwanttolookatit。Then，rememberingthathismotherhadsaidmoonlitnightswerebeautiful，hecontinuedtostareoutinageneralway。Thetreesthrewthickshadows，thelawnlookedlikespiltmilk，andalong，longwayhecouldsee;oh！veryfar;rightovertheworld，anditalllookeddifferentandswimmy。Therewasalovelysmell，too，inhisopenwindow。
’IwishIhadadovelikeNoah！’hethought。
"Themoonymoonwasroundandbright，Itshoneandshoneandmadeitlight。"
Afterthatrhyme，whichcameintohisheadallatonce，hebecameconsciousofmusic，verysoft—lovely！Mumplaying！Hebethoughthimselfofamacaroonhehad，laidupinhischestofdrawers，and，gettingit，camebacktothewindow。Heleanedout，nowmunching，nowholdinghisjawstohearthemusicbetter。"Da"usedtosaythatangelsplayedonharpsinheaven;butitwasn’thalfsolovelyasMumplayinginthemoonynight，withhimeatingamacaroon。Acockchaferbuzzedby，amothflewinhisface，themusicstopped，andlittleJondrewhisheadin。Shemustbecoming！Hedidn’twanttobefoundawake。Hegotbackintobedandpulledtheclothesnearlyoverhishead;buthehadleftastreakofmoonlightcomingin。Itfellacrossthefloor，nearthefootofthebed，andhewatcheditmovingeversoslowlytowardshim，asifitwerealive。Themusicbeganagain，buthecouldonlyjusthearitnow;sleepymusic，pretty——
sleepy——music——sleepy——slee……
Andtimeslippedby，themusicrose，fell，ceased;themoonbeamcrepttowardshisface。LittleJonturnedinhissleeptillhelayonhisback，withonebrownfiststillgraspingthebedclothes。Thecornersofhiseyestwitched——hehadbeguntodream。Hedreamedhewasdrinkingmilkoutofapanthatwasthemoon，oppositeagreatblackcatwhichwatchedhimwithafunnysmilelikehisfather’s。Hehearditwhisper:"Don’tdrinktoomuch！"Itwasthecat’smilk，ofcourse，andheputouthishandamicablytostrokethecreature;butitwasnolongerthere;thepanhadbecomeabed，inwhichhewaslying，andwhenhetriedtogetouthecouldn’tfindtheedge;hecouldn’tfindit——he——he——couldn’tgetout！Itwasdreadful！
Hewhimperedinhissleep。Thebedhadbeguntogoroundtoo;itwasoutsidehimandinsidehim;goingroundandround，andgettingfiery，andMotherLeeoutofCastupbytheSeawasstirringit！Oh！sohorribleshelooked！Fasterandfaster！——tillheandthebedandMotherLeeandthemoonandthecatwereallonewheelgoingroundandroundandupandup——awful——awful——awful！
Heshrieked。
Avoicesaying:"Darling，darling！"gotthroughthewheel，andheawoke，standingonhisbed，withhiseyeswideopen。
Therewashismother，withherhairlikeGuinevere’s，and，clutchingher，heburiedhisfaceinit。
"Oh！oh！"
"It’sallright，treasure。You’reawakenow。There！There！It’snothing！"
ButlittleJoncontinuedtosay:"Oh！oh！"
Hervoicewenton，velvetyinhisear:
"Itwasthemoonlight，sweetheart，comingonyourface。"
LittleJonburbledintohernightgown"Yousaiditwasbeautiful。Oh！"
"Nottosleepin，Jon。Wholetitin？Didyoudrawthecurtains？"
"Iwantedtoseethetime;I——Ilookedout，I——Iheardyouplaying，Mum;I——Iatemymacaroon。"Buthewasgrowingslowlycomforted;andtheinstincttoexcusehisfearrevivedwithinhim。
"MotherLeewentroundinmeandgotallfiery，"hemumbled。
"Well，Jon，whatcanyouexpectifyoueatmacaroonsafteryou’vegonetobed？"
"Onlyone，Mum;itmadethemusiceversomorebeautiful。Iwaswaitingforyou——Inearlythoughtitwasto—morrow。"
"Myducky，it’sonlyjustelevennow。"
LittleJonwassilent，rubbinghisnoseonherneck。
"Mum，isDaddyinyourroom？"
"Notto—night。"
"CanIcome？"
"Ifyouwish，myprecious。"
Halfhimselfagain，littleJondrewback。
"Youlookdifferent，Mum;eversoyounger。"
"It’smyhair，darling。"
LittleJonlaidholdofit，thick，darkgold，withafewsilverthreads。
"Ilikeit，"hesaid:"Ilikeyoubestofalllikethis。"
Takingherhand，hehadbegundragginghertowardsthedoor。Heshutitastheypassed，withasighofrelief。
"Whichsideofthebeddoyoulike，Mum？"
"Theleftside。"
"Allright。"
Wastingnotime，givinghernochancetochangehermind，littleJongotintothebed，whichseemedmuchsofterthanhisown。Heheavedanothersigh，screwedhisheadintothepillowandlayexaminingthebattleofchariotsandswordsandspearswhichalwayswentonoutsideblankets，wherethelittlehairsstoodupagainstthelight。
"Itwasn’tanything，really，wasit？"hesaid。
>Frombeforeherglasshismotheranswered:
"Nothingbutthemoonandyourimaginationheatedup。Youmustn’tgetsoexcited，Jon。"
But，stillnotquiteinpossessionofhisnerves，littleJonansweredboastfully:
"Iwasn’tafraid，really，ofcourse！"Andagainhelaywatchingthespearsandchariots。Itallseemedverylong。
"Oh！Mum，dohurryup！"
"Darling，Ihavetoplaitmyhair。"
"Oh！notto—night。You’llonlyhavetounplaititagainto—morrow。
I’msleepynow;ifyoudon’tcome，Ishan’tbesleepysoon。"
Hismotherstoodupwhiteandfloweybeforethewingedmirror:hecouldseethreeofher，withherneckturnedandherhairbrightunderthelight，andherdarkeyessmiling。Itwasunnecessary，andhesaid:
"Docome，Mum;I’mwaiting。"
"Verywell，mylove，I’llcome。"
LittleJonclosedhiseyes。Everythingwasturningoutmostsatisfactory，onlyshemusthurryup！Hefeltthebedshake，shewasgettingin。And，stillwithhiseyesclosed，hesaidsleepily:"It’snice，isn’tit？"
Heheardhervoicesaysomething，feltherlipstouchinghisnose，and，snugglingupbesideherwholayawakeandlovedhimwithherthoughts，hefellintothedreamlesssleep，whichroundedoffhispast。
TOLET
"FromoutthefatalloinsofthosetwofoesApairofstar—crossedloverstaketheirlife。"
——RomeoandJuliet。
TOCHARLESSCRIBNER
PARTI
ENCOUNTER
SoamesForsyteemergedfromtheKnightsbridgeHotel，wherehewasstaying，intheafternoonofthe12thofMay，1920，withtheintentionofvisitingacollectionofpicturesinaGalleryoffCorkStreet，andlookingintotheFuture。Hewalked。SincetheWarhenevertookacabifhecouldhelpit。Theirdriverswere，inhisview，anuncivillot，thoughnowthattheWarwasoverandsupplybeginningtoexceeddemandagain，gettingmorecivilinaccordancewiththecustomofhumannature。Still，hehadnotforgiventhem，deeplyidentifyingthemwithgloomymemories，andnow，dimly，likeallmembers，oftheirclass，withrevolution。TheconsiderableanxietyhehadpassedthroughduringtheWar，andthemoreconsiderableanxietyhehadsinceundergoneinthePeace，hadproducedpsychologicalconsequencesinatenaciousnature。Hehad，mentally，sofrequentlyexperiencedruin，thathehadceasedtobelieveinitsmaterialprobability。Payingawayfourthousandayearinincomeandsupertax，onecouldnotverywellbeworseoff！
Afortuneofaquarterofamillion，encumberedonlybyawifeandonedaughter，andverydiverselyinvested，affordedsubstantialguaranteeevenagainstthat"wildcatnotion"alevyoncapital。Andastoconfiscationofwarprofits，hewasentirelyinfavourofit，forhehadnone，and"servethebeggarsright！"Thepriceofpictures，moreover，had，ifanything，goneup，andhehaddonebetterwithhiscollectionsincetheWarbeganthaneverbefore。Air—raids，also，hadactedbeneficiallyonaspiritcongenitallycautious，andhardenedacharacteralreadydogged。Tobeindangerofbeingentirelydispersedinclinedonetobelessapprehensiveofthemorepartialdispersionsinvolvedinleviesandtaxation，whilethehabitofcondemningtheimpudenceoftheGermanshadlednaturallytocondemningthatofLabour，ifnotopenlyatleastinthesanctuaryofhissoul。
Hewalked。Therewas，moreover，timetospare，forFleurwastomeethimattheGalleryatfouro’clock，anditwasasyetbuthalf—pasttwo。Itwasgoodforhimtowalk——hisliverwasalittleconstricted，andhisnervesratheronedge。HiswifewasalwaysoutwhenshewasinTown，andhisdaughterwouldflibberty—gibbetallovertheplacelikemostyoungwomensincetheWar。Still，hemustbethankfulthatshehadbeentooyoungtodoanythinginthatWaritself。Not，ofcourse，thathehadnotsupportedtheWarfromitsinception，withallhissoul，butbetweenthatandsupportingitwiththebodiesofhiswifeanddaughter，therehadbeenagapfixedbysomethingold—fashionedwithinhimwhichabhorredemotionalextravagance。Hehad，forinstance，stronglyobjectedtoAnnette，soattractive，andin1914onlythirty—four，goingtohernativeFrance，her"cherepatrie"as，underthestimulusofwar，shehadbeguntocallit，tonurseher"bravespoilus，"forsooth！Ruiningherhealthandherlooks！Asifshewerereallyanurse！Hehadputastopperonit。Letherdoneedleworkforthemathome，orknit！Shehadnotgone，therefore，andhadneverbeenquitethesamewomansince。A
badtendencyofherstomockathim，notopenly，butincontinuallittleways，hadgrown。AsforFleur，theWarhadresolvedthevexedproblemwhetherornotsheshouldgotoschool。Shewasbetterawayfromhermotherinherwarmood，fromthechanceofair—raids，andtheimpetustodoextravagantthings;sohehadplacedherinaseminaryasfarWestashadseemedtohimcompatibIewithexcellence，andhadmissedherhorribly。Fleur！Hehadneverregrettedthesomewhatoutlandishnamebywhichatherbirthhehaddecidedsosuddenlytocallher——markedconcessionthoughithadbeentotheFrench。Fleur！Aprettyname——aprettychild！Butrestless——toorestless;andwilful！Knowingherpowertoooverherfather！Soamesoftenreflectedonthemistakeitwastodoteonhisdaughter。Togetoldanddote！Sixty—five！Hewasgettingon;buthedidn’tfeelit，for，fortunatelyperhaps，consideringAnnette’syouthandgoodlooks，hissecondmarriagehadturnedoutacoolaffair。Hehadknownbutonerealpassioninhislife——forthatfirstwifeofhis——
Irene。Yes，andthatfellow，hiscousinJolyon，whohadgoneoffwithher，waslookingveryshaky，theysaid。Nowonder，atseventy—
two，aftertwentyyearsofathirdmarriage！
SoamespausedamomentinhismarchtoleanovertherailingsoftheRow。Asuitablespotforreminiscence，half—waybetweenthathouseinParkLanewhichhadseenhisbirthandhisparents’deaths，andthelittlehouseinMontpellierSquarewherethirty—fiveyearsagohehadenjoyedhisfirsteditionofmatrimony。Now，aftertwentyyearsofhissecondedition，thatoldtragedyseemedtohimlikeapreviousexistence——whichhadendedwhenFleurwasborninplaceofthesonhehadhopedfor。Formanyyearshehadceasedregretting，evenvaguely，thesonwhohadnotbeenborn;Fleurfilledthebillinhisheart。Afterall，sheborehisname;andhewasnotlookingforwardatalltothetimewhenshewouldchangeit。Indeed，ifheeverthoughtofsuchacalamity，itwasseasonedbythevaguefeelingthathecouldmakeherrichenoughtopurchaseperhapsandextinguishthenameofthefellowwhomarriedher——whynot，since，asitseemed，womenwereequaltomennowadays？AndSoames，secretlyconvincedthattheywerenot，passedhiscurvedhandoverhisfacevigorously，tillitreachedthecomfortofhischin。Thankstoabstemioushabits，hehadnotgrownfatandgabby;hisnosewaspaleandthin，hisgreymoustacheclose—clipped，hiseyesightunimpaired。Aslightstoopclosenedandcorrectedtheexpansiongiventohisfacebytheheighteningofhisforeheadintherecessionofhisgreyhair。
LittlechangehadTimewroughtinthe"warmest"oftheyoungForsytes，asthelastoftheoldForsytes——Timothy—nowinhishundredandfirstyear，wouldhavephrasedit。
Theshadefromtheplane—treesfellonhisneatHomburghat;hehadgivenuptophats——itwasnouseattractingattentiontowealthindayslikethese。Plane—trees！HisthoughtstravelledsharplytoMadrid——theEasterbeforetheWar，when，havingtomakeuphismindaboutthatGoyapicture，hehadtakenavoyageofdiscoverytostudythepainteronhisspot。Thefellowhadimpressedhim——greatrange，realgenius！Highlyasthechapranked，hewouldrankevenhigherbeforetheyhadfinishedwithhim。ThesecondGoyacrazewouldbegreatereventhanthefirst;oh，yes！Andhehadbought。Onthatvisithehad——asneverbefore——commissionedacopyofafrescopaintingcalled"LaVendimia，"whereinwasthefigureofagirlwithanarmakimbo，whohadremindedhimofhisdaughter。HehaditnowintheGalleryatMapledurham，andratherpooritwas——youcouldn’tcopyGoya。Hewouldstilllookatit，however，ifhisdaughterwerenotthere，forthesakeofsomethingirresistiblyreminiscentinthelight，erectbalanceofthefigure，thewidthbetweenthearchingeyebrows，theeagerdreamingofthedarkeyes。CuriousthatFleurshouldhavedarkeyes，whenhisownweregrey——nopureForsytehadbrowneyes——andhermother’sblue！ButofcoursehergrandmotherLamotte’seyesweredarkastreacle！
HebegantowalkonagaintowardHydeParkCorner。NogreaterchangeinallEnglandthanintheRow！Bornalmostwithinhailofit，hecouldrememberitfrom1860on。Broughtthereasachildbetweenthecrinolinestostareattight—trousereddandiesinwhiskers，ridingwithacavalryseat;towatchthedoffingofcurly—brimmedandwhitetophats;theleisurelyairofitall，andthelittlebow—leggedmaninalongredwaistcoatwhousedtocomeamongthefashionwithdogsonseveralstrings，andtrytosellonetohismother:KingCharlesspaniels，Italiangreyhounds，affectionatetohercrinoline——youneversawthemnow。Yousawnoqualityofanysort，indeed，justworkingpeoplesittingindullrowswithnothingtostareatbutafewyoungbouncingfemalesinpothats，ridingastride，ordesultoryColonialschargingupanddownondismal—lookinghacks;with，hereandthere，littlegirlsonponies，oroldgentlemenjoggingtheirlivers，oranorderlytryingagreatgalumphingcavalryhorse;nothoroughbreds，nogrooms，nobowing，noscraping，nogossip——nothing;
onlythetreesthesame——thetreesin——differenttothegenerationsanddeclensionsofmankind。AdemocraticEngland——dishevelled，hurried，noisy，andseeminglywithoutanapex。AndthatsomethingfastidiousinthesoulofSoamesturnedoverwithinhim。Goneforever，thecloseboroughofrankandpolish！Wealththerewas——oh，yes！wealth——hehimselfwasarichermanthanhisfatherhadeverbeen;butmanners，flavour，quality，allgone，engulfedinonevast，ugly，shoulder—rubbing，petrol—smellingCheerio。Littlehalf—beatenpocketsofgentilityandcastelurkinghereandthere，dispersedandchetif，asAnnettewouldsay;butnothingeveragainfirmandcoherenttolookupto。Andintothisnewhurly—burlyofbadmannersandloosemoralshisdaughter——flowerofhislife——wasflung！AndwhenthoseLabourchapsgotpower——iftheyeverdid——theworstwasyettocome。
Hepassedoutunderthearchway，atlastnolonger——thankgoodness！——
disfiguredbythegungreyofitssearch—light。’They’dbetterputasearch—lightontowherethey’reallgoing，’hethought，’andlightuptheirpreciousdemocracy！’AndhedirectedhisstepsalongtheClubfrontsofPiccadilly。GeorgeForsyte，ofcourse，wouldbesittinginthebaywindowoftheIseeum。Thechapwassobignowthathewastherenearlyallhistime，likesomeimmovable，sardonic，humorouseyenotingthedeclineofmenandthings。AndSoameshurried，everconstitutionallyuneasybeneathhiscousin’sglance。
George，who，ashehadheard，hadwrittenalettersigned"Patriot"
inthemiddleoftheWar，complainingoftheGovernment’shysteriaindockingtheoatsofrace—horses。Yes，therehewas，tall，ponderous，neat，clean—shaven，withhissmoothhair，hardlythinned，smelling，nodoubt，ofthebesthair—wash，andapinkpaperinhishand。Well，bedidn’tchange！AndforperhapsthefirsttimeinhislifeSoamesfeltakindofsympathytappinginhiswaistcoatforthatsardonickinsman。Withhisweight，hisperfectlypartedhair，andbull—likegaze，hewasaguaranteethattheoldorderwouldtakesomeshiftingyet。HesawGeorgemovethepinkpaperasifinvitinghimtoascend—
—thechapmustwanttoasksomethingabouthisproperty。ItwasstillunderSoames’control;forintheadoptionofasleepingpartnershipatthatpainfulperiodtwentyyearsbackwhenhehaddivorcedIrene，SoameshadfoundhimselfalmostinsensiblyretainingcontrolofallpurelyForsyteaffairs。
Hesitatingforjustamoment，henoddedandwentin。Sincethedeathofhisbrother—in—lawMontagueDartie，inParis，whichnoonehadquiteknownwhattomakeof，exceptthatitwascertainlynotsuicide——theIseeumClubhadseemedmorerespectabletoSoames。
George，too，heknew，hadsownthelastofhiswildoats，andwascommitteddefinitelytothejoysofthetable，eatingonlyoftheverybestsoastokeephisweightdown，andowning，ashesaid，"justoneortwooldscrewstogivemeaninterestinlife。"Hejoinedhiscousin，therefore，inthebaywindowwithouttheembarrassingsenseofindiscretionhehadbeenusedtofeelupthere。