第13章

Leavingthebiliousandmathematicalexactitude，thepreposterouspeaceofthatbackwater，hethoughtsuddenly:’Duringcoverture！Whycan’ttheyexcludefellowslikeProfond，insteadofalotofhard—

workingGermans？’andwassurprisedatthedepthofuneasinesswhichcouldprovokesounpatrioticathought。Butthereitwas！Onenevergotamomentofrealpeace。Therewasalwayssomethingatthebackofeverything！AndhemadehiswaytowardGreenStreet。

Twohourslaterbyhiswatch，ThomasGradman，stirringinhisswivelchair，closedthelastdrawerofhisbureau，andputtingintohiswaistcoatpocketabunchofkeyssofatthattheygavehimaprotuberanceontheliverside，brushedhisoldtophatroundwithhissleeve，tookhisumbrella，anddescended。Thick，short，andbuttonedcloselyintohisoldfrockcoat，hewalkedtowardCoventGardenmarket。HenevermissedthatdailypromenadetotheTubeforHighgate，andseldomsomecriticaltransactiononthewayinconnectionwithvegetablesandfruit。Generationsmightbeborn，andhatsmightchange，warsbefought，andForsytesfadeaway，butThomasGradman，faithfulandgrey，wouldtakehisdailywalkandbuyhisdailyvegetable。Timeswerenotwhattheywere，andhissonhadlostaleg，andtheynevergavehimthosenicelittleplaitedbasketstocarrythestuffinnow，andtheseTubeswereconvenientthings——stillhemustn’tcomplain;hishealthwasgoodconsideringhistimeoflife，andafterfifty—fouryearsintheLawhewasgettingaroundeighthundredayearandalittleworriedoflate，becauseitwasmostlycollector’scommissionontherents，andwithallthisconversionofForsytepropertygoingon，itlookedlikedryingup，andthepriceoflivingstillsohigh;butitwasnogoodworrying——"

ThegoodGodmadeusall"——ashewasinthehabitofsaying;still，housepropertyinLondon——hedidn’tknowwhatMr。RogerorMr。Jameswouldsayiftheycouldseeitbeingsoldlikethis——seemedtoshowalackoffaith;butMr。Soames——heworried。Lifeandlivesinbeingandtwenty—oneyearsafter——beyondthatyoucouldn’tgo;still，hekepthishealthwonderfully——andMissFleurwasaprettylittlething——shewas;she’dmarry;butlotsofpeoplehadnochildrennowadays——hehadhadhisfirstchildattwenty—two;andMr。Jolyon，marriedwhilehewasatCambridge，hadhischildthesameyear——

graciousPeter！Thatwasbackin’69，alongtimebeforeoldMr。

Jolyon——finejudgeofproperty——hadtakenhisWillawayfromMr。

James——dear，yes！Thosewerethedayswhentheywerebuyin’propertyrightandleft，andnoneofthiskhakiandfallin’overoneanothertogetoutofthings;andcucumbersattwopence;andamelon——theoldmelons，thatmadeyourmouthwater！FiftyyearssincehewentintoMr。James’office，andMr。Jameshadsaidtohim:"Now，Gradman，you’reonlyashaver——youpayattention，andyou’llmakeyourfivehundredayearbeforeyou’vedone。"Andhehad，andfearedGod，andservedtheForsytes，andkeptavegetabledietatnight。And，buyingacopyofJobnBull——notthatheapprovedofit，anextravagantaffair——heenteredtheTubeelevatorwithhismerebrown—paperparcel，andwasbornedownintothebowelsoftheearth。

VI

SOAMES’PRIVATELIFE

OnhiswaytoGreenStreetitoccurredtoSoamesthatheoughttogointoDumetrius’inSuffolkStreetaboutthepossibilityoftheBolderbyOldCrome。AlmostworthwhiletohavefoughtthewartohavetheBolderbyOldCrome，asitwere，influx！OldBolderbyhaddied，hissonandgrandsonhadbeenkilled——acousinwascomingintotheestate，whomeanttosellit，somesaidbecauseoftheconditionofEngland，otherssaidbecausehehadasthma。

IfDumetriusoncegotholdofitthepricewouldbecomeprohibitive;

itwasnecessaryforSoamestofindoutwhetherDumetriushadgotit，beforehetriedtogetithimself。HethereforeconfinedhimselftodiscussingwithDumetriuswhetherMonticelliswouldcomeagainnowthatitwasthefashionforapicturetobeanythingexceptapicture;andthefutureofJohns，withaside—slipintoBuxtonKnights。Itwasonlywhenleavingthatheadded:"Sothey’renotsellingtheBolderbyOldCrome，afterall？"Insheerprideofracialsuperiority，ashehadcalculatedwouldbethecase，Dumetriusreplied:

"Oh！Ishallgetit，Mr。Forsyte，sir！"

TheflutterofhiseyelidfortifiedSoamesinaresolutiontowritedirecttothenewBolderby，suggestingthattheonlydignifiedwayofdealingwithanOldCromewastoavoiddealers。Hethereforesaid，"Well，good—day！"andwent，leavingDumetriusthewiser。

AtGreenStreethefoundthatFleurwasoutandwouldbealltheevening;shewasstayingonemorenightinLondon。Hecabbedondejectedly，andcaughthistrain。

Hereachedhishouseaboutsixo’clock。Theairwasheavy，midgesbiting，thunderabout。Takinghislettershewentuptohisdressing—roomtocleansehimselfofLondon。

Anuninterestingpost。Areceipt，abillforpurchasesonbehalfofFleur。Acircularaboutanexhibitionofetchings。Aletterbeginning:

"SIR，"Ifeelitmyduty……"

Thatwouldbeanappealorsomethingunpleasant。Helookedatonceforthesignature。Therewasnone！Incredulouslyheturnedthepageoverandexaminedeachcorner。Notbeingapublicman，Soameshadneveryethadananonymousletter，andhisfirstimpulsewastotearitup，asadangerousthing;hissecondtoreadit，asathingstillmoredangerous。

"SIR，"Ifeelitmydutytoinformyouthathavingnointerestinthematteryourladyiscarryingonwithaforeigner——"

ReachingthatwordSoamesstoppedmechanicallyandexaminedthepostmark。SofarashecouldpiercetheimpenetrabledisguiseinwhichthePostOfficehadwrappedit，therewassomethingwitha"sea"attheendanda"t"init。Chelsea？No！Battersea？Perhaps！

Hereadon。

"Theseforeignersareallthesame。Sackthelot。Thisonemeetsyourladytwiceaweek。Iknowitofmyownknowledge——andtoseeanEnglishmanputongoesagainstthegrain。YouwatchitandseeifwhatIsayisn’ttrue。Ishouldn’tmeddleifitwasn’tadirtyforeignerthat’sinit。Yoursobedient。"

ThesensationwithwhichSoamesdroppedtheletterwassimilartothathewouldhavehadenteringhisbedroomandfindingitfullofblack—beetles。Themeannessofanonymitygaveashudderingobscenitytothemoment。AndtheworstofitwasthatthisshadowhadbeenatthebackofhismindeversincetheSundayeveningwhenFleurhadpointeddownatProsperProfondstrollingonthelawn，andsaid:

"Prowlingcat！"Hadhenotinconnectiontherewith，thisveryday，perusedhisWillandMarriageSettlement？Andnowthisanonymousruffian，withnothingtogain，apparently，savetheventingofhisspiteagainstforeigners，hadwrencheditoutoftheobscurityinwhichhehadhopedandwisheditwouldremain。Tohavesuchknowledgeforcedonhim，athistimeoflife，aboutFleur’smotherI

Hepickedtheletterupfromthecarpet，toreitacross，andthen，whenithungtogetherbyjustthefoldattheback，stoppedtearing，andrereadit。Hewastakingatthatmomentoneofthedecisiveresolutionsofhislife。Hewouldnotbeforcedintoanotherscandal。No！Howeverhedecidedtodealwiththismatter——anditrequiredthemostfar—sightedandcarefulconsiderationhewoulddonothingthatmightinjureFleur。Thatresolutiontaken，hismindansweredthehelmagain，andhemadehisablutions。Hishandstrembledashedriedthem。Scandalhewouldnothave，butsomethingmustbedonetostopthissortofthing！Hewentintohiswife’sroomandstoodlookingaroundhim。Theideaofsearchingforanythingwhichwouldincriminate，andentitlehimtoholdamenaceoverher，didnotevencometohim。Therewouldbenothing——shewasmuchtoopractical。Theideaofhavingherwatchedhadbeendismissedbeforeitcame——toowellherememberedhispreviousexperienceofthat。No！Hehadnothingbutthistorn—upletterfromsomeanonymousruffian，whoseimpudentintrusionintohisprivatelifehesoviolentlyresented。Itwasrepugnanttohimtomakeuseofit，buthemighthaveto。WhatamercyFleurwasnotathometo—

night！Ataponthedoorbrokeuphispainfulcogitations。

"Mr。MichaelMont，sir，isinthedrawing—room。Willyouseehim？"

"No，"saidSoames;"yes。I’llcomedown。"

Anythingthatwouldtakehismindoffforafewminutes！

MichaelMontinflannelsstoodontheverandahsmokingacigarette。

HethrewitawayasSoamescameup，andranhishandthroughhishair。

Soames’feelingtowardthisyoungmanwassingular。Hewasnodoubtarackety，irresponsibleyoungfellowaccordingtooldstandards，yetsomehowlikeable，withhisextraordinarilycheerfulwayofblurtingouthisopinions。

"Comein，"hesaid;"haveyouhadtea？"

Montcamein。

"IthoughtFleurwouldhavebeenback，sir;butI’mgladsheisn’t。

Thefactis，I——I’mfearfullygoneonher;sofearfullygonethatI

thoughtyou’dbetterknow。It’sold—fashioned，ofcourse，comingtofathersfirst，butIthoughtyou’dforgivethat。IwenttomyownDad，andhesaysifIsettledownhe’llseemethrough。Herathercottonstotheidea，infact。ItoldhimaboutyourGoya。"

"Oh！"saidSoames，inexpressiblydry。"Herathercottons？"

"Yes，sir;doyou？"

Soamessmiledfaintly。

"Yousee，"resumedMont，twiddlinghisstrawhat，whilehishair，ears，eyebrows，allseemedtostandupfromexcitement，"whenyou’vebeenthroughtheWaryoucan’thelpbeinginahurry。"

"Togetmarried;andunmarriedafterward，"saidSoamesslowly。

"NotfromFleur，sir。Imagine，ifyouwereme！"

Soamesclearedhisthroat。Thatwayofputtingitwasforcibleenough。

"Fleur’stooyoung，"hesaid。

"Oh！no，sir。We’reawfullyoldnowadays。MyDadseemstomeaperfectbabe;histhinkingapparatushasn’tturnedahair。Buthe’saBaronight，ofcourse;thatkeepshimback。"

"Baronight，"repeatedSoames;"whatmaythatbe？"

"Bart，sir。IshallbeaBartsomeday。ButIshallliveitdown，youknow。"

"Goawayandlivethisdown，"saidSoames。

YoungMontsaidimploringly:"Oh！no，sir。Isimplymusthangaround，orIshouldn’thaveadog’schance。You’llletFleurdowhatshelikes，Isuppose，anyway。Madamepassesme。"

"Indeed！"saidSoamesfrigidly。

"Youdon’treallybarme，doyou？"andtheyoungmanlookedsodolefulthatSoamessmiled。

"Youmaythinkyou’reveryold，"hesaid;"butyoustrikemeasextremelyyoung。Torattleaheadofeverythingisnotaproofofmaturity。"

"Allright，sir;Igiveyouourage。ButtoshowyouImeanbusiness——I’vegotajob。"

"Gladtohearit。"

"Joinedapublisher;mygovernorisputtingupthestakes。"

Soamesputhishandoverhismouth——hehadsoverynearlysaid:"Godhelpthepublisher！"Hisgreyeyesscrutinisedtheagitatedyoungman。

"Idon’tdislikeyou，Mr。Mont，butFleuriseverythingtome:

Everything——doyouunderstand？"

"Yes，sir，Iknow;butsosheistome。"

"That’sasmaybe。I’mgladyou’vetoldme，however。AndnowI

thinkthere’snothingmoretobesaid。"

"Iknowitrestswithher，sir。"

"Itwillrestwithheralongtime，Ihope。"

"Youaren’tcheering，"saidMontsuddenly。

"No，"saidSoames，"myexperienceoflifehasnotmademeanxioustocouplepeopleinahurry。Good—night，Mr。Mont。Ishan’ttellFleurwhatyou’vesaid。"

"Oh！"murmuredMontblankly;"Ireallycouldknockmybrainsoutforwantofher。Sheknowsthatperfectlywell。"

"Idaresay。"AndSoamesheldouthishand。Adistractedsqueeze，aheavysigh，andsoonaftersoundsfromtheyoungman’smotor—cyclecalledupvisionsofflyingdustandbrokenbones。

’Theyoungergeneration！’hethoughtheavily，andwentoutontothelawn。Thegardenershadbeenmowing，andtherewasstillthesmelloffresh—cutgrass——thethunderyairkeptallscentsclosetoearth。

Theskywasofapurplishhue——thepoplarsblack。Twoorthreeboatspassedontheriver，scuttling，asitwere，forshelterbeforethestorm。’Threedays’fineweather，’thoughtSoames，’andthenastorm！’WherewasAnnette？Withthatchap，forallheknew——shewasayoungwoman！Impressedwiththequeercharityofthatthought，heenteredthesummerhouseandsatdown。Thefactwas——andheadmittedit——Fleurwassomuchtohimthathiswifewasverylittle——verylittle;French——hadneverbeenmuchmorethanamistress，andhewasgettingindifferenttothatsideofthings！Itwasoddhow，withallthisingrainedcareformoderationandsecureinvestment，Soameseverputhisemotionaleggsintoonebasket。FirstIrene——nowFleur。Hewasdimlyconsciousofit，sittingthere，consciousofitsodddangerousness。Ithadbroughthimtowreckandscandalonce，butnow——nowitshouldsavehim！HecaredsomuchforFleurthathewouldhavenofurtherscandal。Ifonlyhecouldgetatthatanonymousletter—writer，hewouldteachhimnottomeddleandstirupmudatthebottomofwaterwhichhewishedshouldremainstagnant！……

Adistantflash，alowrumble，andlargedropsofrainspatteredonthethatchabovehim。Heremainedindifferent，tracingapatternwithhisfingeronthedustysurfaceofalittlerustictable。

Fleur’sfuture！’Iwantfairsailingforher，’hethought。’Nothingelsemattersatmytimeoflife。’Alonelybusiness——life！Whatyouhadyounevercouldkeeptoyourself！Asyouwarnedoneoff，youletanotherin。Onecouldmakesureofnothing！Hereachedupandpulledaredramblerrosefromaclusterwhichblockedthewindow。

Flowersgrewanddropped——Naturewasaqueerthing！Thethunderrumbledandcrashed，travellingeastalongariver，thepalingflashesflickedhiseyes;thepoplartopsshowedsharpanddenseagainstthesky，aheavyshowerrustledandrattledandveiledinthelittlehousewhereinhesat，indifferent，thinking。

Whenthestormwasover，helefthisretreatandwentdownthewetpathtotheriverbank。

Twoswanshadcome，shelteringinamongthereeds。Heknewthebirdswell，andstoodwatchingthedignityinthecurveofthosewhitenecksandformidablesnake—likeheads。’Notdignified——whatIhavetodo！’hethought。Andyetitmustbetackled，lestworsebefell。

Annettemustbebackbynowfromwherevershehadgone，foritwasnearlydinner—time，andasthemomentforseeingherapproached，thedifficultyofknowingwhattosayandhowtosayithadincreased。A

newandscaringthoughtoccurredtohim。Supposeshewantedherlibertytomarrythisfellow！Well，ifshedid，shecouldn’thaveit。Hehadnotmarriedherforthat。TheimageofProsperProfonddawdledbeforehimreassuringly。Notamarryingman！No，no！Angerreplacedthatmomentaryscare。’Hehadbetternotcomemyway，’hethought。Themongrelrepresented———！ButwhatdidProsperProfondrepresent？Nothingthatmatteredsurely。Andyetsomethingrealenoughintheworld——unmoralityletoffitschain，disillusionmentontheprowl！ThatexpressionAnnettehadcaughtfromhim:"Jem’enfiche！"Afatalisticchap！Acontinental——acosmopolitan——aproductoftheage！Iftherewerecondemnationmorecomplete，Soamesfeltthathedidnotknowit。

Theswanshadturnedtheirheads，andwerelookingpasthimintosomedistanceoftheirown。Oneofthemutteredalittlehiss，waggeditstail，turnedasifansweringtoarudder，andswamaway。Theotherfollowed。Theirwhitebodies，theirstatelynecks，passedoutofhissight，andhewenttowardthehouse。

Annettewasinthedrawing—room，dressedfordinner，andhethoughtashewentup—stairs’Handsomeisashandsomedoes。’Handsome！

Exceptforremarksaboutthecurtainsinthedrawing—room，andthestorm，therewaspracticallynoconversationduringamealdistinguishedbyexactitudeofquantityandperfectionofquality。

Soamesdranknothing。Hefollowedherintothedrawing—roomafterward，andfoundhersmokingacigaretteonthesofabetweenthetwoFrenchwindows。Shewasleaningback，almostupright，inalowblackfrock，withherkneescrossedandherblueeyeshalf—closed;

grey—bluesmokeissuedfromherred，ratherfulllips，afilletboundherchestnuthair，sheworethethinnestsilkstockings，andshoeswithveryhighheelsshowingoffherinstep。Afinepieceinanyroom！Soames，whoheldthattornletterinahandthrustdeepintotheside—pocketofhisdinner—jacket，said:

"I’mgoingtoshutthewindow;thedamp’sliftingin。"

Hedidso，andstoodlookingataDavidCoxadorningthecream—

panelledwallcloseby。

Whatwasshethinkingof？Hehadneverunderstoodawomaninhislife——exceptFleur——andFleurnotalways！Hisheartbeatfast。Butifhemeanttodoit，nowwasthemoment。TurningfromtheDavidCox，hetookoutthetornletter。

"I’vehadthis。"

Hereyeswidened，staredathim，andhardened。

Soameshandedhertheletter。

"It’storn，butyoucanreadit。"AndheturnedbacktotheDavidCox——asea—piece，ofgoodtone——butwithoutmovementenough。’I

wonderwhatthatchap’sdoingatthismoment？’hethought。’I’llastonishhimyet。’OutofthecornerofhiseyehesawAnnetteholdingtheletterrigidly;hereyesmovedfromsidetosideunderherdarkenedlashesandfrowningdarkenedeyes。Shedroppedtheletter，gavealittleshiver，smiled，andsaid:

"Dirrty！"

"Iquiteagree，"saidSoames;"degrading。Isittrue？"

Atoothfastenedonherredlowerlip。"Andwhatifitwere？"

Shewasbrazen！

"Isthatallyouhavetosay？"

"No。"

"Well，speakout！"

"Whatisthegoodoftalking？"

Soamessaidicily:"Soyouadmitit？"

"Iadmitnothing。Youareafooltoask。Amanlikeyoushouldnotask。Itisdangerous。"

Soamesmadeatouroftheroom，tosubduehisrisinganger。

"Doyouremember，"hesaid，haltinginfrontofher，"whatyouwerewhenImarriedyou？Workingataccountsinarestaurant。"

"DoyourememberthatIwasnothalfyourage？"

Soamesbrokeoffthehardencounteroftheireyes，andwentbacktotheDavidCox。

"Iamnotgoingtobandywords。Irequireyoutogiveupthis——

friendship。IthinkofthematterentirelyasitaffectsFleur。"

"Ah！——Fleur！"

"Yes，"saidSoamesstubbornly;"Fleur。Sheisyourchildaswellasmine。"

"Itiskindtoadmitthat！"

"AreyougoingtodowhatIsay？"

"Irefusetotellyou。"

"ThenImustmakeyou。"

Annettesmiled。

"No，Soames，"shesaid。"Youarehelpless。Donotsaythingsthatyouwillregret。"

Angerswelledtheveinsonhisforehead。Heopenedhismouthtoventthatemotion，andcouldnot。Annettewenton:

"Thereshallbenomoresuchletters，Ipromiseyou。Thatisenough。"

Soameswrithed。Hehadasenseofbeingtreatedlikeachildbythiswomanwhohaddeservedhedidnotknowwhat。

"Whentwopeoplehavemarried，andlivedlikeus，Soames，theyhadbetterbequietabouteachother。Therearethingsonedoesnotdragupintothelightforpeopletolaughat。Youwillbequiet，then;

notformysakeforyourown。Youaregettingold;Iamnot，yet。

Youhavemademever—rypractical"

Soames，whohadpassedthroughallthesensationsofbeingchoked，repeateddully:

"Irequireyoutogiveupthisfriendship。"

"AndifIdonot？"

"Then——thenIwillcutyououtofmyWill。"

Somehowitdidnotseemtomeetthecase。Annettelaughed。

"Youwilllivealongtime，Soames。"

"You——youareabadwoman，"saidSoamessuddenly。

Annetteshruggedhershoulders。

"Idonotthinkso。Livingwithyouhaskilledthingsinme，itistrue;butIamnotabadwoman。Iamsensible——thatisall。Andsowillyoubewhenyouhavethoughtitover。"

"Ishallseethisman，"saidSoamessullenly，"andwarnhimoff。"

"Moncher，youarefunny。Youdonotwantme，youhaveasmuchofmeasyouwant;andyouwishtherestofmetobedead。Iadmitnothing，butIamnotgoingtobedead，Soames，atmyage;soyouhadbetterbequiet，Itellyou。Imyselfwillmakenoscandal;none。

Now，Iamnotsayinganymore，whateveryoudo。"

Shereachedout，tookaFrenchnoveloffalittletable，andopenedit。Soameswatchedher，silencedbythetumultofhisfeelings。Thethoughtofthatmanwasalmostmakinghimwanther，andthiswasarevelationoftheirrelationship，startlingtoonelittlegiventointrospectivephilosophy。Withoutsayinganotherwordhewentoutanduptothepicture—gallery。ThiscameofmarryingaFrenchwoman！

Andyet，withouthertherewouldhavebeennoFleur！Shehadservedherpurpose。

’She’sright，’hethought;’Icandonothing。Idon’tevenknowthatthere’sanythinginit。’Theinstinctofself—preservationwarnedhimtobattendownhishatches，tosmotherthefirewithwantofair。

Unlessonebelievedtherewassomethinginathing，therewasn’t。

Thatnighthewentintoherroom。Shereceivedhiminthemostmatter—of—factway，asiftherehadbeennoscenebetweenthem。Andhereturnedtohisownroomwithacurioussenseofpeace。Ifonedidn’tchoosetosee，oneneedn’t。Andhedidnotchoose——infuturehedidnotchoose。Therewasnothingtobegainedbyit——nothing！

Openingthedrawerhetookfromthesachetahandkerchief，andtheframedphotographofFleur。Whenhehadlookedatitalittleheslippeditdown，andtherewasthatotherone——thatoldoneofIrene。

Anowlhootedwhilehestoodinhiswindowgazingatit。Theowlhooted，theredclimbingrosesseemedtodeepenincolour，therecameascentoflime—blossom。God！Thathadbeenadifferentthing！

Passion——Memory！Dust！

VII

JUNETAKESAHAND

Onewhowasasculptor，aSlav，asometimeresidentinNewYork，anegoist，andimpecunious，wastobefoundofaneveninginJuneForsyte’sstudioonthebankoftheThamesatChiswick。OntheeveningofJuly6，BorisStrumolowski——severalofwhoseworkswereonshowtherebecausetheywereasyettooadvancedtobeonshowanywhereelse——hadbegunwell，withthataloofandratherChrist—likesilencewhichadmirablysuitedhisyouthful，round，broadcheek—bonedcountenanceframedinbrighthairbangedlikeagirl’s。Junehadknownhimthreeweeks，andhestillseemedtohertheprincipalembodimentofgenius，andhopeofthefuture;asortofStaroftheEastwhichhadstrayedintoanunappreciativeWest。UntilthateveninghehadconversationallyconfinedhimselftorecordinghisimpressionsoftheUnitedStates，whosedusthehadjustshakenfromoffhisfeet——acountry，inhisopinion，sobarbarousineverywaythathehadsoldpracticallynothingthere，andbecomeanobjectofsuspiciontothepolice;acountry，ashesaid，withoutaraceofitsown，withoutliberty，equality，orfraternity，withoutprinciples，traditions，taste，without——inaword——asoul。Hehadleftitforhisowngood，andcometotheonlyothercountrywherehecouldlivewell。Junehaddweltunhappilyonhiminherlonelymoments，standingbeforehiscreations——frightening，butpowerfulandsymboliconcetheyhadbeenexplained！Thathe，haloedbybrighthairlikeanearlyItalianpainting，andabsorbedinhisgeniustotheexclusionofallelse——theonlysignofcoursebywhichrealgeniuscouldbetold——shouldstillbea"lameduck"agitatedherwarmheartalmosttotheexclusionofPaulPost。AndshehadbeguntotakestepstoclearherGallery，inordertofillitwithStrumolowskimasterpieces。Shehadatonceencounteredtrouble。PaulPosthadkicked;Vospovitchhadstung。Withalltheemphasisofageniuswhichshedidnotasyetdenythem，theyhaddemandedanothersixweeksatleastofherGallery。TheAmericanstream，stillflowingin，wouldsoonbeflowingout。TheAmericanstreamwastheirright，theironlyhope，theirsalvation——sincenobodyinthis"beastly"countrycaredforArt。Junehadyieldedtothedemonstration。AfterallBoriswouldnotmindtheirhavingthefullbenefitofanAmericanstream，whichhehimselfsoviolentlydespised。

ThiseveningshehadputthattoBoriswithnobodyelsepresent，exceptHannahHobdey，themediaevalblack—and—whitist，andJimmyPortugal，editoroftheNeo—Artist。Shehadputittohimwiththatsuddenconfidencewhichcontinualcontactwiththeneo—artisticworldhadneverbeenabletodryupinherwarmandgenerousnature。HehadnotbrokenhisChrist—likesilence，however，formorethantwominutesbeforeshebegantomoveherblueeyesfromsidetoside，asacatmovesitstail。This——hesaid——wascharacteristicofEngland，themostselfishcountryintheworld;thecountrywhichsuckedthebloodofothercountries;destroyedthebrainsandheartsofIrishmen，Hindus，Egyptians，Boers，andBurmese，allthebestracesintheworld;bullying，hypocriticalEngland！Thiswaswhathehadexpected，comingto，suchacountry，wheretheclimatewasallfog，andthepeoplealltradesmenperfectlyblindtoArt，andsunkinprofiteeringandthegrossestmaterialism。ConsciousthatHannahHobdeywasmurmuring，"Hear，hear！"andJimmyPortugalsniggering，Junegrewcrimson，andsuddenlyrappedout:

"Thenwhydidyouevercome？Wedidn’taskyou。"