To Let - John Galsworthy (13 inch ebook reader .txt) 📗
- Author: John Galsworthy
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Mother--" He Paused, Staring At His Finger-Bowl Of Venetian Glass.
"Yes?"
"I've Only You To Look To. I've Never Had--Never Wanted Anything Else,
Since You Were Born."
"I Know," Fleur Murmured.
Soames Moistened His Lips.
"You May Think This A Matter I Can Smooth Over And Arrange For You.
You're Mistaken. I--I'm Helpless."
Fleur Did Not Speak.
"Quite Apart From My Own Feelings," Went On Soames With More
Resolution, "Those Two Are Not Amenable To Anything I Can Say.
They--They Hate Me, As People Always Hate Those Whom They Have Injured.
Part II IX (Fat In The Fire) Pg 26"But He--Jon--"
"He's Their Flesh And Blood, Her Only Child. Probably He Means To Her
What You Mean To Me. It's A Deadlock."
"No," Cried Fleur, "No, Father!"
Soames Leaned Back, The Image Of Pale Patience, As If Resolved On The
Betrayal Of No Emotion.
"Listen!" He Said. "You're Putting The Feelings Of Two Months--Two
Months--Against The Feelings Of Thirty-Five Years! What Chance Do You
Think You Have? Two Months--Your Very First Love-Affair, A Matter Of
Half A Dozen Meetings, A Few Walks And Talks, A Few Kisses--Against,
Against What You Can't Imagine, What No One Could Who Hasn't Been
Through It. Come, Be Reasonable, Fleur! It's Midsummer Madness!"
Fleur Tore The Honeysuckle Into Little, Slow Bits. "The Madness Is In
Letting The Past Spoil It All. What Do We Care About The Past? It's Our
Lives, Not Yours."
Soames Raised His Hand To His Forehead, Where Suddenly She Saw Moisture
Shining.
"Whose Child Are You?" He Said. "Whose Child Is He? The Present Is
Linked With The Past, The Future With Both. There's No Getting Away
From That."
She Had Never Heard Philosophy Pass Those Lips Before. Impressed Even
In Her Agitation, She Leaned Her Elbows On The Table, Her Chin On Her
Hands.
Part II IX (Fat In The Fire) Pg 27"But, Father, Consider It Practically. We Want Each Other. There's Ever
So Much Money, And Nothing Whatever In The Way But Sentiment. Let's
Bury The Past, Father."
Soames Shook His Head. "Impossible!"
"Besides," Said Fleur Gently, "You Can't Prevent Us."
"I Don't Suppose," Said Soames, "That If Left To Myself I Should Try To
Prevent You; I Must Put Up With Things, I Know, To Keep Your Affection.
But It's Not I Who Control This Matter. That's What I Want You To
Realise Before It's Too Late. If You Go On Thinking You Can Get Your
Way, And Encourage This Feeling, The Blow Will Be Much Heavier When You
Find You Can't."
"Oh!" Cried Fleur, "Help Me, Father; You Can Help Me, You Know."
Soames Made A Startled Movement Of Negation.
"I?" He Said Bitterly. "Help? I Am The Impediment--The Just Cause And
Impediment--Isn't That The Jargon? You Have My Blood In Your Veins."
He Rose.
"Well, The Fat's In The Fire. If You Persist In Your Wilfulness You'll
Have Yourself To Blame. Come! Don't Be Foolish, My Child--My Only
Child!"
Fleur Laid Her Forehead Against His Shoulder.
Part II IX (Fat In The Fire) Pg 28All Was In Such Turmoil Within Her. But No Good To Show It! No Good At
All! She Broke Away From Him, And Went Out Into The Twilight,
Distraught, But Unconvinced. All Was Indeterminate And Vague Within
Her, Like The Shapes And Shadows In The Garden, Except--Her Will To
Have. A Poplar Pierced Up Into The Dark-Blue Sky And Touched A White
Star There. The Dew Wetted Her Shoes, And Chilled Her Bare Shoulders.
She Went Down To The River Bank, And Stood Gazing At A Moonstreak On
The Darkening Water. Suddenly She Smelled Tobacco Smoke, And A White
Figure Emerged As If Created By The Moon. It Was Young Mont In
Flannels, Standing In His Boat. She Heard The Tiny Hiss Of His
Cigarette Extinguished In The Water.
"Fleur," Came His Voice, "Don't Be Hard On A Poor Devil! I've Been
Waiting Hours."
"For What?"
"Come In My Boat!"
"Not I."
"Why Not?"
"I'm Not A Water-Nymph."
"Haven't You Any Romance In You? Don't Be Modern, Fleur!"
He Appeared On The Path Within A Yard Of Her.
Part II IX (Fat In The Fire) Pg 29"Go Away!"
"Fleur, I Love You. Fleur!"
Fleur Uttered A Short Laugh.
"Come Again," She Said, "When I Haven't Got My Wish."
"What Is Your Wish?"
"Ask Another."
"Fleur," Said Mont, And His Voice Sounded Strange, "Don't Mock Me! Even
Vivisected Dogs Are Worth Decent Treatment Before They're Cut Up For
Good."
Fleur Shook Her Head; But Her Lips Were Trembling.
"Well, You Shouldn't Make Me Jump. Give Me A Cigarette."
Mont Gave Her One, Lighted It, And Another For Himself.
"I Don't Want To Talk Rot," He Said, "But Please Imagine All The Rot
That All The Lovers That Ever Were Have Talked, And All My Special Rot
Thrown In."
"Thank You, I Have Imagined It. Good-Night!"
They Stood For A Moment Facing Each Other In The Shadow Of An
Acacia-Tree With Very Moonlit Blossoms, And The Smoke From Their
Cigarettes Mingled In The Air Between Them.
Part II IX (Fat In The Fire) Pg 30"Also Ran: 'Michael Mont'?" He Said. Fleur Turned Abruptly Towards The
House. On The Lawn She Stopped To Look Back. Michael Mont Was Whirling
His Arms Above Him; She Could See Them Dashing At His Head, Then Waving
At The Moonlit Blossoms Of The Acacia. His Voice Just Reached Her.
"Jolly--Jolly!" Fleur Shook Herself. She Couldn't Help Him, She Had Too
Much Trouble Of Her Own! On The Verandah She Stopped Very Suddenly
Again. Her Mother Was Sitting In The Drawing-Room At Her Writing
Bureau, Quite Alone. There Was Nothing Remarkable In The Expression Of
Her Face Except Its Utter Immobility. But She Looked Desolate! Fleur
Went Up-Stairs. At The Door Of Her Room She Paused. She Could Hear Her
Father Walking Up And Down, Up And Down The Picture-Gallery.
'Yes,' She Thought, Jolly! Oh, Jon!'
Part II X (Decision) Pg 31
When Fleur Left Him Jon Stared At The Austrian. She Was A Thin Woman
With A Dark Face And The Concerned Expression Of One Who Has Watched
Every Little Good That Life Once Had Slip From Her, One By One.
"No Tea?" She Said.
Susceptible To The Disappointment In Her Voice, Jon Murmured:
"No, Really; Thanks."
Part II X (Decision) Pg 32"A Lil Cup--It Ready. A Lil Cup And Cigarette."
Fleur Was Gone! Hours Of Remorse And Indecision Lay Before Him! And
With A Heavy Sense Of Disproportion He Smiled, And Said:
"Well--Thank You!"
She Brought In A Little Pot Of Tea With Two Cups, And A Silver Box Of
Cigarettes On A Little Tray.
"Sugar? Miss Forsyte Has Much Sugar--She Buy My Sugar, My Friend's
Sugar Also. Miss Forsyte Is A Veree Kind Lady. I Am Happy To Serve Her.
You Her Brother?"
"Yes," Said Jon, Beginning To Puff The Second Cigarette Of His Life.
"Very Young Brother," Said The Austrian, With A Little Anxious Smile,
Which Reminded Him Of The Wag Of A Dog's Tail.
"May I Give You Some?" He Said. "And Won't You Sit Down?"
The Austrian Shook Her Head.
"Your Father A Very Nice Man--The Most Nice Old Man I Ever See. Miss
Forsyte Tell Me All About Him. Is He Better?"
Her Words Fell On Jon Like A Reproach. "Oh! I Think He's All Right."
"I Like To See Him Again," Said The Austrian, Putting A Hand On Her
Heart; "He Have Veree Kind Heart.
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