The Forsyte Saga - Complete

me-tax was seriously threatened. Still, there would be South Africa for their money, once for all. And though the possessive instinct felt badly sha

on the Continent, no anything unpleasant. Indeed, the attitude of the nation was typified by Timothy's map, whose animation was suspen

ofessor Heron,' had occasioned doubt whether Irene had been justly described. And yet, on the whole, relief was felt that she had not been entered as 'Irene, late the wife,' or 'the divorced wife,' 'of Soames Forsyte.' Altogether, there had b

ve laid Eustace six to four on a little Jolyon before a little Soames. George was so droll! It was rumoured, too, that he

mp-nothing to speak of. He wanted his grandfather to buy him a farm out there where he could breed horses. Her father was giving Holly eight hundred a year, so they could be

id Winifred, "he m

grandfather was wise, because if he didn

aid Winifred. "It'd be su

ses were very uncertain, ha

said Winifred; "h

he gave his bad penny to a beggar. His dear grandfather was so pleased. He thought it

that it was much better for the young people t

haps; in London it's amusing to do nothing. But out

re not to lose by it. It was not as if they had no money. Timothy, of course,

Montague had merely remarked:

as announced. Her eyes w

id, "what do y

hat,

imes this

ways read it after dinner;

rolled h

t to tell us?" said Au

d a son at

th. "But," she said, "they

; isn't it i

. I was sorry for Jolyon losing

e murmured, "what dear Soames will think? He has so wanted t

fred, "he's going

led out of Aun

tful!" she

vem

h it could be sooner. It was a long

cuds in a familiar field. And this new event was so well worth waiting for. Soames had always been their pet, with his tendency to give them pictures, and his almost weekly visits which they missed so much, and his need for their sympathy evoked by the wreck of his first marriage. This new event-the birth of an heir to Soames-was so important for him, and for his dear father, too, that James might not have to die without some certainty about things. James did so dislike uncertainty; and with Montague, of course, he could not feel really satisfied to leave no grand-children but the young Darties. After all, one's own name did count! And as James' ninetieth birthday neared they wondered what precautions he was taking. He would be the first of the Forsytes to reach that age, and set, as it were, a new standard in holding on to life. That was so important, they felt, at their ages eighty-seven and eighty-five; though they did not want to think of themselves when they had Timothy, who was not yet eighty-two, to think of. There was, of course, a better world. 'In my Father's house are many mansions' was one of Aunt Juley's favourite sayings-it always comforted h

st go round and take their love and little presents and find out how Mr. James was, and whether he had passed a good night with all the excitement. And on the way back would Smither call in at Green Stree

James, so Mrs. James said, had passed an excellent night, he sent his love; Mrs. James had said he was very funny and had

led it-were 'delighted'. it showed that James was in good spirits, and that was so important for him. And they began to wait for Winifred. She came at four, bringing Imogen, and Maud, just back from school, and

Auntie," interrupted Imogen; "h

George's, which had not been shown them! But what did Imogen mean? That her uncle

ce rose clea

s older than me; it must be awful

ifted her ha

es is a match for anybody. He's a very clever man, and good-looking and wealthy

lance from one to the other of

quite severely, "that you

man, Auntie," murmured

upset, "you won't marry anybody. We'd better not pursue the

hey were waiting for

rink dear James' health, and-and the health of Soames' wife; only, let's keep that quite secret.

said Aunt Nester. "But we must,

now that Irene has had a son. Winifred says George is calling Jolyon 'The Three-Decker,' because of his three families, you know! George is droll.

rty, and wife, and children! And he would live to a green old age, like his dear father, and forget all about Irene and that dreadful case. If only she herself could be here to buy his children their first rocking-horse! Smither should choose it for her at the stores, nice and dappled. Ah! how Roger used to rock her until she fell off! Oh dear! that was a long time ago! It was! 'In my Father's house are many mansions-'A little scrattling