第64章

SOAMES PUTS IT TO THE TOUCH

Of all those radiant firms which emblazon with their windows the West End of London,Gaves and Cortegal were considered by Soames the most 'attractive'word just coming into fashion.He had never had his Uncle Swithin's taste in precious stones,and the abandonment by Irene when she left his house in 1887of all the glittering things he had given her had disgusted him with this form of invest-ment.But he still knew a diamond when he saw one,and during the week before her birthday he had taken occasion,on his way into the Poultry or his way out therefrom,to dally a little before the greater jewellers where one got,if not one's money's worth,at least a certain cachet with the goods.

Constant cogitation since his drive with Jolyon had convinced him more and more of the supreme importance of this moment in his life,the supreme need for taking steps and those not wrong.And,alongside the dry and reasoned sense that it was now or never with his self-preservation,now or never if he were to range himself and found a family,went the secret urge of his senses roused by the sight of her who had once been a passionately desired wife,and the conviction that it was a sin against common sense and the decent secrecy of Forsytes to waste the wife he had.

In an opinion on Winifred's case,Dreamer,Q.C.--he would much have preferred Waterbuck,but they had made him a judge (so late in the day as to rouse the usual suspicion of a political job)--had advised that they should go forward and obtain restitution of conjugal rights,a point which to Soames had never been in doubt.

When they had obtained a decree to that effect they must wait to see if it was obeyed.If not,it would constitute legal desertion,and they should obtain evidence of misconduct and file their petition for divorce.All of which Soames knew perfectly well.

They had marked him ten and one.This simplicity in his sister's case only made him the more desperate about the difficulty in his own.Everything,in fact,was driving him towards the simple solution of Irene's return.If it were still against the grain with her,had he not feelings to subdue,injury to forgive,pain to forget?He at least had never injured her,and this was a world of compromise!He could offer her so much more than she had now.He would be prepared to make a liberal settlement on her which could not be upset.He often scrutinised his image in these days.He had never been a peacock like that fellow Dartie,or fancied himself a woman's man,but he had a certain belief in his own appearance--not unjustly,for it was well-coupled and preserved,neat,healthy,pale,unblemished by drink or excess of any kind.

The Forsyte jaw and the concentration of his face were,in his eyes,virtues.So far as he could tell there was no feature of him which need inspire dislike.

Thoughts and yearnings,with which one lives daily,become natural,even if far-fetched in their inception.If he could only give tangible proof enough of his determination to let bygones be bygones,and to do all in his power to please her,why should she not come back to him?

He entered Gaves and Cortegal's therefore,on the morning of November the 9th,to buy a certain diamond brooch."Four twenty-five and dirt cheap,sir,at the money.It's a lady's brooch."There was that in his mood which made him accept without demur.And he went on into the Poultry with the flat green morocco case in his breast pocket.Several times that day he opened it to look at the seven soft shining stones in their velvet oval nest.

"If the lady doesn't like it,sir,happy to exchange it any time.

But there's no fear of that."If only there were not!He got through a vast amount of work,only soother of the nerves he knew.

A cablegram came while he was in the office with details from the agent in Buenos Aires,and the name and address of a stewardess who would be prepared to swear to what was necessary.It was a timely spur to Soames,with his rooted distaste for the washing of dirty linen in public.And when he set forth by Underground to Victoria Station he received a fresh impetus towards the renewal of his married life from the account in his evening paper of a fashionable divorce suit.The homing instinct of all true Forsytes in anxiety and trouble,the corporate tendency which kept them strong and solid,made him choose to dine at Park Lane.He neither could nor would breath a word to his people of his intention--too reticent and proud--but the thought that at least they would be glad if they knew,and wish him luck,was heartening.

James was in lugubrious mood,for the fire which the impudence of Kruger's ultimatum had lit in him had been cold-watered by the poor success of the last month,and the exhortations to effort in The Times.He didn't know where it would end.Soames sought to cheer him by the continual use of the word Buller.But James couldn't tell!There was Colley--and he got stuck on that hill,and this Ladysmith was down in a hollow,and altogether it looked to him a 'pretty kettle of fish';he thought they ought to be sending the sailors--they were the chaps,they did a lot of good in the Crimea.

Soames shifted the ground of consolation.Winifred had heard from Val that there had been a 'rag'and a bonfire on Guy Fawkes Day at Oxford,and that he had escaped detection by blacking his face.

"Ah!"James muttered,"he's a clever little chap."But he shook his head shortly afterwards and remarked that he didn't know what would become of him,and looking wistfully at his son,murmured on that Soames had never had a boy.He would have liked a grandson of his own name.And now--well,there it was!

Soames flinched.He had not expected such a challenge to disclose the secret in his heart.And Emily,who saw him wince,said:

"Nonsense,James;don't talk like that!"