The Forsyte Saga - Volume 1

Both these Forsytes, wide asunder as the poles in many respects,

possessed in their different ways--to a greater degree than the rest of

the family--that essential quality of tenacious and prudent insight into

'affairs,' which is the highwater mark of their great class. Either of

them, with a little luck and opportunity, was equal to a lofty career;

either of them would have made a good financier, a great contractor,

a statesman, though old Jolyon, in certain of his moods when under

the influence of a cigar or of Nature--would have been capable of, not

perhaps despising, but certainly of questioning, his own high position,

while Soames, who never smoked cigars, would not.

Then, too, in old Jolyon's mind there was always the secret ache, that

the son of James--of James, whom he had always thought such a poor

thing, should be pursuing the paths of success, while his own son...!

And last, not least--for he was no more outside the radiation of

family gossip than any other Forsyte--he had now heard the sinister,

indefinite, but none the less disturbing rumour about Bosinney, and his

pride was wounded to the quick.

Characteristically, his irritation turned not against Irene but against

Soames. The idea that his nephew's wife (why couldn't the fellow

take better care of her--Oh! quaint injustice! as though Soames could

possibly take more care!)--should be drawing to herself June's lover,

was intolerably humiliating. And seeing the danger, he did not, like

James, hide it away in sheer nervousness, but owned with the dispassion

of his broader outlook, that it was not unlikely; there was something

very attractive about Irene!

He had a presentiment on the subject of Soames' communication as they

left the Board Room together, and went out into the noise and hurry of

Cheapside. They walked together a good minute without speaking, Soames

with his mousing, mincing step, and old Jolyon upright and using his

umbrella languidly as a walking-stick.

They turned presently into comparative quiet, for old Jolyon's way to a

second Board led him in the direction of Moorage Street.

Then Soames, without lifting his eyes, began: "I've had this letter from

Bosinney. You see what he says; I thought I'd let you know. I've spent

a lot more than I intended on this house, and I want the position to be

clear."

Old Jolyon ran his eyes unwillingly over the letter: "What he says is

clear enough," he said.

"He talks about 'a free hand,'" replied Soames.

Old Jolyon looked at him. The long-suppressed irritation and antagonism

towards this young fellow, whose affairs were beginning to intrude upon

his own, burst from him.