The Forsyte Saga - Volume 1

He took a swift turn up and down the room; then came and stood before

her.

"Understand," he said, "once and for all, I won't have you say this sort

of thing. Go and get your hat on!"

She did not move.

"I suppose," said Soames, "you don't want to miss Bosinney if he comes!"

Irene got up slowly and left the room. She came down with her hat on.

They went out.

In the Park, the motley hour of mid-afternoon, when foreigners and other

pathetic folk drive, thinking themselves to be in fashion, had passed;

the right, the proper, hour had come, was nearly gone, before Soames and

Irene seated themselves under the Achilles statue.

It was some time since he had enjoyed her company in the Park. That was

one of the past delights of the first two seasons of his married life,

when to feel himself the possessor of this gracious creature before all

London had been his greatest, though secret, pride. How many afternoons

had he not sat beside her, extremely neat, with light grey gloves and

faint, supercilious smile, nodding to acquaintances, and now and again

removing his hat.

His light grey gloves were still on his hands, and on his lips his smile

sardonic, but where the feeling in his heart?

The seats were emptying fast, but still he kept her there, silent and

pale, as though to work out a secret punishment. Once or twice he made

some comment, and she bent her head, or answered "Yes" with a tired

smile.

Along the rails a man was walking so fast that people stared after him

when he passed.

"Look at that ass!" said Soames; "he must be mad to walk like that in

this heat!"

He turned; Irene had made a rapid movement.

"Hallo!" he said: "it's our friend the Buccaneer!"

And he sat still, with his sneering smile, conscious that Irene was

sitting still, and smiling too.

"Will she bow to him?" he thought.

But she made no sign.

Bosinney reached the end of the rails, and came walking back amongst

the chairs, quartering his ground like a pointer. When he saw them he

stopped dead, and raised his hat.

The smile never left Soames' face; he also took off his hat.

Bosinney came up, looking exhausted, like a man after hard physical

exercise; the sweat stood in drops on his brow, and Soames' smile seemed

to say: "You've had a trying time, my friend ......What are you doing in

the Park?" he asked. "We thought you despised such frivolity!"

Bosinney did not seem to hear; he made his answer to Irene: "I've been

round to your place; I hoped I should find you in."