The Forsyte Saga - Volume 1

He signed to the waiter to bring the bill, which James paid.

They parted at St. Paul's, Soames branching off to the station, James

taking his omnibus westwards.

He had secured the corner seat next the conductor, where his long legs

made it difficult for anyone to get in, and at all who passed him he

looked resentfully, as if they had no business to be using up his air.

He intended to take an opportunity this afternoon of speaking to Irene.

A word in time saved nine; and now that she was going to live in the

country there was a chance for her to turn over a new leaf! He could see

that Soames wouldn't stand very much more of her goings on!

It did not occur to him to define what he meant by her 'goings on'; the

expression was wide, vague, and suited to a Forsyte. And James had more

than his common share of courage after lunch.

On reaching home, he ordered out the barouche, with special instructions

that the groom was to go too. He wished to be kind to her, and to give

her every chance.

When the door of No.62 was opened he could distinctly hear her singing,

and said so at once, to prevent any chance of being denied entrance.

Yes, Mrs. Soames was in, but the maid did not know if she was seeing

people.

James, moving with the rapidity that ever astonished the observers

of his long figure and absorbed expression, went forthwith into the

drawing-room without permitting this to be ascertained. He found Irene

seated at the piano with her hands arrested on the keys, evidently

listening to the voices in the hall. She greeted him without smiling.

"Your mother-in-law's in bed," he began, hoping at once to enlist her

sympathy. "I've got the carriage here. Now, be a good girl, and put on

your hat and come with me for a drive. It'll do you good!"

Irene looked at him as though about to refuse, but, seeming to change

her mind, went upstairs, and came down again with her hat on.

"Where are you going to take me?" she asked.

"We'll just go down to Robin Hill," said James, spluttering out his

words very quick; "the horses want exercise, and I should like to see

what they've been doing down there."

Irene hung back, but again changed her mind, and went out to the

carriage, James brooding over her closely, to make quite sure.

It was not before he had got her more than half way that he began:

"Soames is very fond of you--he won't have anything said against you;

why don't you show him more affection?"