The Forsyte Saga - Volume 1
Page 239June answered: "No; but I have been to his rooms."
"Been to his rooms? Who took you there?"
June faced him steadily. "I went alone. He has lost that case. I don't
care whether it was right or wrong. I want to help him; and I will!"
Old Jolyon asked again: "Have you seen him?" His glance seemed to pierce
right through the girl's eyes into her soul.
Again June answered: "No; he was not there. I waited, but he did not
come."
Old Jolyon made a movement of relief. She had risen and looked down at
him; so slight, and light, and young, but so fixed, and so determined;
and disturbed, vexed, as he was, he could not frown away that fixed
look. The feeling of being beaten, of the reins having slipped, of being
"Ah!" he said at last, "you'll get yourself into a mess one of these
days, I can see. You want your own way in everything."
Visited by one of his strange bursts of philosophy, he added: "Like that
you were born; and like that you'll stay until you die!"
And he, who in his dealings with men of business, with Boards, with
Forsytes of all descriptions, with such as were not Forsytes, had always
had his own way, looked at his indomitable grandchild sadly--for he felt
in her that quality which above all others he unconsciously admired.
"Do you know what they say is going on?" he said slowly.
June crimsoned.
"Yes--no! I know--and I don't know--I don't care!" and she stamped her
"I believe," said old Jolyon, dropping his eyes, "that you'd have him if
he were dead!"
There was a long silence before he spoke again.
"But as to buying this house--you don't know what you're talking about!"
June said that she did. She knew that he could get it if he wanted. He
would only have to give what it cost.
"What it cost! You know nothing about it. I won't go to Soames--I'll
have nothing more to do with that young man."
"But you needn't; you can go to Uncle James. If you can't buy the house,
will you pay his lawsuit claim? I know he is terribly hard up--I've seen
it. You can stop it out of my money!"
"Stop it out of your money! A pretty way. And what will you do, pray,
without your money?"
But secretly, the idea of wresting the house from James and his son had
begun to take hold of him. He had heard on Forsyte 'Change much comment,
much rather doubtful praise of this house. It was 'too artistic,' but a
fine place. To take from the 'man of property' that on which he had set
his heart, would be a crowning triumph over James, practical proof that
he was going to make a man of property of Jo, to put him back in his
proper position, and there to keep him secure. Justice once for all on
those who had chosen to regard his son as a poor, penniless outcast.