The Forsyte Saga - Volume 1

It was not long before Soames's determination to build went the round

of the family, and created the flutter that any decision connected with

property should make among Forsytes.

It was not his fault, for he had been determined that no one should

know. June, in the fulness of her heart, had told Mrs. Small, giving her

leave only to tell Aunt Ann--she thought it would cheer her, the poor

old sweet! for Aunt Ann had kept her room now for many days.

Mrs. Small told Aunt Ann at once, who, smiling as she lay back on her

pillows, said in her distinct, trembling old voice:

"It's very nice for dear June; but I hope they will be careful--it's

rather dangerous!"

When she was left alone again, a frown, like a cloud presaging a rainy

morrow, crossed her face.

While she was lying there so many days the process of recharging her

will went on all the time; it spread to her face, too, and tightening

movements were always in action at the corners of her lips.

The maid Smither, who had been in her service since girlhood, and was

spoken of as "Smither--a good girl--but so slow!"--the maid Smither

performed every morning with extreme punctiliousness the crowning

ceremony of that ancient toilet. Taking from the recesses of their pure

white band-box those flat, grey curls, the insignia of personal dignity,

she placed them securely in her mistress's hands, and turned her back.

And every day Aunts Juley and Hester were required to come and report

on Timothy; what news there was of Nicholas; whether dear June had

succeeded in getting Jolyon to shorten the engagement, now that Mr.

Bosinney was building Soames a house; whether young Roger's wife was

really--expecting; how the operation on Archie had succeeded; and what

Swithin had done about that empty house in Wigmore Street, where the

tenant had lost all his money and treated him so badly; above all, about

Soames; was Irene still--still asking for a separate room? And every

morning Smither was told: "I shall be coming down this afternoon,

Smither, about two o'clock. I shall want your arm, after all these days

in bed!"

After telling Aunt Ann, Mrs. Small had spoken of the house in the

strictest confidence to Mrs. Nicholas, who in her turn had asked

Winifred Dartie for confirmation, supposing, of course, that, being

Soames's sister, she would know all about it. Through her it had in

due course come round to the ears of James. He had been a good deal

agitated.

"Nobody," he said, "told him anything." And, rather than go direct to

Soames himself, of whose taciturnity he was afraid, he took his umbrella

and went round to Timothy's.