The Forsyte Saga - Volume 3
Page 12"Much--much more."
"Well, so do I; so that makes it even."
Conscious that he had never in his life so given himself away, he felt
a sudden reaction to the manliness of Sir Lamorac, Dick Needham, Huck
Finn, and other heroes.
"Shall I show you a thing or two?" he said; and slipping out of her
arms, he stood on his head. Then, fired by her obvious admiration, he
mounted the bed, and threw himself head foremost from his feet on to
his back, without touching anything with his hands. He did this several
times.
That evening, having inspected what they had brought, he stayed up to
they were alone. He was extremely excited. His mother wore a French-grey
dress, with creamy lace made out of little scriggly roses, round her
neck, which was browner than the lace. He kept looking at her, till at
last his father's funny smile made him suddenly attentive to his slice
of pineapple. It was later than he had ever stayed up, when he went to
bed. His mother went up with him, and he undressed very slowly so as to
keep her there. When at last he had nothing on but his pyjamas, he said:
"Promise you won't go while I say my prayers!"
"I promise."
Kneeling down and plunging his face into the bed, little Jon hurried
perfectly still with a smile on her face. "Our Father"--so went his last
prayer, "which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Mum, thy Kingdom Mum--on
Earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily Mum and forgive us
our trespasses on earth as it is in heaven and trespass against us, for
thine is the evil the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amum! Look
out!" He sprang, and for a long minute remained in her arms. Once in
bed, he continued to hold her hand.
"You won't shut the door any more than that, will you? Are you going to
be long, Mum?"
"I must go down and play to Daddy."
"I hope not; you must go to sleep."
"I can sleep any night."
"Well, this is just a night like any other."
"Oh! no--it's extra special."
"On extra special nights one always sleeps soundest."
"But if I go to sleep, Mum, I shan't hear you come up."
"Well, when I do, I'll come in and give you a kiss, then if you're awake
you'll know, and if you're not you'll still know you've had one."