第14章

Theremarkwassosingularlyatvariancewithallshehadledhimtoexpectfromher，thatStrumolowskistretchedouthishandandtookacigarette。

"Englandneverwantsanidealist，"hesaid。

ButinJunesomethingprimitivelyEnglishwasthoroughlyupset;oldJolyon’ssenseofjusticehadrisen，asitwere，frombed。"Youcomeandspongeonus，"shesaid，"andthenabuseus。Ifyouthinkthat’splayingthegame，Idon’t。"

Shenowdiscoveredthatwhichothershaddiscoveredbeforeher——thethicknessofhidebeneathwhichthesensibilityofgeniusissometimesveiled。Strumolowski’syoungandingenuousfacebecametheincarnationofasneer。

"Sponge，onedoesnotsponge，onetakeswhatisowing——atenthpartofwhatisowing。Youwillrepenttosaythat，MissForsyte。"

"Oh，no，"saidJune，"Ishan’t。"

"Ah！Weknowverywell，weartists——youtakeustogetwhatyoucanoutofus。Iwantnothingfromyou"——andheblewoutacloudofJune’ssmoke。

Decisionroseinanicypufffromtheturmoilofinsultedshamewithinher。"Verywell，then，youcantakeyourthingsaway。"

And，almostinthesamemoment，shethought:’Poorboy！He’sonlygotagarret，andprobablynotataxifare。Infrontofthesepeople，too;it’spositivelydisgusting！’

YoungStrumolowskishookhisheadviolently;hishair，thick，smooth，closeasagoldenplate，didnotfalloff。

"Icanliveonnothing，"hesaidshrilly;"IhaveoftenhadtoforthesakeofmyArt。Itisyoubourgeoiswhoforceustospendmoney。"

ThewordshitJunelikeapebble，intheribs。AfterallshehaddoneforArt，allheridentificationwithitstroublesandlameducks。Shewasstrugglingforadequatewordswhenthedoorwasopened，andherAustrianmurmured:

"Ayounglady，gnadigesFraulein。"

"Where？"

"Inthelittlemeal—room。"

WithaglanceatBorisStrumolowski，atHannahHobdey，atJimmyPortugal，Junesaidnothing，andwentout，devoidofequanimity。

Enteringthe"littlemeal—room，"sheperceivedtheyoungladytobeFleur——lookingverypretty，ifpale。AtthisdisenchantedmomentalittlelameduckofherownbreedwaswelcometoJune，sohomoeopathicbyinstinct。

Thegirlmusthavecome，ofcourse，becauseofJon;or，ifnot，atleasttogetsomethingoutofher。AndJunefeltjustthenthattoassistsomebodywastheonlybearablething。

"Soyou’verememberedtocome，"shesaid。

"Yes。Whatajollylittleduckofahouse！Butpleasedon’tletmebotheryou，ifyou’vegotpeople。"

"Notatall，"saidJune。"Iwanttoletthemstewintheirownjuiceforabit。HaveyoucomeaboutJon？"

"Yousaidyouthoughtweoughttobetold。Well，I’vefoundout。"

"Oh！"saidJuneblankly。"Notnice，isit？"

TheywerestandingoneoneachsideofthelittlebaretableatwhichJunetookhermeals。AvaseonitwasfullofIcelandpoppies;thegirlraisedherhandandtouchedthemwithaglovedfinger。Tohernew—fangleddress，frillyaboutthehipsandtightbelowtheknees，Junetookasuddenliking——acharmingcolour，flax—blue。

’Shemakesapicture，’thoughtJune。Herlittleroom，withitswhitewashedwalls，itsfloorandhearthofoldpinkbrick，itsblackpaint，andlatticedwindowathwartwhichthelastofthesunlightwasshining，hadneverlookedsocharming，setoffbythisyoungfigure，withthecreamy，slightlyfrowningface。SherememberedwithsuddenvividnesshownicesheherselfhadlookedinthoseolddayswhenherheartwassetonPhilipBosinney，thatdeadlover，whohadbrokenfromhertodestroyforeverIrene’sallegiancetothisgirl’sfather。DidFleurknowofthat，too？

"Well，"shesaid，"whatareyougoingtodo？"

ItwassomesecondsbeforeFleuranswered。

"Idon’twantJontosuffer。Imustseehimoncemoretoputanendtoit。"

"You’regoingtoputanendtoit！"

"Whatelseistheretodo？"

ThegirlseemedtoJune，suddenly，intolerablyspiritless。

"Isupposeyou’reright，"shemuttered。"Iknowmyfatherthinksso;

but——Ishouldneverhavedoneitmyself。Ican’ttakethingslyingdown。"

Howpoisedandwatchfulthatgirllooked;howunemotionalhervoicesounded！

"PeoplewillassumethatI’minlove。"

"Well，aren’tyou？"

Fleurshruggedhershoulders。’Imighthaveknownit，’thoughtJune;

’she’sSoames’daughter——fish！Andyet——he！’

"Whatdoyouwantmetodothen？"shesaidwithasortofdisgust。

"CouldIseeJonhereto—morrowonhiswaydowntoHolly’s？He’dcomeifyousenthimalineto—night。Andperhapsafterwardyou’dletthemknowquietlyatRobinHillthatit’sallover，andthattheyneedn’ttellJonabouthismother。"

"Allright！"saidJuneabruptly。"I’llwritenow，andyoucanpostit。Half—pasttwotomorrow。Ishan’tbein，myself。"

Shesatdownatthetinybureauwhichfilledonecorner。WhenshelookedroundwiththefinishednoteFleurwasstilltouchingthepoppieswithherglovedfinger。

Junelickedastamp。"Well，hereitis。Ifyou’renotinlove，ofcourse，there’snomoretobesaid。Jon’slucky。"

Fleurtookthenote。"Thanksawfully！"

’Cold—bloodedlittlebaggage！’thoughtJune。Jon，sonofherfather，tolove，andnottobelovedbythedaughterof——Soames！Itwashumiliating！

"Isthatall？"

Fleurnodded;herfrillsshookandtrembledassheswayedtowardthedoor。

"Good—bye！"

"Good—bye！……Littlepieceoffashion！"mutteredJune，closingthedoor。"Thatfamily！"Andshemarchedbacktowardherstudio。BorisStrumolowskihadregainedhisChrist—likesilenceandJimmyPortugalwasdamningeverybody，exceptthegroupinwhosebehalfherantheNeo—Artist。AmongthecondemnedwereEricCobbley，andseveralother"lame—duck"geniiwhoatonetimeoranotherhadheldfirstplaceintherepertoireofJune’saidandadoration。Sheexperiencedasenseoffutilityanddisgust，andwenttothewindowtolettheriver—windblowthosesqueakywordsaway。

ButwhenatlengthJimmyPortugalhadfinished，andgonewithHannahHobdey，shesatdownandmotheredyoungStrumolowskiforhalfanhour，promisinghimamonth，atleast，oftheAmericanstream;sothathewentawaywithhishaloinperfectorder。’Inspiteofall，’

Junethought，’Borisiswonderful’

VIII

THEBITBETWEENTHETEETH

Toknowthatyourhandisagainsteveryone’sis——forsomenatures——

toexperienceasenseofmoralrelease。FleurfeltnoremorsewhensheleftJune’shouse。Readingcondemnatoryresentmentinherlittlekinswoman’sblueeyes—shewasgladthatshehadfooledher，despisingJunebecausethatelderlyidealisthadnotseenwhatshewasafter。

Endit，forsooth！Shewouldsoonshowthemallthatshewasonlyjustbeginning。AndshesmiledtoherselfonthetopofthebuswhichcarriedherbacktoMayfair。Butthesmiledied，squeezedoutbyspasmsofanticipationandanxiety。WouldshebeabletomanageJon？Shehadtakenthebitbetweenherteeth，butcouldshemakehimtakeittoo？Sheknewthetruthandtherealdangerofdelay——heknewneither;thereinlayallthedifferenceintheworld。

’SupposeItellhim，’shethought;’wouldn’titreallybesafer？’

Thishideousluckhadnorighttospoiltheirlove;hemustseethat！

Theycouldnotletit！Peoplealwaysacceptedanaccomplishedfactintime！Fromthatpieceofphilosophy——profoundenoughatherage——

shepassedtoanotherconsiderationlessphilosophic。IfshepersuadedJontoaquickandsecretmarriage，andhefoundoutafterwardthatshehadknownthetruth。Whatthen？Jonhatedsubterfuge。Again，then，woulditnotbebettertotellhim？Butthememoryofhismother’sfacekeptintrudingonthatimpulse。

Fleurwasafraid。Hismotherhadpoweroverhim;morepowerperhapsthansheherself。Whocouldtell？Itwastoogreatarisk。Deep—

sunkintheseinstinctivecalculationsshewascarriedonpastGreenStreetasfarastheRitzHotel。Shegotdownthere，andwalkedbackontheGreenParkside。Thestormhadwashedeverytree;theystilldripped。Heavydropsfellontoherfrills，andtoavoidthemshecrossedoverundertheeyesoftheIseeumClub。ChancingtolookupshesawMonsieurProfondwithatallstoutmaninthebaywindow。

TurningintoGreenStreetsheheardhernamecalled，andsaw"thatprowler"comingup。Hetookoffhishat——aglossy"bowler"suchassheparticularlydetested。

"Goodevenin’！MissForsyde。Isn’tthereasmallthingIcandoforyou？"

"Yes，passbyontheotherside。"

"Isay！Whydoyoudislikeme？"

"DoI？"

"Itlookslikeit。"

"Well，then，becauseyoumakemefeellifeisn’tworthliving。"

MonsieurProfondsmiled。

"Lookhere，MissForsyde，don’tworry。It’llbeallright。Nothinglasts。"

"Thingsdolast，"criedFleur;"withmeanyhow——especiallylikesanddislikes。"

"Well，thatmakesmeabitun’appy。"

"Ishouldhavethoughtnothingcouldevermakeyouhappyorunhappy。"

"Idon’tliketoannoyotherpeople。I’mgoin’onmyyacht。"

Fleurlookedathim，startled。

"Where？"

"SmallvoyagetotheSouthSeasorsomewhere，"saidMonsieurProfond。

Fleursufferedreliefandasenseofinsult。Clearlyhemeanttoconveythathewasbreakingwithhermother。Howdaredhehaveanythingtobreak，andyethowdaredhebreakit？

"Good—night，MissForsyde！RemembermetoMrs。Dartie。I’mnotsobadreally。Good—night！"Fleurlefthimstandingtherewithhishatraised。Stealingalookround，shesawhimstroll——immaculateandheavy——backtowardhisClub。

’Hecan’tevenlovewithconviction，’shethought。’WhatwillMotherdo？’

Herdreamsthatnightwereendlessanduneasy;sheroseheavyandunrested，andwentatoncetothestudyofWhitaker’sAlmanac。A

Forsyteisinstinctivelyawarethatfactsaretherealcruxofanysituation。ShemightconquerJon’sprejudice，butwithoutexactmachinerytocompletetheirdesperateresolve，nothingwouldhappen。

>Fromtheinvaluabletomeshelearnedthattheymusteachbetwenty—

one;orsomeone’sconsentwouldbenecessary，whichofcoursewasunobtainable;thenshebecamelostindirectionsconcerninglicenses，certificates，notices，districts，comingfinallytotheword"perjury。"Butthatwasnonsense！Whowouldreallymindtheirgivingwrongagesinordertobemarriedforlove！Sheatehardlyanybreakfast，andwentbacktoWhitaker。Themoreshestudiedthelesssureshebecame;till，idlyturningthepages，shecametoScotland。Peoplecouldbemarriedtherewithoutanyofthisnonsense。Shehadonlytogoandstaytheretwenty—onedays，thenJoncouldcome，andinfrontoftwopeopletheycoulddeclarethemselvesmarried。Andwhatwasmore——theywouldbe！Itwasfarthebestway;andatoncesheranoverherschoolfellows。TherewasMaryLambewholivedinEdinburghandwas"quiteasport！"

Shehadabrothertoo。ShecouldstaywithMaryLambe，whowithherbrotherwouldserveforwitnesses。Shewellknewthatsomegirlswouldthinkallthisunnecessary，andthatallsheandJonneeddowastogoawaytogetherforaweekendandthensaytotheirpeople:

"WearemarriedbyNature，wemustnowbemarriedbyLaw。"ButFleurwasForsyteenoughtofeelsuchaproceedingdubious，andtodreadherfather’sfacewhenheheardofit。Besides，shedidnotbelievethatJonwoulddoit;hehadanopinionofhersuchasshecouldnotbeartodiminish。No！MaryLambewaspreferable，anditwasjustthetimeofyeartogotoScotland。Moreateasenowshepacked，avoidedheraunt，andtookabustoChiswick。Shewastooearly，andwentontoKewGardens。Shefoundnopeaceamongitsflower—beds，labelledtrees，andbroadgreenspaces，andhavinglunchedoffanchovy—pastesandwichesandcoffee，returnedtoChiswickandrangJune’sbell。TheAustrianadmittedhertothe"littlemeal—room。"

NowthatsheknewwhatsheandJonwereupagainst，herlongingforhimhadincreasedtenfold，asifhewereatoywithsharpedgesordangerouspaintsuchastheyhadtriedtotakefromherasachild。

Ifshecouldnothaveherway，andgetJonforgoodandall，shefeltlikedyingofprivation。Byhookorcrookshemustandwouldgethim！Arounddimmirrorofveryoldglasshungoverthepinkbrickhearth。Shestoodlookingatherselfreflectedinit，pale，andratherdarkundertheeyes;littleshudderskeptpassingthroughhernerves。Thensheheardthebellring，and，stealingtothewindow，sawhimstandingonthedoorstepsmoothinghishairandlips，asifhetooweretryingtosubduetheflutteringofhisnerves。

Shewassittingononeofthetworush—seatedchairs，withherbacktothedoor，whenhecamein，andshesaidatonce"Sitdown，Jon，Iwanttotalkseriously。"

Jonsatonthetablebyherside，andwithoutlookingathimshewenton:

"Ifyoudon’twanttoloseme，wemustgetmarried。"

Jongasped。

"Why？Isthereanythingnew？"

"No，butIfeltitatRobinHill，andamongmypeople。"

"But——"stammeredJon，"atRobinHill——itwasallsmooth——andthey’vesaidnothingtome。"

"Buttheymeantostopus。Yourmother’sfacewasenough。Andmyfather’s。"

"Haveyouseenhimsince？"

Fleurnodded。Whatmatteredafewsupplementarylies？

"But，"saidJoneagerly，"Ican’tseehowtheycanfeellikethatafteralltheseyears。"

Fleurlookedupathim。

"Perhapsyoudon’tlovemeenough。"

"Notloveyouenough！Why——！"

"Thenmakesureofme。"

"Withouttellingthem？"

"Nottillafter。"

Jonwassilent。Howmucholderhelookedthanonthatday，barelytwomonthsago，whenshefirstsawhim——quitetwoyearsolder！

"ItwouldhurtMotherawfully，"hesaid。

Fleurdrewherhandaway。

"You’vegottochoose。"

Jonslidoffthetableontohisknees。

"Butwhynottellthem？Theycan’treallystopus，Fleur！"

"Theycan！Itellyou，theycan。"

"How？"

"We’reutterlydependent——byputtingmoneypressure，andallsortsofotherpressure。I’mnotpatient，Jon。"

"Butit’sdeceivingthem。"

Fleurgotup。

"Youcan’treallyloveme，oryouwouldn’thesitate。’Heeitherfearshisfatetoomuch！’"

Liftinghishandstoherwaist，Jonforcedhertositdownagain。

Shehurriedon:

"I’veplanneditallout。We’veonlytogotoScotland。Whenwe’remarriedthey’llsooncomeround。Peoplealwayscomeroundtofacts。

Don’tyousee，Jon？"

"Buttohurtthemsoawfully！"

Sohewouldratherhurtherthanthosepeopleofhis！"Allright，then;letmego！"

Jongotupandputhisbackagainstthedoor。

"Iexpectyou’reright，"hesaidslowly;"butIwanttothinkitover。"

Shecouldseethathewasseethingwithfeelingshewantedtoexpress;butshedidnotmeantohelphim。Shehatedherselfatthismomentandalmosthatedhim。Whyhadshetodoalltheworktosecuretheirlove？Itwasn’tfair。Andthenshesawhiseyes，adoringanddistressed。

"Don’tlooklikethat！Ionlydon’twanttoloseyou，Jon。"

"Youcan’tlosemesolongasyouwantme。"

"Oh，yes，Ican。"

Jonputhishandsonhershoulders。

"Fleur，doyouknowanythingyouhaven’ttoldme？"

Itwasthepoint—blankquestionshehaddreaded。Shelookedstraightathim，andanswered:"No。"Shehadburntherboats;butwhatdiditmatter，ifshegothim？Hewouldforgiveher。Andthrowingherarmsroundhisneck，shekissedhimonthelips。Shewaswinning！Shefeltitinthebeatingofhisheartagainsther，intheclosingofhiseyes。"Iwanttomakesure！Iwanttomakesure！"shewhispered。"Promise！"

Jondidnotanswer。Hisfacehadthestillnessofextremetrouble。

Atlasthesaid:

"It’slikehittingthem。Imustthinkalittle，Fleur。Ireallymust。"

Fleurslippedoutofhisarms。

"Oh！Verywell！"Andsuddenlysheburstintotearsofdisappointment，shame，andoverstrain。Followedfiveminutesofacutemisery。Jon’sremorseandtendernessknewnobounds;buthedidnotpromise。

Despiteherwilltocry，"Verywell，then，ifyoudon’tlovemeenough—goodbye！"shedarednot。Frombirthaccustomedtoherownway，thischeckfromonesoyoung，sotender，sodevoted，baffledandsurprisedher。Shewantedtopushhimawayfromher，totrywhatangerandcoldnesswoulddo，andagainshedarednot。Theknowledgethatshewasschemingtorushhimblindfoldintotheirrevocableweakenedeverything——weakenedthesincerityofpique，andthesincerityofpassion;evenherkisseshadnotthelureshewishedforthem。Thatstormylittlemeetingendedinconclusively。

"Willyousometea，gnadigesFraulein？"

PushingJonfromher，shecriedout:

"No—no，thankyou！I’mjustgoing。"

Andbeforehecouldpreventhershewasgone。

Shewentstealthily，moppinghergushed，stainedcheeks，frightened，angry，verymiserable。ShehadstirredJonupsofearfully，yetnothingdefinitewaspromisedorarranged！Butthemoreuncertainandhazardousthefuture，themore"thewilltohave"workeditstentaclesintothefleshofherheart——likesomeburrowingtick！

NoonewasatGreenStreet。WinifredhadgonewithImogentoseeaplaywhichsomesaidwasallegorical，andothers"veryexciting，don’tyouknow。"ItwasbecauseofwhatotherssaidthatWinifredandImogenhadgone。FleurwentontoPaddington。Throughthecarriagetheairfromthebrick—kilnsofWestDraytonandthelatehayfieldsfannedherstillgushedcheeks。Flowershadseemedtobehadforthepicking;nowtheywereallthornedandprickled。Butthegoldenflowerwithinthecrownofspikesseemedtohertenaciousspiritallthefairerandmoredesirable。

IX

THEFATINTHEFIRE

OnreachinghomeFleurfoundanatmospheresopeculiarthatitpenetratedeventheperplexedauraofherownprivatelife。Hermotherwasinaccessiblyentrenchedinabrownstudy;herfathercontemplatingfateinthevinery。Neitherofthemhadawordtothrowtoadog。’Isitbecauseofme？’thoughtFleur。’OrbecauseofProfond？’Tohermothershesaid:

"What’sthematterwithFather？"

Hermotheransweredwithashrugofhershoulders。

Toherfather:

"What’sthematterwithMother？"

Herfatheranswered:

"Matter？Whatshouldbethematter？"andgaveherasharplook。

"Bytheway，"murmuredFleur，"MonsieurProfondisgoinga’small’

voyageonhisyacht，totheSouthSeas。"

Soamesexaminedabranchonwhichnograpesweregrowing。

"Thisvine’safailure，"hesaid。"I’vehadyoungMonthere。Heaskedmesomethingaboutyou。"

"Oh！Howdoyoulikehim，Father？"

"He——he’saproduct——likealltheseyoungpeople。"

"Whatwereyouathisage，dear？"

Soamessmiledgrimly。

"Wewenttowork，anddidn’tplayabout——flyingandmotoring，andmakinglove。"

"Didn’tyouevermakelove？"

Sheavoidedlookingathimwhileshesaidthat，butshesawhimwellenough。Hispalefacehadreddened，hiseyebrows，wheredarknesswasstillmingledwiththegrey，hadcomeclosetogether。

"Ihadnotimeorinclinationtophilander。"

"Perhapsyouhadagrandpassion。"

Soameslookedatherintently。

"Yes——ifyouwanttoknow——andmuchgooditdidme。"Hemovedaway，alongbythehot—waterpipes。Fleurtiptoedsilentlyafterhim。

"Tellmeaboutit，Father！"

Soamesbecameverystill。

"Whatshouldyouwanttoknowaboutsuchthings，atyourage？"

"Isshealive？"

Henodded。

"Andmarried？"Yes。"

"It’sJonForsyte’smother，isn’tit？Andshewasyourwifefirst。"

Itwassaidinaflashofintuition。Surelyhisoppositioncamefromhisanxietythatsheshouldnotknowofthatoldwoundtohispride。

Butshewasstartled。Toseesomeonesooldandcalmwinceasifstruck，tohearsosharpanoteofpaininhisvoice！

"Whotoldyouthat？Ifyouraunt！Ican’tbeartheaffairtalkedof。"

"But，darling，"saidFleur，softly，"it’ssolongago。"

"Longagoornot，I……"

Fleurstoodstrokinghisarm。

"I’vetriedtoforget，"hesaidsuddenly;"Idon’twishtobereminded。"Andthen，asifventingsomelongandsecretirritation，headded:"Inthesedayspeopledon’tunderstand。Grandpassion，indeed！Nooneknowswhatitis。"

"Ido，"saidFleur，almostinawhisper。

Soames，whohadturnedhisbackonher，spunround。

"Whatareyoutalkingof——achildlikeyou！"

"PerhapsI’veinheritedit，Father。"

"What？"

"Forherson，yousee。"

Hewaspaleasasheet，andsheknewthatshewasasbad。Theystoodstaringateachotherinthesteamyheat，redolentofthemushyscentofearth，ofpottedgeranium，andofvinescomingalongfast。

"Thisiscrazy，"saidSoamesatlast，betweendrylips。

Scarcelymovingherown，shemurmured:

"Don’tbeangry，Father。Ican’thelpit。"

Butshecouldseehewasn’tangry;onlyscared，deeplyscared。

"Ithoughtthatfoolishness，"hestammered，"wasallforgotten。"

"Oh，no！It’stentimeswhatitwas。"

Soameskickedatthehot—waterpipe。Thehaplessmovementtouchedher，whohadnofearofherfather——none。

"Dearest！"shesaid。"Whatmustbe，must，youknow。"

"Must！"repeatedSoames。"Youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingof。

Hasthatboybeentold？"

Thebloodrushedintohercheeks。

"Notyet。"

Hehadturnedfromheragain，and，withoneshoulderalittleraised，stoodstaringfixedlyatajointinthepipes。

"It’smostdistastefultome，"hesaidsuddenly;"nothingcouldbemoreso。Sonofthatfellow！It’s——it’s——perverse！"

Shehadnoted，almostunconsciously，thathedidnotsay"sonofthatwoman，"andagainherintuitionbeganworking。

Didtheghostofthatgrandpassionlingerinsomecornerofhisheart？

Sheslippedherhandunderhisarm。

"Jon’sfatherisquiteillandold;Isawhim。"

"You——？"

"Yes，IwenttherewithJon;Isawthemboth。"

"Well，andwhatdidtheysaytoyou？"

"Nothing。Theywereverypolite。"

"Theywouldbe。"Heresumedhiscontemplationofthepipe—joint，andthensaidsuddenly:

"Imustthinkthisover——I’llspeaktoyouagainto—night。"

Sheknewthiswasfinalforthemoment，andstoleaway，leavinghimstilllookingatthepipe—joint。Shewanderedintothefruit—garden，amongtheraspberryandcurrantbushes，withoutimpetustopickandeat。Twomonthsago——shewaslight—hearted！Eventwodaysago——

light—hearted，beforeProsperProfondtoldher。Nowshefelttangledinaweb—ofpassions，vestedrights，oppressionsandrevolts，thetiesofloveandhate。Atthisdarkmomentofdiscouragementthereseemed，eventoherhold—fastnature，nowayout。Howdealwithit——

howswayandbendthingstoherwill，andgetherheart’sdesire？

And，suddenly，roundthecornerofthehighboxhedge，shecameplumponhermother，walkingswiftly，withanopenletterinherhand。Herbosomwasheaving，hereyesdilated，hercheeksflushed。InstantlyFleurthought:’Theyacht！PoorMother！’

Annettegaveherawidestartledlook，andsaid:

"J’ailamigraine。"

"I’mawfullysorry，Mother。"

"Oh，yes！youandyourfather——sorry！"

"But，Mother——Iam。Iknowwhatitfeelslike。"

Annette’sstartledeyesgrewwide，tillthewhitesshowedabovethem。

"Poorinnocent！"shesaid。

Hermother——soself—possessed，andcommonsensical——tolookandspeaklikethis！Itwasallfrightening！Herfather，hermother，herself！

Andonlytwomonthsbacktheyhadseemedtohaveeverythingtheywantedinthisworld。

Annettecrumpledtheletterinherhand。Fleurknewthatshemustignorethesight。

"Can’tIdoanythingforyourhead，Mother？"

Annetteshookthatheadandwalkedon，swayingherhips。

’It’scruel，’thoughtFleur，’andIwasglad！Thatman！Whatdomencomeprowlingfor，disturbingeverything！Isupposehe’stiredofher。Whatbusinesshashetobetiredofmymother？Whatbusiness！’

Andatthatthought，sonaturalandsopeculiar，sheutteredalittlechokedlaugh。

Sheought，ofcourse，tobedelighted，butwhatwastheretobedelightedat？Herfatherdidn’treallycare！Hermotherdid，perhaps？Sheenteredtheorchard，andsatdownunderacherry—tree。