第57章

JOLYON FINDS OUT WHERE HE IS

Jolyon stood at the window in Holly's old night nursery,converted into a studio,not because it had a north light,but for its view over the prospect away to the Grand Stand at Epsom.He shifted to the side window which overlooked the stableyard,and whistled down to the dog Balthasar who lay for ever under the clock tower.The old dog looked up and wagged his tail.'Poor old boy!'thought Jolyon,shifting back to the other window.

He had been restless all this week,since his attempt to prosecute trusteeship,uneasy in his conscience which was ever acute,disturbed in his sense of compassion which was easily excited,and with a queer sensation as if his feeling for beauty had received some definite embodiment.Autumn was getting hold of the old oak-tree,its leaves were browning.Sunshine had been plentiful and hot this summer.As with trees,so with men's lives!'I ought to live long,'thought Jolyon;'I'm getting mildewed for want of heat.If I can't work,I shall be off to Paris.'But memory of Paris gave him no pleasure.Besides,how could he go?He must stay and see what Soames was going to do.'I'm her trustee.Ican't leave her unprotected,'he thought.It had been striking him as curious how very clearly he could still see Irene in her little drawing-room which he had only twice entered.Her beauty must have a sort of poignant harmony!No literal portrait would ever do her justice;the essence of her was--ah I what?.The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window.Holly was riding into the yard on her long-tailed 'palfrey.'She looked up and he waved to her.She had been rather silent lately;getting old,he supposed,beginning to want her future,as they all did--youngsters!

Time was certainly the devil!And with the feeling that to waste this swift-travelling commodity was unforgivable folly,he took up his brush.But it was no use;he could not concentrate his eye--besides,the light was going.'I'll go up to town,'he thought.

In the hall a servant met him.

"A lady to see you,sir;Mrs.Heron."

Extraordinary coincidence!Passing into the picture-gallery,as it was still called,he saw Irene standing over by the window.

She came towards him saying:

"I've been trespassing;I came up through the coppice and garden.

I always used to come that way to see Uncle Jolyon.""You couldn't trespass here,"replied Jolyon;"history makes that impossible.I was just thinking of you."Irene smiled.And it was as if something shone through;not mere spirituality--serener,completer,more alluring.

"History!"she answered;"I once told Uncle Jolyon that love was for ever.Well,it isn't.Only aversion lasts."Jolyon stared at her.Had she got over Bosinney at last?

"Yes!"he said,"aversion's deeper than love or hate because it's a natural product of the nerves,and we don't change them.""I came to tell you that Soames has been to see me.He said a thing that frightened me.He said:'You are still my wife!'""What!"ejaculated Jolyon."You ought not to live alone."And he continued to stare at her,afflicted by the thought that where Beauty was,nothing ever ran quite straight,which,no doubt,was why so many people looked on it as immoral.

"What more?"

"He asked me to shake hands.

"Did you?"

"Yes.When he came in I'm sure he didn't want to;he changed while he was there.""Ah!you certainly ought not to go on living there alone.""I know no woman I could ask;and I can't take a lover to order,Cousin Jolyon.""Heaven forbid!"said Jolyon."What a damnable position!Will you stay to dinner?No?Well,let me see you back to town;I wanted to go up this evening.""Truly?"

"Truly.I'll be ready in five minutes."

On that walk to the station they talked of pictures and music,contrasting the English and French characters and the difference in their attitude to Art.But to Jolyon the colours in the hedges of the long straight lane,the twittering of chaffinches who kept pace with them,the perfume of weeds being already burned,the turn of her neck,the fascination of those dark eyes bent on him now and then,the lure of her whole figure,made a deeper impression than the remarks they exchanged.Unconsciously he held himself straighter,walked with a more elastic step.

In the train he put her through a sort of catechism as to what she did with her days.

Made her dresses,shopped,visited a hospital,played her piano,translated from the French.

She had regular work from a publisher,it seemed,which supplemented her income a little.She seldom went out in the evening."I've been living alone so long,you see,that I don't mind it a bit.I believe I'm naturally solitary.""I don't believe that,"said Jolyon."Do you know many people?""Very few."

At Waterloo they took a hansom,and he drove with her to the door of her mansions.Squeezing her hand at parting,he said:

"You know,you could always come to us at Robin Hill;you must let me know everything that happens.Good-bye,Irene.""Good-bye,"she answered softly.

Jolyon climbed back into his cab,wondering why he had not asked her to dine and go to the theatre with him.Solitary,starved,hung-up life that she had!"Hotch Potch Club,"he said through the trap-door.As his hansom debouched on to the Embankment,a man in top-hat and overcoat passed,walking quickly,so close to the wall that he seemed to be scraping it.

'By Jove!'thought Jolyon;'Soames himself!What's he up to now?'