And he decided merely to say: What business is that
of yours? She had been the more surprised afterwards.
He rose languidly at the end of half an hourwith
the bank broken, and, wanly smiling, signed his I. James was always a bit of an old
woman, and it was best to be sharpwith him.
In her own letters shetried hard not to be just
gossipy, but like Maria Edgeworth. And old Jolyon, who had a great love for hisson,
was not sorry to stand and warm his legs and wait.
Of course, Dad; but everybody up here owes money to
tradesmen. He went tobed and passed a wretched night.
He sat through it with his heart kept in byvery
straight lips. The sea air isdelicious, and there are several quite nice people in
the hotel. He said, however, drawling:Charmed to see you, Sir. He turned and walked
tothe door, followed by his agonised but unmoved son. Old Jolyon had sat some time
regarding this missive with grave andtroubled eyes. He answered the letter after
waitinganother day to see if she would come to her senses.
But theres just one thing:If you must be a swell,
remember that youre a gentleman too.
All thetime he had a dim feeling that it wasnt
really the money she wasafter. Dear Septimus, she answered, indeed, you MAY. In
front of him he saw again his fathers face, andhe couldnt stand it.
On the fourth evening his turn came to take the
bank. All went soft and sweet within her; herlips trembled, and two large tears
rolled out of her eyes.
For Nicholas was a public man in the minor sense
suitable to aForsyte.
Fanny was only thirty-seven, and with a woman you
neverknew.
Your going off like that gave me apretty
surprise.
Us,including one to Donny Covercourt for a cool
eighty. Old Jolyon pushed the door with his umbrella. It was as little possible as
it had been then to explain thateverybody did it. And then came their
correspondence; that WAS a delightfulexperience. He could see the stolid faces
behind thatconfounded counter. It was as little possible as it had been then to
explain thateverybody did it.
Why, you sit there and talk scandal bythe hour
together. Of course, I did not tell him that Iwas speaking of myself. She
isdescribed somewhere as entering a room behind Nicholas with an airof frightened
jollity.
But then hehad not had the advantages of Eton,
Cambridge, and the novels ofWhyte Melville. How nice it will be, too, never having
to ask you for money.