The Forsyte Saga, Volume III. / Awakening / To Let

ld not be recognised, without habitats, composed of circumstance, property, acquaintances, and wives, which seem to move along with them in their passage through a world compose

those rare and unfortunate men who go through life surrounded by circ

recess had been screened off to conceal the necessaries of life-a couch, an easy chair, his pipes, spirit case, novels and slippers. The business part of the room had the usual furniture; an open cupboard with

to have a bedr

appointments at twenty pounds a year, together with an odd fee once in a way, and-more wo

sh extraction, striking appearance, and Byronic tendencies-a well-known figure, in fact, in his county. Bosinney's uncle by marriage,

talk in the queerest way; he once said to me: 'My dear fellow, never let your poor wife know what you're thinking of! But I didn't follow his advice; not I! An eccentric man! He would say to Phil: 'Whet

six months with a knapsack, and all for what?-to study foreign architecture-foreign! What could he expect? And there he is-a clever young fellow-doesn't make his hundred a year! Now this engagement is the best th

ant to June, who frequently visited his

ee too much of him just now, my dear young lady. The good cause-the good cause! The young man must make his way. When I was his age I wa

her lover found no time

ose coincidences of which she was a mistress, Mrs. Septimus Small arrived. Thereon Bosinney rose

t with engaged people; but you mustn't let it get worse. There's

face quivering grimly, for she regarded her aunt's untimely

eople who can do anything

hin, but the only pleasure she derived from the

aneer'. people might think it odd, now that he's going to build a house for Soames.

t once; "wouldn't give that for h

l was tak

autiful taste! And Soames's little house is lo

, "that's only bec

ed to say some

r Irene like livi

enly leaped up into them; it passed; and an even more intent look took its place,

ll like it; why

ll grew

Your Uncle James says she doesn't take enough interest in life. We think-I mea

her hands beh

le Timothy wouldn't talk abo

the full height o

ut what doesn't con

punctious; she ran to

tie; but I wish they

ould be suitable, was silent; she prepared for departure, hooking her

in the hall, "I expect he's very lonely now th

ce hungrily, and with littl

tudy, where Bosinney was sitting at the table drawing birds o

rid!" Her heart was as war

was brought him to the effect that Mr. Bosinney was below, and woul

n him while I finish shaving. I'll be down i

went downstairs. He could not make her out about this house. She had said not

little court below. He hurried on with his shaving, cutting his chin twice. He

had come round to fetch

s hat and

tect's room; and pale, imperturbable, inquiring, So

last in a p

odd sort

red-in court. This court, encircled by a gallery on the upper floor, was roo

to Forsyte eyes

room cut to wast

t, and Soames did not like

he architect, "was that you should ha

as if measuring the extent of the dist

yes;

to Bosinney's face which

fifty-one by twenty-three six. This double-faced stove in the centre, here, looks one way towards the court, one way towards the picture room; this end wall is all window; You've a southeast light from that, a north light from the court. The rest of your pictures you can hang round the gallery upstairs, or in the other rooms." "In architecture," he went on-and though looking at Soames he did not seem to see him, which gave Soames an unpleasant f

far from being in the perpendicular; he was unshaven too, and his dress not

like a barrac

at once rec

modious sort, where the servants will live in garrets, and the front door be sunk so that you may come

ent of his satisfaction had been merely instinctive. It was difficult for hi

iment or run the risk of losing a good thing. Bosinney was just the fellow wh

r, exercised a peculiar and almost mesmeric effect on S

at last, "it's-it's

ke of the word 'original' that he felt he had

of thing that would please a fellow lik

ig place,

r, "you can't live like a gentleman in one o

w would he be classed with manufacturers. But his innate distrust of general principles revived. What the de

stand the c

han't be cold. Look here!" he pointed, to four marks at regular intervals on the walls of the cou

suspiciously a

l this," he said, "but

k a sheet of pape

tand that, I've compromised for a facing. It ought to have a copper roof, but I've made it

" said Soames. "Why, I gave y

a penny less," repl

take it or

ow the whole thing up. But the design was good, and he knew it-there was completeness about it, and dignity; the servants' apartment

lans, while Bosinney went into

Square in silence, Soames watchin

od-looking fellow-so he thoug

er her flowers when

ing across the Pa

, "we've still got bu

spirits, and left him to spend the afternoon with Irene, while he stole off to his pictures, after his Sunday habi

ere taking the right turn. It was lucky she and Bosinney got on;

e afternoon might have softened Bosinney's estimates. It was so purely a matter which Bosinney could remedy if he

k of sunshine through the lace of the blinds warmed her cheek, shone in the gold of her hair, and in her

aw the blind. Then he took his own cup of tea from

ght thousand after all? There must be a

tea at a gulp, put down

t o

n had touched some unintellig

y resignation; "you must hav

in absurdly high spirits. After watching him walk away at a swinging pace, Soames returned moodily to the draw

you think of 'T

le waiting for her answer,

ow," she sa

nk he's goo

seemed to Soames that

e answere