Leavingthebiliousandmathematicalexactitude，thepreposterouspeaceofthatbackwater，hethoughtsuddenly:’Duringcoverture！Whycan’ttheyexcludefellowslikeProfond，insteadofalotofhard—
workingGermans？’andwassurprisedatthedepthofuneasinesswhichcouldprovokesounpatrioticathought。Butthereitwas！Onenevergotamomentofrealpeace。Therewasalwayssomethingatthebackofeverything！AndhemadehiswaytowardGreenStreet。
Twohourslaterbyhiswatch，ThomasGradman，stirringinhisswivelchair，closedthelastdrawerofhisbureau，andputtingintohiswaistcoatpocketabunchofkeyssofatthattheygavehimaprotuberanceontheliverside，brushedhisoldtophatroundwithhissleeve，tookhisumbrella，anddescended。Thick，short，andbuttonedcloselyintohisoldfrockcoat，hewalkedtowardCoventGardenmarket。HenevermissedthatdailypromenadetotheTubeforHighgate，andseldomsomecriticaltransactiononthewayinconnectionwithvegetablesandfruit。Generationsmightbeborn，andhatsmightchange，warsbefought，andForsytesfadeaway，butThomasGradman，faithfulandgrey，wouldtakehisdailywalkandbuyhisdailyvegetable。Timeswerenotwhattheywere，andhissonhadlostaleg，andtheynevergavehimthosenicelittleplaitedbasketstocarrythestuffinnow，andtheseTubeswereconvenientthings——stillhemustn’tcomplain;hishealthwasgoodconsideringhistimeoflife，andafterfifty—fouryearsintheLawhewasgettingaroundeighthundredayearandalittleworriedoflate，becauseitwasmostlycollector’scommissionontherents，andwithallthisconversionofForsytepropertygoingon，itlookedlikedryingup，andthepriceoflivingstillsohigh;butitwasnogoodworrying——\"
ThegoodGodmadeusall\"——ashewasinthehabitofsaying;still，housepropertyinLondon——hedidn’tknowwhatMr。RogerorMr。Jameswouldsayiftheycouldseeitbeingsoldlikethis——seemedtoshowalackoffaith;butMr。Soames——heworried。Lifeandlivesinbeingandtwenty—oneyearsafter——beyondthatyoucouldn’tgo;still，hekepthishealthwonderfully——andMissFleurwasaprettylittlething——shewas;she’dmarry;butlotsofpeoplehadnochildrennowadays——hehadhadhisfirstchildattwenty—two;andMr。Jolyon，marriedwhilehewasatCambridge，hadhischildthesameyear——
graciousPeter！Thatwasbackin’69，alongtimebeforeoldMr。
Jolyon——finejudgeofproperty——hadtakenhisWillawayfromMr。
James——dear，yes！Thosewerethedayswhentheywerebuyin’propertyrightandleft，andnoneofthiskhakiandfallin’overoneanothertogetoutofthings;andcucumbersattwopence;andamelon——theoldmelons，thatmadeyourmouthwater！FiftyyearssincehewentintoMr。James’office，andMr。Jameshadsaidtohim:\"Now，Gradman，you’reonlyashaver——youpayattention，andyou’llmakeyourfivehundredayearbeforeyou’vedone。\"Andhehad，andfearedGod，andservedtheForsytes，andkeptavegetabledietatnight。And，buyingacopyofJobnBull——notthatheapprovedofit，anextravagantaffair——heenteredtheTubeelevatorwithhismerebrown—paperparcel，andwasbornedownintothebowelsoftheearth。
VI
SOAMES’PRIVATELIFE
OnhiswaytoGreenStreetitoccurredtoSoamesthatheoughttogointoDumetrius’inSuffolkStreetaboutthepossibilityoftheBolderbyOldCrome。AlmostworthwhiletohavefoughtthewartohavetheBolderbyOldCrome，asitwere，influx！OldBolderbyhaddied，hissonandgrandsonhadbeenkilled——acousinwascomingintotheestate，whomeanttosellit，somesaidbecauseoftheconditionofEngland，otherssaidbecausehehadasthma。
IfDumetriusoncegotholdofitthepricewouldbecomeprohibitive;
itwasnecessaryforSoamestofindoutwhetherDumetriushadgotit，beforehetriedtogetithimself。HethereforeconfinedhimselftodiscussingwithDumetriuswhetherMonticelliswouldcomeagainnowthatitwasthefashionforapicturetobeanythingexceptapicture;andthefutureofJohns，withaside—slipintoBuxtonKnights。Itwasonlywhenleavingthatheadded:\"Sothey’renotsellingtheBolderbyOldCrome，afterall？\"Insheerprideofracialsuperiority，ashehadcalculatedwouldbethecase，Dumetriusreplied:
\"Oh！Ishallgetit，Mr。Forsyte，sir！\"
TheflutterofhiseyelidfortifiedSoamesinaresolutiontowritedirecttothenewBolderby，suggestingthattheonlydignifiedwayofdealingwithanOldCromewastoavoiddealers。Hethereforesaid，\"Well，good—day！\"andwent，leavingDumetriusthewiser。
AtGreenStreethefoundthatFleurwasoutandwouldbealltheevening;shewasstayingonemorenightinLondon。Hecabbedondejectedly，andcaughthistrain。
Hereachedhishouseaboutsixo’clock。Theairwasheavy，midgesbiting，thunderabout。Takinghislettershewentuptohisdressing—roomtocleansehimselfofLondon。
Anuninterestingpost。Areceipt，abillforpurchasesonbehalfofFleur。Acircularaboutanexhibitionofetchings。Aletterbeginning:
\"SIR，\"Ifeelitmyduty……\"
Thatwouldbeanappealorsomethingunpleasant。Helookedatonceforthesignature。Therewasnone！Incredulouslyheturnedthepageoverandexaminedeachcorner。Notbeingapublicman，Soameshadneveryethadananonymousletter，andhisfirstimpulsewastotearitup，asadangerousthing;hissecondtoreadit，asathingstillmoredangerous。
\"SIR，\"Ifeelitmydutytoinformyouthathavingnointerestinthematteryourladyiscarryingonwithaforeigner——\"
ReachingthatwordSoamesstoppedmechanicallyandexaminedthepostmark。SofarashecouldpiercetheimpenetrabledisguiseinwhichthePostOfficehadwrappedit，therewassomethingwitha\"sea\"attheendanda\"t\"init。Chelsea？No！Battersea？Perhaps！
Hereadon。
\"Theseforeignersareallthesame。Sackthelot。Thisonemeetsyourladytwiceaweek。Iknowitofmyownknowledge——andtoseeanEnglishmanputongoesagainstthegrain。YouwatchitandseeifwhatIsayisn’ttrue。Ishouldn’tmeddleifitwasn’tadirtyforeignerthat’sinit。Yoursobedient。\"
ThesensationwithwhichSoamesdroppedtheletterwassimilartothathewouldhavehadenteringhisbedroomandfindingitfullofblack—beetles。Themeannessofanonymitygaveashudderingobscenitytothemoment。AndtheworstofitwasthatthisshadowhadbeenatthebackofhismindeversincetheSundayeveningwhenFleurhadpointeddownatProsperProfondstrollingonthelawn，andsaid:
\"Prowlingcat！\"Hadhenotinconnectiontherewith，thisveryday，perusedhisWillandMarriageSettlement？Andnowthisanonymousruffian，withnothingtogain，apparently，savetheventingofhisspiteagainstforeigners，hadwrencheditoutoftheobscurityinwhichhehadhopedandwisheditwouldremain。Tohavesuchknowledgeforcedonhim，athistimeoflife，aboutFleur’smotherI
Hepickedtheletterupfromthecarpet，toreitacross，andthen，whenithungtogetherbyjustthefoldattheback，stoppedtearing，andrereadit。Hewastakingatthatmomentoneofthedecisiveresolutionsofhislife。Hewouldnotbeforcedintoanotherscandal。No！Howeverhedecidedtodealwiththismatter——anditrequiredthemostfar—sightedandcarefulconsiderationhewoulddonothingthatmightinjureFleur。Thatresolutiontaken，hismindansweredthehelmagain，andhemadehisablutions。Hishandstrembledashedriedthem。Scandalhewouldnothave，butsomethingmustbedonetostopthissortofthing！Hewentintohiswife’sroomandstoodlookingaroundhim。Theideaofsearchingforanythingwhichwouldincriminate，andentitlehimtoholdamenaceoverher，didnotevencometohim。Therewouldbenothing——shewasmuchtoopractical。Theideaofhavingherwatchedhadbeendismissedbeforeitcame——toowellherememberedhispreviousexperienceofthat。No！Hehadnothingbutthistorn—upletterfromsomeanonymousruffian，whoseimpudentintrusionintohisprivatelifehesoviolentlyresented。Itwasrepugnanttohimtomakeuseofit，buthemighthaveto。WhatamercyFleurwasnotathometo—
night！Ataponthedoorbrokeuphispainfulcogitations。
\"Mr。MichaelMont，sir，isinthedrawing—room。Willyouseehim？\"
\"No，\"saidSoames;\"yes。I’llcomedown。\"
Anythingthatwouldtakehismindoffforafewminutes！
MichaelMontinflannelsstoodontheverandahsmokingacigarette。
HethrewitawayasSoamescameup，andranhishandthroughhishair。
Soames’feelingtowardthisyoungmanwassingular。Hewasnodoubtarackety，irresponsibleyoungfellowaccordingtooldstandards，yetsomehowlikeable，withhisextraordinarilycheerfulwayofblurtingouthisopinions。
\"Comein，\"hesaid;\"haveyouhadtea？\"
Montcamein。
\"IthoughtFleurwouldhavebeenback，sir;butI’mgladsheisn’t。
Thefactis，I——I’mfearfullygoneonher;sofearfullygonethatI
thoughtyou’dbetterknow。It’sold—fashioned，ofcourse，comingtofathersfirst，butIthoughtyou’dforgivethat。IwenttomyownDad，andhesaysifIsettledownhe’llseemethrough。Herathercottonstotheidea，infact。ItoldhimaboutyourGoya。\"
\"Oh！\"saidSoames，inexpressiblydry。\"Herathercottons？\"
\"Yes，sir;doyou？\"
Soamessmiledfaintly。
\"Yousee，\"resumedMont，twiddlinghisstrawhat，whilehishair，ears，eyebrows，allseemedtostandupfromexcitement，\"whenyou’vebeenthroughtheWaryoucan’thelpbeinginahurry。\"
\"Togetmarried;andunmarriedafterward，\"saidSoamesslowly。
\"NotfromFleur，sir。Imagine，ifyouwereme！\"
Soamesclearedhisthroat。Thatwayofputtingitwasforcibleenough。
\"Fleur’stooyoung，\"hesaid。
\"Oh！no，sir。We’reawfullyoldnowadays。MyDadseemstomeaperfectbabe;histhinkingapparatushasn’tturnedahair。Buthe’saBaronight，ofcourse;thatkeepshimback。\"
\"Baronight，\"repeatedSoames;\"whatmaythatbe？\"
\"Bart，sir。IshallbeaBartsomeday。ButIshallliveitdown，youknow。\"
\"Goawayandlivethisdown，\"saidSoames。
YoungMontsaidimploringly:\"Oh！no，sir。Isimplymusthangaround，orIshouldn’thaveadog’schance。You’llletFleurdowhatshelikes，Isuppose，anyway。Madamepassesme。\"
\"Indeed！\"saidSoamesfrigidly。
\"Youdon’treallybarme，doyou？\"andtheyoungmanlookedsodolefulthatSoamessmiled。
\"Youmaythinkyou’reveryold，\"hesaid;\"butyoustrikemeasextremelyyoung。Torattleaheadofeverythingisnotaproofofmaturity。\"
\"Allright，sir;Igiveyouourage。ButtoshowyouImeanbusiness——I’vegotajob。\"
\"Gladtohearit。\"
\"Joinedapublisher;mygovernorisputtingupthestakes。\"
Soamesputhishandoverhismouth——hehadsoverynearlysaid:\"Godhelpthepublisher！\"Hisgreyeyesscrutinisedtheagitatedyoungman。
\"Idon’tdislikeyou，Mr。Mont，butFleuriseverythingtome:
Everything——doyouunderstand？\"
\"Yes，sir，Iknow;butsosheistome。\"
\"That’sasmaybe。I’mgladyou’vetoldme，however。AndnowI
thinkthere’snothingmoretobesaid。\"
\"Iknowitrestswithher，sir。\"
\"Itwillrestwithheralongtime，Ihope。\"
\"Youaren’tcheering，\"saidMontsuddenly。
\"No，\"saidSoames，\"myexperienceoflifehasnotmademeanxioustocouplepeopleinahurry。Good—night，Mr。Mont。Ishan’ttellFleurwhatyou’vesaid。\"
\"Oh！\"murmuredMontblankly;\"Ireallycouldknockmybrainsoutforwantofher。Sheknowsthatperfectlywell。\"
\"Idaresay。\"AndSoamesheldouthishand。Adistractedsqueeze，aheavysigh，andsoonaftersoundsfromtheyoungman’smotor—cyclecalledupvisionsofflyingdustandbrokenbones。
’Theyoungergeneration！’hethoughtheavily，andwentoutontothelawn。Thegardenershadbeenmowing，andtherewasstillthesmelloffresh—cutgrass——thethunderyairkeptallscentsclosetoearth。
Theskywasofapurplishhue——thepoplarsblack。Twoorthreeboatspassedontheriver，scuttling，asitwere，forshelterbeforethestorm。’Threedays’fineweather，’thoughtSoames，’andthenastorm！’WherewasAnnette？Withthatchap，forallheknew——shewasayoungwoman！Impressedwiththequeercharityofthatthought，heenteredthesummerhouseandsatdown。Thefactwas——andheadmittedit——Fleurwassomuchtohimthathiswifewasverylittle——verylittle;French——hadneverbeenmuchmorethanamistress，andhewasgettingindifferenttothatsideofthings！Itwasoddhow，withallthisingrainedcareformoderationandsecureinvestment，Soameseverputhisemotionaleggsintoonebasket。FirstIrene——nowFleur。Hewasdimlyconsciousofit，sittingthere，consciousofitsodddangerousness。Ithadbroughthimtowreckandscandalonce，butnow——nowitshouldsavehim！HecaredsomuchforFleurthathewouldhavenofurtherscandal。Ifonlyhecouldgetatthatanonymousletter—writer，hewouldteachhimnottomeddleandstirupmudatthebottomofwaterwhichhewishedshouldremainstagnant！……
Adistantflash，alowrumble，andlargedropsofrainspatteredonthethatchabovehim。Heremainedindifferent，tracingapatternwithhisfingeronthedustysurfaceofalittlerustictable。
Fleur’sfuture！’Iwantfairsailingforher，’hethought。’Nothingelsemattersatmytimeoflife。’Alonelybusiness——life！Whatyouhadyounevercouldkeeptoyourself！Asyouwarnedoneoff，youletanotherin。Onecouldmakesureofnothing！Hereachedupandpulledaredramblerrosefromaclusterwhichblockedthewindow。
Flowersgrewanddropped——Naturewasaqueerthing！Thethunderrumbledandcrashed，travellingeastalongariver，thepalingflashesflickedhiseyes;thepoplartopsshowedsharpanddenseagainstthesky，aheavyshowerrustledandrattledandveiledinthelittlehousewhereinhesat，indifferent，thinking。
Whenthestormwasover，helefthisretreatandwentdownthewetpathtotheriverbank。
Twoswanshadcome，shelteringinamongthereeds。Heknewthebirdswell，andstoodwatchingthedignityinthecurveofthosewhitenecksandformidablesnake—likeheads。’Notdignified——whatIhavetodo！’hethought。Andyetitmustbetackled，lestworsebefell。
Annettemustbebackbynowfromwherevershehadgone，foritwasnearlydinner—time，andasthemomentforseeingherapproached，thedifficultyofknowingwhattosayandhowtosayithadincreased。A
newandscaringthoughtoccurredtohim。Supposeshewantedherlibertytomarrythisfellow！Well，ifshedid，shecouldn’thaveit。Hehadnotmarriedherforthat。TheimageofProsperProfonddawdledbeforehimreassuringly。Notamarryingman！No，no！Angerreplacedthatmomentaryscare。’Hehadbetternotcomemyway，’hethought。Themongrelrepresented———！ButwhatdidProsperProfondrepresent？Nothingthatmatteredsurely。Andyetsomethingrealenoughintheworld——unmoralityletoffitschain，disillusionmentontheprowl！ThatexpressionAnnettehadcaughtfromhim:\"Jem’enfiche！\"Afatalisticchap！Acontinental——acosmopolitan——aproductoftheage！Iftherewerecondemnationmorecomplete，Soamesfeltthathedidnotknowit。
Theswanshadturnedtheirheads，andwerelookingpasthimintosomedistanceoftheirown。Oneofthemutteredalittlehiss，waggeditstail，turnedasifansweringtoarudder，andswamaway。Theotherfollowed。Theirwhitebodies，theirstatelynecks，passedoutofhissight，andhewenttowardthehouse。
Annettewasinthedrawing—room，dressedfordinner，andhethoughtashewentup—stairs’Handsomeisashandsomedoes。’Handsome！
Exceptforremarksaboutthecurtainsinthedrawing—room，andthestorm，therewaspracticallynoconversationduringamealdistinguishedbyexactitudeofquantityandperfectionofquality。
Soamesdranknothing。Hefollowedherintothedrawing—roomafterward，andfoundhersmokingacigaretteonthesofabetweenthetwoFrenchwindows。Shewasleaningback，almostupright，inalowblackfrock，withherkneescrossedandherblueeyeshalf—closed;
grey—bluesmokeissuedfromherred，ratherfulllips，afilletboundherchestnuthair，sheworethethinnestsilkstockings，andshoeswithveryhighheelsshowingoffherinstep。Afinepieceinanyroom！Soames，whoheldthattornletterinahandthrustdeepintotheside—pocketofhisdinner—jacket，said:
\"I’mgoingtoshutthewindow;thedamp’sliftingin。\"
Hedidso，andstoodlookingataDavidCoxadorningthecream—
panelledwallcloseby。
Whatwasshethinkingof？Hehadneverunderstoodawomaninhislife——exceptFleur——andFleurnotalways！Hisheartbeatfast。Butifhemeanttodoit，nowwasthemoment。TurningfromtheDavidCox，hetookoutthetornletter。
\"I’vehadthis。\"
Hereyeswidened，staredathim，andhardened。
Soameshandedhertheletter。
\"It’storn，butyoucanreadit。\"AndheturnedbacktotheDavidCox——asea—piece，ofgoodtone——butwithoutmovementenough。’I
wonderwhatthatchap’sdoingatthismoment？’hethought。’I’llastonishhimyet。’OutofthecornerofhiseyehesawAnnetteholdingtheletterrigidly;hereyesmovedfromsidetosideunderherdarkenedlashesandfrowningdarkenedeyes。Shedroppedtheletter，gavealittleshiver，smiled，andsaid:
\"Dirrty！\"
\"Iquiteagree，\"saidSoames;\"degrading。Isittrue？\"
Atoothfastenedonherredlowerlip。\"Andwhatifitwere？\"
Shewasbrazen！
\"Isthatallyouhavetosay？\"
\"No。\"
\"Well，speakout！\"
\"Whatisthegoodoftalking？\"
Soamessaidicily:\"Soyouadmitit？\"
\"Iadmitnothing。Youareafooltoask。Amanlikeyoushouldnotask。Itisdangerous。\"
Soamesmadeatouroftheroom，tosubduehisrisinganger。
\"Doyouremember，\"hesaid，haltinginfrontofher，\"whatyouwerewhenImarriedyou？Workingataccountsinarestaurant。\"
\"DoyourememberthatIwasnothalfyourage？\"
Soamesbrokeoffthehardencounteroftheireyes，andwentbacktotheDavidCox。
\"Iamnotgoingtobandywords。Irequireyoutogiveupthis——
friendship。IthinkofthematterentirelyasitaffectsFleur。\"
\"Ah！——Fleur！\"
\"Yes，\"saidSoamesstubbornly;\"Fleur。Sheisyourchildaswellasmine。\"
\"Itiskindtoadmitthat！\"
\"AreyougoingtodowhatIsay？\"
\"Irefusetotellyou。\"
\"ThenImustmakeyou。\"
Annettesmiled。
\"No，Soames，\"shesaid。\"Youarehelpless。Donotsaythingsthatyouwillregret。\"
Angerswelledtheveinsonhisforehead。Heopenedhismouthtoventthatemotion，andcouldnot。Annettewenton:
\"Thereshallbenomoresuchletters，Ipromiseyou。Thatisenough。\"
Soameswrithed。Hehadasenseofbeingtreatedlikeachildbythiswomanwhohaddeservedhedidnotknowwhat。
\"Whentwopeoplehavemarried，andlivedlikeus，Soames，theyhadbetterbequietabouteachother。Therearethingsonedoesnotdragupintothelightforpeopletolaughat。Youwillbequiet，then;
notformysakeforyourown。Youaregettingold;Iamnot，yet。
Youhavemademever—rypractical\"
Soames，whohadpassedthroughallthesensationsofbeingchoked，repeateddully:
\"Irequireyoutogiveupthisfriendship。\"
\"AndifIdonot？\"
\"Then——thenIwillcutyououtofmyWill。\"
Somehowitdidnotseemtomeetthecase。Annettelaughed。
\"Youwilllivealongtime，Soames。\"
\"You——youareabadwoman，\"saidSoamessuddenly。
Annetteshruggedhershoulders。
\"Idonotthinkso。Livingwithyouhaskilledthingsinme，itistrue;butIamnotabadwoman。Iamsensible——thatisall。Andsowillyoubewhenyouhavethoughtitover。\"
\"Ishallseethisman，\"saidSoamessullenly，\"andwarnhimoff。\"
\"Moncher，youarefunny。Youdonotwantme，youhaveasmuchofmeasyouwant;andyouwishtherestofmetobedead。Iadmitnothing，butIamnotgoingtobedead，Soames，atmyage;soyouhadbetterbequiet，Itellyou。Imyselfwillmakenoscandal;none。
Now，Iamnotsayinganymore，whateveryoudo。\"
Shereachedout，tookaFrenchnoveloffalittletable，andopenedit。Soameswatchedher，silencedbythetumultofhisfeelings。Thethoughtofthatmanwasalmostmakinghimwanther，andthiswasarevelationoftheirrelationship，startlingtoonelittlegiventointrospectivephilosophy。Withoutsayinganotherwordhewentoutanduptothepicture—gallery。ThiscameofmarryingaFrenchwoman！
Andyet，withouthertherewouldhavebeennoFleur！Shehadservedherpurpose。
’She’sright，’hethought;’Icandonothing。Idon’tevenknowthatthere’sanythinginit。’Theinstinctofself—preservationwarnedhimtobattendownhishatches，tosmotherthefirewithwantofair。
Unlessonebelievedtherewassomethinginathing，therewasn’t。
Thatnighthewentintoherroom。Shereceivedhiminthemostmatter—of—factway，asiftherehadbeennoscenebetweenthem。Andhereturnedtohisownroomwithacurioussenseofpeace。Ifonedidn’tchoosetosee，oneneedn’t。Andhedidnotchoose——infuturehedidnotchoose。Therewasnothingtobegainedbyit——nothing！
Openingthedrawerhetookfromthesachetahandkerchief，andtheframedphotographofFleur。Whenhehadlookedatitalittleheslippeditdown，andtherewasthatotherone——thatoldoneofIrene。
Anowlhootedwhilehestoodinhiswindowgazingatit。Theowlhooted，theredclimbingrosesseemedtodeepenincolour，therecameascentoflime—blossom。God！Thathadbeenadifferentthing！
Passion——Memory！Dust！
VII
JUNETAKESAHAND
Onewhowasasculptor，aSlav，asometimeresidentinNewYork，anegoist，andimpecunious，wastobefoundofaneveninginJuneForsyte’sstudioonthebankoftheThamesatChiswick。OntheeveningofJuly6，BorisStrumolowski——severalofwhoseworkswereonshowtherebecausetheywereasyettooadvancedtobeonshowanywhereelse——hadbegunwell，withthataloofandratherChrist—likesilencewhichadmirablysuitedhisyouthful，round，broadcheek—bonedcountenanceframedinbrighthairbangedlikeagirl’s。Junehadknownhimthreeweeks，andhestillseemedtohertheprincipalembodimentofgenius，andhopeofthefuture;asortofStaroftheEastwhichhadstrayedintoanunappreciativeWest。UntilthateveninghehadconversationallyconfinedhimselftorecordinghisimpressionsoftheUnitedStates，whosedusthehadjustshakenfromoffhisfeet——acountry，inhisopinion，sobarbarousineverywaythathehadsoldpracticallynothingthere，andbecomeanobjectofsuspiciontothepolice;acountry，ashesaid，withoutaraceofitsown，withoutliberty，equality，orfraternity，withoutprinciples，traditions，taste，without——inaword——asoul。Hehadleftitforhisowngood，andcometotheonlyothercountrywherehecouldlivewell。Junehaddweltunhappilyonhiminherlonelymoments，standingbeforehiscreations——frightening，butpowerfulandsymboliconcetheyhadbeenexplained！Thathe，haloedbybrighthairlikeanearlyItalianpainting，andabsorbedinhisgeniustotheexclusionofallelse——theonlysignofcoursebywhichrealgeniuscouldbetold——shouldstillbea\"lameduck\"agitatedherwarmheartalmosttotheexclusionofPaulPost。AndshehadbeguntotakestepstoclearherGallery，inordertofillitwithStrumolowskimasterpieces。Shehadatonceencounteredtrouble。PaulPosthadkicked;Vospovitchhadstung。Withalltheemphasisofageniuswhichshedidnotasyetdenythem，theyhaddemandedanothersixweeksatleastofherGallery。TheAmericanstream，stillflowingin，wouldsoonbeflowingout。TheAmericanstreamwastheirright，theironlyhope，theirsalvation——sincenobodyinthis\"beastly\"countrycaredforArt。Junehadyieldedtothedemonstration。AfterallBoriswouldnotmindtheirhavingthefullbenefitofanAmericanstream，whichhehimselfsoviolentlydespised。
ThiseveningshehadputthattoBoriswithnobodyelsepresent，exceptHannahHobdey，themediaevalblack—and—whitist，andJimmyPortugal，editoroftheNeo—Artist。Shehadputittohimwiththatsuddenconfidencewhichcontinualcontactwiththeneo—artisticworldhadneverbeenabletodryupinherwarmandgenerousnature。HehadnotbrokenhisChrist—likesilence，however，formorethantwominutesbeforeshebegantomoveherblueeyesfromsidetoside，asacatmovesitstail。This——hesaid——wascharacteristicofEngland，themostselfishcountryintheworld;thecountrywhichsuckedthebloodofothercountries;destroyedthebrainsandheartsofIrishmen，Hindus，Egyptians，Boers，andBurmese，allthebestracesintheworld;bullying，hypocriticalEngland！Thiswaswhathehadexpected，comingto，suchacountry，wheretheclimatewasallfog，andthepeoplealltradesmenperfectlyblindtoArt，andsunkinprofiteeringandthegrossestmaterialism。ConsciousthatHannahHobdeywasmurmuring，\"Hear，hear！\"andJimmyPortugalsniggering，Junegrewcrimson，andsuddenlyrappedout:
\"Thenwhydidyouevercome？Wedidn’taskyou。\"
