\"There’smoney，butnofaithinthings。Wedon’tlaybyforthefuture。Theseyoungsters——it’sallashortlifeandamerryonewiththem。\"
\"There’sahat！\"saidWinifred。\"Idon’tknow——whenyoucometothinkofthepeoplekilledandallthatintheWar，it’sratherwonderful，Ithink。There’snoothercountry——Prospersaystherestareallbankrupt，exceptAmerica;andofcoursehermenalwaystooktheirstyleindressfromus。\"
\"Isthatchap，\"saidSoames，\"reallygoingtotheSouthSeas？\"
\"Oh！oneneverknowswhereProsper’sgoing！\"
\"He’sasignofthetimes，\"mutteredSoames，\"ifyoulike。\"
Winifred’shandgrippedhisarm。
\"Don’tturnyourhead，\"shesaidinalowvoice，\"butlooktoyourrightinthefrontrowoftheStand。\"
Soameslookedasbesthecouldunderthatlimitation。Amaninagreytophat，grey—bearded，withthinbrown，foldedcheeks，andacertaineleganceofposture，sattherewithawomaninalawn—
colouredfrock，whosedarkeyeswerefixedonhimself。Soameslookedquicklyathisfeet。Howfunnilyfeetmoved，oneaftertheotherlikethat！Winifred’svoicesaidinhisear:
\"Jolyonlooksveryill;buthealwayshadstyle。Shedoesn’tchange—
—exceptherhair。\"
\"WhydidyoutellFleuraboutthatbusiness？\"
\"Ididn’t;shepickeditup。Ialwaysknewshewould。\"
\"Well，it’samess。She’ssetherheartupontheirboy。\"
\"Thelittlewretch，\"murmuredWinifred。\"Shetriedtotakemeinaboutthat。Whatshallyoudo，Soames？\"
\"Beguidedbyevents。\"
Theymovedon，silent，inthealmostsolidcrowd。
\"Really，\"saidWinifredsuddenly;\"italmostseemslikeFate。Onlythat’ssoold—fashioned。Look！thereareGeorgeandEustace！\"
GeorgeForsyte’sloftybulkhadhaltedbeforethem。
\"Hallo，Soames！\"hesaid。\"JustmetProfondandyourwife。You’llcatch’emifyouputonpace。DidyouevergotoseeoldTimothy？\"
Soamesnodded，andthestreamsforcedthemapart。
\"IalwayslikedoldGeorge，\"saidWinifred。\"He’ssodroll。\"
\"Ineverdid，\"saidSoames。\"Where’syourseat？Ishallgotomine。
Fleurmaybebackthere。\"
HavingseenWinifredtoherseat，heregainedhisown，consciousofsmall，white，distantfiguresrunning，theclickofthebat，thecheersandcounter—cheers。NoFleur，andnoAnnette！Youcouldexpectnothingofwomennowadays！Theyhadthevote。Theywere\"emancipated，\"andmuchgooditwasdoingthem！SoWinifredwouldgoback，wouldshe，andputupwithDartiealloveragain？Tohavethepastoncemore——tobesittinghereashehadsatin’83and’84，beforehewascertainthathismarriagewithIrenehadgoneallwrong，beforeherantagonismhadbecomesoglaringthatwiththebestwillintheworldhecouldnotoverlookit。Thesightofherwiththatfellowhadbroughtallmemoryback。Evennowhecouldnotunderstandwhyshehadbeensoimpracticable。Shecouldloveothermen;shehaditinher！Tohimself，theonepersonsheoughttohaveloved，shehadchosentorefuseherheart。Itseemedtohim，fantastically，ashelookedback，thatallthismodernrelaxationofmarriage——thoughitsformsandlawswerethesameaswhenhemarriedher——thatallthismodernloosenesshadcomeoutofherrevolt;itseemedtohim，fantastically，thatshehadstartedit，tillalldecentownershipofanythinghadgone，orwasonthepointofgoing。
Allcamefromher！Andnow——aprettystateofthings！Homes！Howcouldyouhavethemwithoutmutualownership？Notthathehadeverhadarealhome！Buthadthatbeenhisfault？Hehaddonehisbest。
Andhisrewardswere——thosetwosittinginthatStand，andthisaffairofFleur’s！
Andovercomebylonelinesshethought:’Shan’twaitanylonger！Theymustfindtheirownwaybacktothehotel——iftheymeantocome！’
Hailingacaboutsidetheground，hesaid:
\"DrivemetotheBayswaterRoad。\"Hisoldauntshadneverfailedhim。Tothemhehadmeantanever—welcomevisitor。Thoughtheyweregone，there，still，wasTimothy！
Smitherwasstandingintheopendoorway。
\"Mr。Soames！Iwasjusttakingtheair。Cookwillbesopleased。\"
\"HowisMr。Timothy？\"
\"Nothimselfatalltheselastfewdays，sir;he’sbeentalkingagreatdeal。Onlythismorninghewassaying:’MybrotherJames，he’sgettingold。’Hismindwanders，Mr。Soames，andthenhewilltalkofthem。Hetroublesabouttheirinvestments。Theotherdayhesaid:
’There’smybrotherJolyonwon’tlookatConsols’——heseemedquitedownaboutit。Comein，Mr。Soames，comein！It’ssuchapleasantchange！\"
\"Well，\"saidSoames，\"justforafewminutes。\"
\"No，\"murmuredSmitherinthehall，wheretheairhadthesingularfreshnessoftheoutsideday，\"wehaven’tbeenverysatisfiedwithhim，notallthisweek。He’salwaysbeenonetoleaveatitbittotheend;buteversinceMondayhe’sbeeneatingitfirst。Ifyounoticeadog，Mr。Soames，atitsdinner，iteatsthemeatfirst。
We’vealwaysthoughtitsuchagoodsignofMr。Timothyathisagetoleaveittothelast，butnowheseemstohavelostallhisself—
control;and，ofcourse，itmakeshimleavetherest。Thedoctordoesn’tmakeanythingofit，but\"——Smithershookherhead——\"heseemstothinkhe’sgottoeatitfirst，incaseheshouldn’tgettoit。
Thatandhistalkingmakesusanxious。\"
\"Hashesaidanythingimportant？\"
\"Ishouldn’tliketosaythat，Mr。Soames;buthe’sturnedagainsthisWill。Hegetsquitepettish——andafterhavinghaditouteverymorningforyears，itdoesseemfunny。Hesaidtheotherday:’Theywantmymoney。’Itgavemesuchaturn，because，asIsaidtohim，nobodywantshismoney，I’msure。Anditdoesseemapityheshouldbethinkingaboutmoneyathistimeoflife。Itookmycourageinmy’ands。’Youknow，Mr。Timothy，’Isaid，’mydearmistress’——that’sMissForsyte，Mr。Soames，MissAnnthattrainedme——’sheneverthoughtaboutmoney，’Isaid，’itwasallcharacterwithher。’Helookedatme，Ican’ttellyouhowfunny，andhesaidquitedry:
’Nobodywantsmycharacter。’Thinkofhissayingathinglikethat！
Butsometimeshe’llsaysomethingassharpandsensibleasanything。\"
Soames，whohadbeenstaringatanoldprintbythehat—rack，thinking，’That’sgotvalue！’murmured:\"I’llgoupandseehim，Smither。\"
\"Cook’swithhim，\"answeredSmitherabovehercorsets;\"shewillbepleasedtoseeyou。\"
Hemountedslowly，withthethought:’Shan’tcaretolivetobethatage。’
Onthesecondfloor，hepaused，andtapped。Thedoorwasopened，andhesawtheroundhomelyfaceofawomanaboutsixty。
\"Mr。Soames！\"shesaid:\"Why！Mr。Soames！\"
Soamesnodded。\"Allright，Cook！\"andentered。
Timothywasproppedupinbed，withhishandsjoinedbeforehischest，andhiseyesfixedontheceiling，whereaflywasstandingupsidedown。Soamesstoodatthefootofthebed，facinghim。
\"UncleTimothy，\"hesaid，raisinghisvoice。\"UncleTimothy！\"
Timothy’seyesleftthefly，andlevelledthemselvesonhisvisitor。
Soamescouldseehispaletonguepassingoverhisdarkishlips。
\"UncleTimothy，\"hesaidagain，\"isthereanythingIcandoforyou？
Isthereanythingyou’dliketosay？\"
\"Ha！\"saidTimothy。
\"I’vecometolookyouupandseethateverything’sallright。\"
Timothynodded。Heseemedtryingtogetusedtotheapparitionbeforehim。
\"Haveyougoteverythingyouwant？\"
\"No，\"saidTimothy。
\"CanIgetyouanything？\"
\"No，\"saidTimothy。
\"I’mSoames，youknow;yournephew，SoamesForsyte。YourbrotherJames’son。\"
Timothynodded。
\"IshallbedelightedtodoanythingIcanforyou。\"
Timothybeckoned。Soameswentclosetohim:
\"You——\"saidTimothyinavoicewhichseemedtohaveoutlivedtone，\"youtellthemallfromme——youtellthemall——\"andhisfingertappedonSoames’arm，\"toholdon——holdon——Consolsaregoin’up，\"
andhenoddedthrice。
\"Allright！\"saidSoames;\"Iwill。\"
\"Yes，\"saidTimothy，and，fixinghiseyesagainontheceiling，headded:\"Thatfly！\"
Strangelymoved，SoameslookedattheCook’spleasantfattishface，alllittlepuckersfromstaringatfires。
\"That’lldohimaworldofgood，sir，\"shesaid。
AmuttercamefromTimothy，buthewasclearlyspeakingtohimself，andSoameswentoutwiththecook。
\"IwishIcouldmakeyouapinkcream，Mr。Soames，likeinolddays;
youdidsorelishthem。Good—bye，sir;ithasbeenapleasure。\"
\"Takecareofhim，Cook，heisold。\"
And，shakinghercrumpledhand，hewentdown—stairs。Smitherwasstilltakingtheairinthedoorway。
\"Whatdoyouthinkofhim，Mr。Soames？\"
\"H’m！\"Soamesmurmured:\"He’slosttouch。\"
\"Yes，\"saidSmither，\"Iwasafraidyou’dthinkthatcomingfreshoutoftheworldtoseehimlike。\"
\"Smither，\"saidSoames，\"we’reallindebtedtoyou。\"
\"Oh，no，Mr。Soames，don’tsaythat！It’sapleasure——he’ssuchawonderfulman。\"
\"Well，good—bye！\"saidSoames，andgotintohistaxi。
’Goingup！’hethought;’goingup！’
ReachingthehotelatKnightsbridgehewenttotheirsitting—room，andrangfortea。Neitherofthemwerein。Andagainthatsenseoflonelinesscameoverhim。Thesehotels。Whatmonstrousgreatplacestheywerenow！HecouldrememberwhentherewasnothingbiggerthanLong’sorBrown’s，Morley’sortheTavistock，andtheheadsthatwereshakenovertheLanghamandtheGrand。HotelsandClubs——ClubsandHotels;noendtothemnow！AndSoames，whohadjustbeenwatchingatLord’samiracleoftraditionandcontinuity，fellintoreverieoverthechangesinthatLondonwherehehadbeenbornfive—and—sixtyyearsbefore。WhetherConsolsweregoingupornot，Londonhadbecomeaterrificproperty。Nosuchpropertyintheworld，unlessitwereNewYork！Therewasalotofhysteriainthepapersnowadays;
butanyonewho，likehimself，couldrememberLondonsixtyyearsago，andseeitnow，realisedthefecundityandelasticityofwealth。
Theyhadonlytokeeptheirheads，andgoatitsteadily。Why！herememberedcobblestones，andstinkingstrawonthefloorofyourcab。
AndoldTimothy——whatcouldbenothavetoldthem，ifhehadkepthismemory！Thingswereunsettled，peopleinafunkorinahurry，butherewereLondonandtheThames，andouttheretheBritishEmpire，andtheendsoftheearth。\"Consolsaregoin’up！\"Heshouldn’tbeabitsurprised。Itwasthebreedthatcounted。Andallthatwasbull—doggedinSoamesstaredforamomentoutofhisgreyeyes，tilldivertedbytheprintofaVictorianpictureonthewalls。Thehotelhadboughtthreedozenofthatlittlelot！Theoldhuntingor\"Rake’sProgress\"printsintheoldinnswereworthlookingat——butthissentimentalstuff——well，Victorianismhadgone！\"Tellthemtoholdon！\"oldTimothyhadsaid。Buttowhatweretheytoholdoninthismodernwelterofthe\"democraticprinciple\"？Why，evenprivacywasthreatened！Andatthethoughtthatprivacymightperish，Soamespushedbackhisteacupandwenttothewindow。FancyowningnomoreofNaturethanthecrowdoutthereownedoftheflowersandtreesandwatersofHydePark！No，no！Privatepossessionunderlayeverythingworthhaving。Theworldhadslippeditssanityabit，asdogsnowandagainatfullmoonslippedtheirsandwentoffforanight’srabbiting;buttheworld，likethedog，knewwhereitsbreadwasbutteredanditsbedwarm，andwouldcomebacksureenoughtotheonlyhomeworthhaving——toprivateownership。Theworldwasinitssecondchildhoodforthemoment，likeoldTimothy——eatingitstitbitfirst！
Heheardasoundbehindhim，andsawthathiswifeanddaughterhadcomein。
\"Soyou’reback！\"hesaid。
Fleurdidnotanswer;shestoodforamomentlookingathimandhermother，thenpassedintoherbedroom。Annettepouredherselfoutacupoftea。
\"IamgoingtoParis，tomymother，Soames。\"\"Oh！Toyourmother？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Forhowlong？\"
\"Idonotknow。\"
\"Andwhenareyougoing？\"
\"OnMonday。\"
Wasshereallygoingtohermother？Odd，howindifferenthefelt！
Odd，howclearlyshehadperceivedtheindifferencehewouldfeelsolongastherewasnoscandal。Andsuddenlybetweenherandhimselfhesawdistinctlythefacehehadseenthatafternoon——Irene’s。
\"Willyouwantmoney？\"
\"Thankyou;Ihaveenough。\"
\"Verywell。Letusknowwhenyouarecomingback。\"
Annetteputdownthecakeshewasfingering，and，lookingupthroughdarkenedlashes，said:
\"ShallIgiveMamananymessage？\"
\"Myregards。\"
Annettestretchedherself，herhandsonherwaist，andsaidinFrench:
\"Whatluckthatyouhaveneverlovedme，Soames！\"Thenrising，shetoolefttheroom。SoameswasgladshehadspokenitinFrench——itseemedtorequirenodealingwith。Againthatotherface——pale，dark—eyed，beautifulstill！Andtherestirredfardownwithinhimtheghostofwarmth，asfromsparkslingeringbeneathamoundofflakyash。AndFleurinfatuatedwithherboy！Queerchance！Yet，wastheresuchathingaschance？Amanwentdownastreet，abrickfellonhishead。Ah！thatwaschance，nodoubt。Butthis！
\"Inherited，\"hisgirlhadsaid。She——shewas\"holdingon\"！
PARTIII
I
OLDJOLYONWALKS
TwofoldimpulsehadmadeJolyonsaytohiswifeatbreakfast\"Let’sgouptoLord’s！\"
\"Wanted\"——somethingtoabatetheanxietyinwhichthosetwohadlivedduringthesixtyhourssinceJonhadbroughtFleurdown。\"Wanted\"——
too，thatwhichmightassuagethepangsofmemoryinonewhoknewhemightlosethemanyday！
Fifty—eightyearsagoJolyonhadbecomeanEtonboy，foroldJolyon’swhimhadbeenthatheshouldbecanonisedatthegreatestpossibleexpense。YearafteryearhehadgonetoLord’sfromStanhopeGatewithafatherwhoseyouthintheeighteen—twentieshadbeenpassedwithoutpolishinthegameofcricket。OldJolyonwouldspeakquiteopenlyofswipes，fulltosses，halfandthree—quarterballs;andyoungJolyonwiththeguilelesssnobberyofyouthhadtrembledlesthissireshouldbeoverheard。Onlyinthissupremematterofcrickethehadbeennervous，forhisfather——inCrimeanwhiskersthen——hadeverimpressedhimasthebeauideal。Thoughnevercanonisedhimself，OldJolyon’snaturalfastidiousnessandbalancehadsavedhimfromtheerrorsofthevulgar。Howdelicious，afterhowlinginatophatandaswelteringheat，togohomewithhisfatherinahansomcab，bathe，dress，andforthtothe\"Disunion\"Club，todineoffwhitebait，cutlets，andatart，andgo——two\"swells，\"oldandyoung，inlavenderkidgloves——totheoperaorplay。AndonSunday，whenthematchwasover，andhistophatdulybroken，downwithhisfatherinaspecialhansomtothe\"CrownandSceptre，\"andtheterraceabovetheriver——thegoldensixtieswhentheworldwassimple，dandiesglamorous，Democracynotborn，andthebooksofWhyteMelvillecomingthickandfast。
Agenerationlater，withhisownboy，Jolly，Harrow—buttonholedwithcorn—flowers——byoldJolyon’swhimhisgrandsonhadbeencanonisedatatriflelessexpense——againJolyonhadexperiencedtheheatandcounter—passionsoftheday，andcomebacktothecoolandthestrawberrybedsofRobinHill，andbilliardsafterdinner，hisboymakingthemostheart—breakingflukesandtryingtoseemlanguidandgrown—up。Thosetwodayseachyearheandhissonhadbeenalonetogetherintheworld，oneoneachside——andDemocracyjustborn！
Andso，hehadunearthedagreytophat，borrowedatinybitoflight—blueribbonfromIrene，andgingerly，keepingcool，bycarandtrainandtaxi，hadreachedLord’sGround。There，besideherinalawn—colouredfrockwithnarrowblackedges，hehadwatchedthegame，andfelttheoldthrillstirwithinhim。
WhenSoamespassed，thedaywasspoiled。Irene’sfacewasdistortedbycompressionofthelips。NogoodtogoonsittingherewithSoamesorperhapshisdaughterrecurringinfrontofthem，likedecimals。Andhesaid:
\"Well，dear，ifyou’vehadenough——let’sgo！\"
ThateveningJolyonfeltexhausted。Notwantinghertoseehimthus，hewaitedtillshehadbeguntoplay，andstoleofftothelittlestudy。Heopenedthelongwindowforair，andthedoor，thathemightstillhearhermusicdriftingin;and，settledinhisfather’soldarmchair，closedhiseyes，withhisheadagainstthewornbrownleather。LikethatpassageoftheCesarFranckSonata——sohadbeenhislifewithher，adivinethirdmovement。AndnowthisbusinessofJon’s——thisbadbusiness！Driftedtotheedgeofconsciousness，hehardlyknewifitwereinsleepthathesmelledthescentofacigar，andseemedtoseehisfatherintheblacknessbeforehisclosedeyes。
Thatshapeformed，went，andformedagain;asifintheverychairwherehehimselfwassitting，hesawhisfather，black—coated，with。
kneescrossed，glassesbalancedbetweenthumbandfinger;sawthebigwhitemoustaches，andthedeepeyeslookingupbelowadomeofforeheadandseemingtosearchhisown，seemingtospeak。\"Areyoufacingit，Jo？It’sforyoutodecide。She’sonlyawoman！\"Ah！
howwellheknewhisfatherinthatphrase;howalltheVictorianAgecameupwithit！Andhisanswer\"No，I’vefunkedit——funkedhurtingherandJonandmyself。I’vegotaheart;I’vefunkedit。\"Buttheoldeyes，somucholder，somuchyoungerthanhisown，keptatit;
\"It’syourwife，yourson;yourpast。Tackleit，myboy！\"Wasitamessagefromwalkingspirit;orbuttheinstinctofhissirelivingonwithinhim？Andagaincamethatscentofcigarsmoke—fromtheoldsaturatedleather。Well！hewouldtackleit，writetoJon，andputthewholethingdowninblackandwhite！Andsuddenlyhebreathedwithdifficulty，withasenseofsuffocation，asifhisheartwereswollen。Hegotupandwentoutintotheair。Thestarswereverybright。Hepassedalongtheterraceroundthecornerofthehouse，till，throughthewindowofthemusic—room，hecouldseeIreneatthepiano，withlamp—lightfallingonherpowderyhair;withdrawnintoherselfsheseemed，herdarkeyesstaringstraightbeforeher，herhandsidle。Jolyonsawherraisethosehandsandclaspthemoverherbreast。’It’sJon，withher，’hethought;’allJon！I’mdyingoutofher——it’snatural！’
And，carefulnottobeseen，hestoleback。
Nextday，afterabadnight，hesatdowntohistask。Hewrotewithdifficultyandmanyerasures。
\"MYDEARESTBOY，\"Youareoldenoughtounderstandhowverydifficultitisforelderstogivethemselvesawaytotheiryoung。Especiallywhen——likeyourmotherandmyself，thoughIshallneverthinkofherasanythingbutyoung——theirheartsarealtogethersetonhimtowhomtheymustconfess。Icannotsayweareconsciousofhavingsinnedexactly——
peopleinreallifeveryseldomare，Ibelieve——butmostpersonswouldsaywehad，andatalleventsourconduct，righteousornot，hasfoundusout。Thetruthis，mydear，webothhavepasts，whichitisnowmytasktomakeknowntoyou，becausetheysogrievouslyanddeeplyaffectyourfuture。Many，verymanyyearsago，asfarbackindeedas1883，whenshewasonlytwenty，yourmotherhadthegreatandlastingmisfortunetomakeanunhappymarriage——no，notwithme，Jon。Withoutmoneyofherown，andwithonlyastepmother——
closelyrelatedtoJezebel——shewasveryunhappyinherhomelife。
ItwasFleur’sfatherthatshemarried，mycousinSoamesForsyte。Hehadpursuedherverytenaciouslyandtodohimjusticewasdeeplyinlovewithher。Withinaweeksheknewthefearfulmistakeshehadmade。Itwasnothisfault;itwashererrorofjudgment——hermisfortune。\"
SofarJolyonhadkeptsomesemblanceofirony，butnowhissubjectcarriedhimaway。
\"Jon，IwanttoexplaintoyouifIcan——andit’sveryhard——howitisthatanunhappymarriagesuchasthiscansoeasilycomeabout。
Youwillofcoursesay:’Ifshedidn’treallylovehimhowcouldsheeverhavemarriedhim？’Youwouldberightifitwerenotforoneortworatherterribleconsiderations。Fromthisinitialmistakeofhersallthesubsequenttrouble，sorrow，andtragedyhavecome，andsoImustmakeitcleartoyouifIcan。Yousee，Jon，inthosedaysandeventothisday——indeed，Idon’tsee，forallthetalkofenlightenment，howitcanwellbeotherwise——mostgirlsaremarriedignorantofthesexualsideoflife。Eveniftheyknowwhatitmeanstheyhavenotexperiencedit。That’sthecrux。Itisthisactuallackofexperience，whateververbalknowledgetheyhave，whichmakesallthedifferenceandallthetrouble。Inavastnumberofmarriages—andyourmother’swasone——girlsarenotandcannotbecertainwhethertheylovethemantheymarryornot;theydonotknowuntilafterthatactofunionwhichmakestherealityofmarriage。
Now，inmany，perhapsinmostdoubtfulcases，thisactcementsandstrengthenstheattachment，butinothercases，andyourmother’swasone，itisarevelationofmistake，adestructionofsuchattractionastherewas。Thereisnothingmoretragicinawoman’slifethansucharevelation，growingdaily，nightlyclearer。
Coarse—grainedandunthinkingpeopleareapttolaughatsuchamistake，andsay，’Whatafussaboutnothing！’Narrowandself—
righteouspeople，onlycapableofjudgingthelivesofothersbytheirown，areapttocondemnthosewhomakethistragicerror，tocondemnthemforlifetothedungeonstheyhavemadeforthemselves。
Youknowtheexpression:’Shehasmadeherbed，shemustlieonit！’
Itisahard—mouthedsaying，quiteunworthyofagentlemanorladyinthebestsenseofthosewords;andIcanusenostrongercondemnation。Ihavenotbeenwhatiscalledamoralman，butIwishtousenowordstoyou，mydear，whichwillmakeyouthinklightlyoftiesorcontractsintowhichyouenter。Heavenforbid！ButwiththeexperienceofalifebehindmeIdosaythatthosewhocondemnthevictimsofthesetragicmistakes，condemnthemandholdoutnohandstohelpthem，areinhuman，orrathertheywouldbeiftheyhadtheunderstandingtoknowwhattheyaredoing。Buttheyhaven’t！Letthemgo！TheyareasmuchanathematomeasI，nodoubt，amtothem。
Ihavehadtosayallthis，becauseIamgoingtoputyouintoapositiontojudgeyourmother，andyouareveryyoung，withoutexperienceofwhatlifeis。Togoonwiththestory。Afterthreeyearsofefforttosubduehershrinking——Iwasgoingtosayherloathingandit’snottoostrongaword，forshrinkingsoonbecomesloathingundersuchcircumstances——threeyearsofwhattoasensitive，beauty—lovingnaturelikeyourmother’s，Jon，wastorment，shemetayoungmanwhofellinlovewithher。Hewasthearchitectofthisveryhousethatweliveinnow，hewasbuildingitforherandFleur’sfathertolivein，anewprisontoholdher，inplaceoftheonesheinhabitedwithhiminLondon。Perhapsthatfactplayedsomepartinwhatcameofit。Butinanycaseshe，too，fellinlovewithhim。Iknowit’snotnecessarytoexplaintoyouthatonedoesnotpreciselychoosewithwhomonewillfallinlove。Itcomes。
Verywell！Itcame。Icanimagine——thoughsheneversaidmuchtomeaboutit——thestrugglethatthentookplaceinher，because，Jon，shewasbroughtupstrictlyandwasnotlightinherideas——notatall。
However，thiswasanoverwhelmingfeeling，anditcametopassthattheylovedindeedaswellasinthought。Thencameafearfultragedy。ImusttellyouofitbecauseifIdon’tyouwillneverunderstandtherealsituationthatyouhavenowtoface。Themanwhomshehadmarried——SoamesForsyte，thefatherofFleuronenight，attheheightofherpassionforthisyoungman，forciblyreassertedhisrightsoverher。Thenextdayshemetherloverandtoldhimofit。Whetherhecommittedsuicideorwhetherhewasaccidentallyrunoverinhisdistraction，weneverknew;butsoitwas。Thinkofyourmotherasshewasthateveningwhensheheardofhisdeath。I
happenedtoseeher。YourgrandfathersentmetohelpherifI
could。Ionlyjustsawher，beforethedoorwasshutagainstmebyherhusband。ButIhaveneverforgottenherface，Icanseeitnow。
Iwasnotinlovewithherthen，notfortwelveyearsafter，butI
haveneverforgotten。Mydearboy——itisnoteasytowritelikethis。Butyousee，Imust。Yourmotheriswrappedupinyou，utterly，devotedly。Idon’twishtowriteharshlyofSoamesForsyte。
Idon’tthinkharshlyofhim。Ihavelongbeensorryforhim;
perhapsIwassorryeventhen。Astheworldjudgesshewasinerror，hewithinhisrights。Helovedher——inhisway。Shewashisproperty。Thatistheviewheholdsoflife——ofhumanfeelingsandhearts——property。It’snothisfault——sowasheborn。Tomeitisaviewthathasalwaysbeenabhorrent——sowasIborn！KnowingyouasI
do，Ifeelitcannotbeotherwisethanabhorrenttoyou。Letmegoonwiththestory。Yourmotherfledfromhishousethatnight;fortwelveyearsshelivedquietlyalonewithoutcompanionshipofanysort，untilin1899herhusband——yousee，hewasstillherhusband，forhedidnotattempttodivorceher，andsheofcoursehadnorighttodivorcehim——becameconscious，itseems，ofthewantofchildren，andcommencedalongattempttoinducehertogobacktohimandgivehimachild。Iwashertrusteethen，underyourGrandfather’sWill，andIwatchedthisgoingon。Whilewatching，Ibecameattachedtoher，devotedlyattached。Hispressureincreased，tillonedayshecametomehereandpracticallyputherselfundermyprotection。Herhusband，whowaskeptinformedofallhermovements，attemptedtoforceusapartbybringingadivorcesuit，orpossiblyhereallymeantit，Idon’tknow;butanywayournameswerepubliclyjoined。