\"TheysayTimothy’ssinking;\"hesaidglumly。
\"Wherewillyouputhim，Soames？\"
\"Highgate。\"Hecountedonhisfingers。\"It’llmaketwelveofthemthere，includingwives。HowdoyouthinkFleurlooks？\"
\"Remarkablywell。\"
Soamesnodded。Hehadneverseenherlookprettier，yethecouldnotridhimselfoftheimpressionthatthisbusinesswasunnatural——
rememberingstillthatcrushedfigureburrowingintothecornerofthesofa。Fromthatnighttothisdayhehadreceivedfromhernoconfidences。HeknewfromhischauffeurthatshehadmadeonemoreattemptonRobinHillanddrawnblank——anemptyhouse，nooneathome。Heknewthatshehadreceivedaletter，butnotwhatwasinit，exceptthatithadmadeherhideherselfandcry。Hehadremarkedthatshelookedathimsometimeswhenshethoughthewasn’tnoticing，asifshewerewonderingstillwhathehaddone——forsooth——
tomakethosepeoplehatehimso。Well，thereitwas！Annettehadcomeback，andthingshadwornonthroughthesummer——verymiserable，tillsuddenlyFleurhadsaidshewasgoingtomarryyoungMont。Shehadshownhimalittlemoreaffectionwhenshetoldhimthat。Andhehadyielded——whatwasthegoodofopposingit？Godknewthathehadneverwishedtothwartherinanything！Andtheyoungmanseemedquitedeliriousabouther。Nodoubtshewasinarecklessmood，andshewasyoung，absurdlyyoung。Butifheopposedher，hedidn’tknowwhatshewoulddo;forallhecouldtellshemightwanttotakeupaprofession，becomeadoctororsolicitor，somenonsense。Shehadnoaptitudeforpainting，writing，music，inhisviewthelegitimateoccupationsofunmarriedwomen，iftheymustdosomethinginthesedays。Onthewhole，shewassafermarried，forhecouldseetoowellhowfeverishandrestlessshewasathome。Annette，too，hadbeeninfavourofit——Annette，frombehindtheveilofhisrefusaltoknowwhatshewasabout，ifshewasaboutanything。Annettehadsaid:
\"Lethermarrythisyoungman。Heisaniceboy——notsohighty—
flightyasheseems。\"Whereshegotherexpressions，hedidn’tknow—
—butheropinionsoothedhisdoubts。Hiswife，whateverherconduct，hadcleareyesandanalmostdepressingamountofcommonsense。HehadsettledfiftythousandonFleur，takingcarethattherewasnocrosssettlementincaseitdidn’tturnoutwell。Coulditturnoutwell？Shehadnotgotoverthatotherboy——heknew。TheyweretogotoSpainforthehoneymoon。Hewouldbeevenlonelierwhenshewasgone。Butlater，perhaps，shewouldforget，andturntohimagain！
Winifred’svoicebrokeonhisreverie。
\"Why！Ofallwonders—June！\"
There，inadjibbah——whatthingsshewore！——withherhairstrayingfromunderafillet，Soamessawhiscousin，andFleurgoingforwardtogreether。Thetwopassedfromtheirviewoutontothestairway。
\"Really，\"saidWinifred，\"shedoesthemostimpossiblethings！Fancyhercoming！\"
\"Whatmadeyouaskher？\"mutteredSoames。
\"BecauseIthoughtshewouldn’taccept，ofcourse。\"
Winifredhadforgottenthatbehindconductliesthemaintrendofcharacter;or，inotherwords，omittedtorememberthatFleurwasnowa\"lameduck。\"
Onreceivingherinvitation，Junehadfirstthought，’Iwouldn’tgonearthemfortheworld！’andthen，onemorning，hadawakenedfromadreamofFleurwavingtoherfromaboatwithawildunhappygesture。
Andshehadchangedhermind。
WhenFleurcameforwardandsaidtoher，\"DocomeupwhileI’mchangingmydress，\"shehadfollowedupthestairs。ThegirlledthewayintoImogen’soldbedroom，setreadyforhertoilet。
Junesatdownonthebed，thinandupright，likealittlespiritinthesearandyellow。Fleurlockedthedoor。
Thegirlstoodbeforeherdivestedofherweddingdress。Whataprettythingshewas\"Isupposeyouthinkmeafool，\"shesaid，withquiveringlips，\"whenitwastohavebeenJon。Butwhatdoesitmatter？Michaelwantsme，andIdon’tcare。It’llgetmeawayfromhome。\"Divingherhandintothefrillsonherbreast，shebroughtoutaletter。\"Jonwrotemethis。\"
Juneread:\"LakeOkanagen，BritishColumbia。I’mnotcomingbacktoEngland。Blessyoualways。Jon。\"
\"She’smadesafe，yousee，\"saidFleur。
Junehandedbacktheletter。
\"That’snotfairtoIrene，\"shesaid，\"shealwaystoldJonhecoulddoashewished。\"
Fleursmiledbitterly。\"Tellme，didn’tshespoilyourlifetoo？\"
Junelookedup。\"Nobodycanspoilalife，mydear。That’snonsense。
Thingshappen，butwebobup。\"
Withasortofterrorshesawthegirlsinkonherkneesandburyherfaceinthedjibbah。AstrangledsobmountedtoJune’sears。
\"It’sallright——allright，\"shemurmured，\"Don’t！There，there！\"
Butthepointofthegirl’schinwaspressedevercloserintoherthigh，andthesoundwasdreadfulofhersobbing。
Well，well！Ithadtocome。Shewouldfeelbetterafterward！Junestrokedtheshorthairofthatshapelyhead;andallthescatteredmother—senseinherfocusseditselfandpassedthroughthetipsofherfingersintothegirl’sbrain。
\"Don’tsitdownunderit，mydear，\"shesaidatlast。\"Wecan’tcontrollife，butwecanfightit。Makethebestofthings。I’vehadto。Iheldon，likeyou;andIcried，asyou’recryingnow。Andlookatme！\"
Fleurraisedherhead;asobmergedsuddenlyintoalittlechokedlaugh。Intruthitwasathinandratherwildandwastedspiritshewaslookingat，butithadbraveeyes。
\"Allright！\"shesaid。\"I’msorry。Ishallforgethim，Isuppose，ifIflyfastandfarenough。\"
And，scramblingtoherfeet，shewentovertothewash—stand。
Junewatchedherremovingwithcoldwaterthetracesofemotion。
Saveforalittlebecomingpinknesstherewasnothingleftwhenshestoodbeforethemirror。Junegotoffthebedandtookapin—cushioninherhand。Toputtwopinsintothewrongplaceswasalltheventshefoundforsympathy。
\"Givemeakiss，\"shesaidwhenFleurwasready，anddugherchinintothegirl’swarmcheek。
\"Iwantawhiff，\"saidFleur;\"don’twait。\"
Junelefther，sittingonthebedwithacigarettebetweenherlipsandhereyeshalfclosed，andwentdown—stairs。Inthedoorwayofthedrawing—roomstoodSoamesasifunquietathisdaughter’stardiness。Junetossedherheadandpasseddownontothehalf—
landing。HercousinFranciewasstandingthere。
\"Look！\"saidJune，pointingwithherchinatSoames。\"Thatman’sfatal！\"
\"Howdoyoumean，\"saidFrancie，\"fatal？\"
Junedidnotanswerher。\"Ishan’twaittoseethemoff，\"shesaid。
\"Good—bye！\"
\"Good—bye！\"saidFrancie，andhereyes，ofaCelticgrey，goggled。
Thatoldfeud！Really，itwasquiteromantic！
Soames，movingtothewellofthestaircase，sawJunego，anddrewabreathofsatisfaction。Whydidn’tFleurcome？Theywouldmisstheirtrain。Thattrainwouldbearherawayfromhim，yethecouldnothelpfidgetingatthethoughtthattheywouldloseit。Andthenshedidcome，runningdowninhertan—colouredfrockandblackvelvetcap，andpassedhimintothedrawing—room。Hesawherkisshermother，heraunt，Val’swife，Imogen，andthencomeforth，quickandprettyasever。Howwouldshetreathimatthislastmomentofhergirlhood？Hecouldn’thopeformuch！
Herlipspressedthemiddleofhischeek。
\"Daddy！\"shesaid，andwaspastandgone！Daddy！Shehadn’tcalledhimthatforyears。Hedrewalongbreathandfollowedslowlydown。
Therewasallthefollywiththatconfettistuffandtherestofittogothroughwithyet。Buthewouldlikejusttocatchhersmile，ifsheleanedout，thoughtheywouldhitherintheeyewiththeshoe，iftheydidn’ttakecare。YoungMont’svoicesaidferventlyinhisear:
\"Good—bye，sir;andthankyou！I’msofearfullybucked。\"
\"Good—bye，\"hesaid;\"don’tmissyourtrain。\"
Hestoodonthebottomstepbutthree，whencehecouldseeabovetheheads——thesillyhatsandheads。Theywereinthecarnow;andtherewasthatstuff，showering，andtherewenttheshoe。AfloodofsomethingwelledupinSoames，and——hedidn’tknow——hecouldn’tsee！
XI
THELASTOFTHEOLDFORSYTES
WhentheycametopreparethatterrificsymbolTimothyForsyte——theonepureindividualistleft，theonlymanwhohadn’theardoftheGreatWar——theyfoundhimwonderful——notevendeathhadunderminedhissoundness。
ToSmitherandCookthatpreparationcamelikefinalevidenceofwhattheyhadneverbelievedpossible——theendoftheoldForsytefamilyonearth。PoorMr。TimothymustnowtakeaharpandsinginthecompanyofMissForsyte，Mrs。Julia，MissHester;withMr。Jolyon，Mr。Swithin，Mr。James，Mr。Roger，andMr。Nicholasoftheparty。
WhetherMrs。Haymanwouldbetherewasmoredoubtful，seeingthatshehadbeencremated。SecretlyCookthoughtthatMr。Timothywouldbeupset——hehadalwaysbeensosetagainstbarrelorgans。Howmanytimeshadshenotsaid:\"Dratthething！Thereitisagain！
Smither，you’dbetterrunupandseewhatyoucando。\"Andinherheartshewouldsohaveenjoyedthetunes，ifshehadn’tknownthatMr。Timothywouldringthebellinaminuteandsay:\"Here，takehimahalfpennyandtellhimtomoveon。\"Oftentheyhadbeenobligedtoaddthreepenceoftheirownbeforethemanwouldgo——Timothyhadeverunderratedthevalueofemotion。Luckilyhehadtakentheorgansforblue—bottlesinhislastyears，whichhadbeenacomfort，andtheyhadbeenabletoenjoythetunes。Butaharp！Cookwondered。Itwasachange！AndMr。Timothyhadneverlikedchange。ButshedidnotspeakofthistoSmither，whodidsotakealineofherowninregardtoheaventhatitquiteputoneaboutsometimes。
ShecriedwhileTimothywasbeingprepared，andtheyallhadsherryafterwardoutoftheyearlyChristmasbottle，whichwouldnotbeneedednow。Ah！dear！Shehadbeentherefive—and—fortyyearsandSmitherthree—and—forty！AndnowtheywouldbegoingtoatinyhouseinTooting，toliveontheirsavingsandwhatMissHesterhadsokindlyleftthem——fortotakefreshserviceafterthegloriouspast——
No！ButtheywouldlikejusttoseeMr。Soamesagain，andMrs。
Dartie，andMissFrancie，andMissEuphemia。Andeveniftheyhadtotaketheirowncab，theyfelttheymustgotothefuneral。ForsixyearsMr。Timothyhadbeentheirbaby，gettingyoungerandyoungereveryday，tillatlasthehadbeentooyoungtolive。
Theyspenttheregulationhoursofwaitinginpolishinganddusting，incatchingtheonemouseleft，andasphyxiatingthelastbeetlesoastoleaveitnice，discussingwitheachotherwhattheywouldbuyatthesale。MissAnn’sworkbox;MissJuley’s（thatisMrs。Julia’s）
seaweedalbum;thefire—screenMissHesterhadcrewelled;andMr。
Timothy’shair——littlegoldencurls，gluedintoablackframe。Oh！
theymusthavethose——onlythepriceofthingshadgoneupso！
ItfelltoSoamestoissueinvitationsforthefuneral。HehadthemdrawnupbyGradmaninhisoffice——onlybloodrelations，andnoflowers。Sixcarriageswereordered。TheWillwouldbereadafterwardatthehouse。
Hearrivedateleveno’clocktoseethatallwasready。AtaquarterpastoldGradmancameinblackglovesandcrapeonhishat。HeandSoamesstoodinthedrawing—roomwaiting。Athalf—pasteleventhecarriagesdrewupinalongrow。Butnooneelseappeared。Gradmansaid:
\"Itsurprisesme，Mr。Soames。Ipostedthemmyself。\"
\"Idon’tknow，\"saidSoames;\"he’dlosttouchwiththefamily。\"
Soameshadoftennoticedinolddayshowmuchmoreneighbourlyhisfamilyweretothedeadthantotheliving。But，now，thewaytheyhadflockedtoFleur’sweddingandabstainedfromTimothy’sfuneral，seemedtoshowsomevitalchange。Theremight，ofcourse，beanotherreason;forSoamesfeltthatifhehadnotknownthecontentsofTimothy’sWill，hemighthavestayedawayhimselfthroughdelicacy。
Timothyhadleftalotofmoney，withnobodyinparticulartoleaveitto。Theymightn’tliketoseemtoexpectsomething。
Attwelveo’clocktheprocessionleftthedoor;Timothyaloneinthefirstcarriageunderglass。ThenSoamesalone;thenGradmanalone;
thenCookandSmithertogether。Theystartedatawalk，butweresoontrottingunderabrightsky。AttheentrancetoHighgateCemeterytheyweredelayedbyserviceintheChapel。Soameswouldhavelikedtostayoutsideinthesunshine。Hedidn’tbelieveawordofit;ontheotherhand，itwasaformofinsurancewhichcouldnotsafelybeneglected，incasetheremightbesomethinginitafterall。
Theywalkeduptwoandtwo——heandGradman，CookandSmither——tothefamilyvault。ItwasnotverydistinguishedforthefuneralofthelastoldForsyte。
HetookGradmanintohiscarriageonthewaybacktotheBayswaterRoadwithacertainglowinhisheart。HehadasurpriseinpicklefortheoldchapwhohadservedtheForsytesfour—and—fiftyyears—atreatthatwasentirelyhisdoing。HowwellherememberedsayingtoTimothytheday——afterAuntHester’sfuneral:\"Well;UncleTimothy，there’sGradman。He’stakenalotoftroubleforthefamily。Whatdoyousaytoleavinghimfivethousand？\"andhissurprise，seeingthediflicuItytherehadbeeningettingTimothytoleaveanything，whenTimothyhadnodded。AndnowtheoldchapwouldbeaspleasedasPunch，forMrs。Gradman，heknew，hadaweakheart，andtheirsonhadlostalegintheWar。ItwasextraordinarilygratifyingtoSoamestohavelefthimfivethousandpoundsofTimothy’smoney。Theysatdowntogetherinthelittledrawing—room，whosewalls——likeavisionofheaven——weresky—blueandgoldwitheverypicture—frameunnaturallybright，andeveryspeckofdustremovedfromeverypieceoffurniture，toreadthatlittlemasterpiece——theWillofTimothy。
WithhisbacktothelightinAuntHester’schair，SoamesfacedGradmanwithhisfacetothelight，onAuntAnn’ssofa;and，crossinghislegs，began:
\"ThisisthelastWillandTestamentofmeTimothyForsyteofTheBowerBayswaterRoad，LondonIappointmynephewSoamesForsyteofTheShelterMapleduramandThomasGradmanof159FollyRoadHighgate（hereinaftercalledmyTrustees）tobethetrusteesandexecutorsofthismyWillTothesaidSoamesForsyteIleavethesumofonethousandpoundsfreeoflegacydutyandtothesaidThomasGradmanI
leavethesumoffivethousandpoundsfreeoflegacyduty。\"
Soamespaused。OldGradmanwasleaningforward，convulsivelygrippingastoutblackkneewitheachofhisthickhands;hismouthhadfallenopensothatthegoldfillingsofthreeteethgleamed;hiseyeswereblinking，twotearsrolledslowlyoutofthem。Soamesreadhastilyon。
\"AlltherestofmypropertyofwhatsoeverdescriptionIbequeathtomyTrusteesuponTrusttoconvertandholdthesameuponthefollowingtrustsnamelyTopaythereoutallmydebtsfuneralexpensesandoutgoingsofanykindinconnectionwithmyWillandtoholdtheresiduethereofintrustforthatmalelinealdescendantofmyfatherJolyonForsytebyhismarriagewithAnnPiercewhoafterthedeceaseofalllinealdescendantswhethermaleorfemaleofmysaidfatherbyhissaidmarriageinbeingatthetimeofmydeathshalllastattaintheageoftwenty—oneyearsabsolutelyitbeingmydesirethatmypropertyshallbenursedtotheextremelimitpermittedbythelawsofEnglandforthebenefitofsuchmalelinealdescendantasaforesaid。\"
Soamesreadtheinvestmentandattestationclauses，and，ceasing，lookedatGradman。Theoldfellowwaswipinghisbrowwithalargehandkerchief，whosebrilliantcoloursuppliedasuddenfestivetingetotheproceedings。
\"Myword，Mr。Soames！\"hesaid，anditwasclearthatthelawyerinhimhadutterlywipedouttheman:\"Myword！Why，therearetwobabiesnow，andsomequiteyoungchildren——ifoneofthemlivestobeeighty——it’snotagreatage——andaddtwenty—one——that’sahundredyears;andMr。Timothyworthahundredandfiftythousandpoundnetifhe’sworthapenny。Compoundinterestatfivepercent。doublesyouinfourteenyears。Infourteenyearsthreehundredthousand—sixhundredthousandintwenty—eight——twelvehundredthousandinforty—
two——twenty—fourhundredthousandinfifty—six——fourmillioneighthundredthousandinseventy——ninemillionsixhundredthousandineighty—four——Why，inahundredyearsit’llbetwentymillion！Andweshan’tlivetouseit！ItisaWill！\"
Soamessaiddryly:\"Anythingmayhappen。TheStatemighttakethelot;they’recapableofanythinginthesedays。\"
\"Andcarryfive，\"saidGradmantohimself。\"Iforgot——Mr。Timothy’sinConsols;weshan’tgetmorethantwopercent。withthisincometax。Tobeonthesafeside，sayeightmillions。Still，that’saprettypenny。\"
SoamesroseandhandedhimtheWill。\"You’regoingintotheCity。
Takecareofthat，anddowhat’snecessary。Advertise;buttherearenodebts。When’sthesale？\"
\"Tuesdayweek，\"saidGradman。\"Lifeorlivesinbein’andtwenty—oneyearsafterward——it’salongwayoff。ButI’mgladhe’sleftitinthefamily……\"
Thesale——notatJobson’s，inviewoftheVictoriannatureoftheeffects——wasfarmorefreelyattendedthanthefuneral，thoughnotbyCookandSmither，forSoameshadtakenitonhimselftogivethemtheirheart’sdesires。Winifredwaspresent，Euphemia，andFrancie，andEustacehadcomeinhiscar。Theminiatures，Barbizons，andJ。
R。drawingshadbeenboughtinbySoames;andrelicsofnomarketablevalueweresetasideinanoff—roomformembersofthefamilywhocaredtohavemementoes。Theseweretheonlyrestrictionsuponbiddingcharacterisedbyanalmosttragiclanguor。Notonepieceoffurniture，nopictureorporcelainfigureappealedtomoderntaste。
Thehummingbirdshadfallenlikeautumnleaveswhentakenfromwheretheyhadnothummedforsixtyyears。ItwaspainfultoSoamestoseethechairshisauntshadsaton，thelittlegrandpianotheyhadpracticallyneverplayed，thebookswhoseoutsidestheyhadgazedat，thechinatheyhaddusted，thecurtainstheyhaddrawn，thehearth—
rugwhichhadwarmedtheirfeet;aboveall，thebedstheyhadlainanddiedin——soldtolittledealers，andthehousewivesofFulham。
Andyet——whatcouldonedo？Buythemandsticktheminalumber—
room？No;theyhadtogothewayofallfleshandfurniture，andbewornout。ButwhentheyputupAuntAnn’ssofaandweregoingtoknockitdownforthirtyshillings，hecriedout，suddenly:\"Fivepounds！\"Thesensationwasconsiderable，andthesofahis。
Whenthatlittlesalewasoverinthefustysaleroom，andthoseVictorianashesscattered，hewentoutintothemistyOctobersunshinefeelingasifcosinesshaddiedoutoftheworld，andtheboard\"ToLet\"wasup，indeed。Revolutionsonthehorizon;FleurinSpain;nocomfortinAnnette;noTimothy’sontheBayswaterRoad。IntheirritabledesolationofhissoulhewentintotheGoupenorGallery。ThatchapJolyon’swatercoIourswereonviewthere。Hewentintolookdownhisnoseatthem——itmightgivehimsomefaintsatisfaction。ThenewshadtrickledthroughfromJunetoVal’swife，fromhertoVal，fromValtohismother，fromhertoSoames，thatthehouse——thefatalhouseatRobinHill——wasforsale，andIrenegoingtojoinherboyoutinBritishColumbia，orsomesuchplace。ForonewildmomentthethoughthadcometoSoames:’Whyshouldn’tIbuyitback？Imeantitformy！’Nosoonercomethangone。Toolugubriousatriumph;withtoomanyhumiliatingmemoriesforhimselfandFleur。
Shewouldneverlivethereafterwhathadhappened。No，theplacemustgoitswaytosomepeerorprofiteer。Ithadbeenaboneofcontentionfromthefirst，theshellofthefeud;andwiththewomangone，itwasanemptyshell。\"ForSaleorToLet。\"Withhismind’seyehecouldseethatboardraisedhighabovetheiviedwallwhichhehadbuilt。
HepassedthroughthefirstofthetworoomsintheGallery。Therewascertainlyabodyofwork！Andnowthatthefellowwasdeaditdidnotseemsotrivial。Thedrawingswerepleasingenough，withquiteasenseofatmosphere，andsomethingindividualinthebrushwork。’Hisfatherandmyfather;heandI;hischildandmine！’
thoughtSoames。Soithadgoneon！Andallaboutthatwoman！
Softenedbytheeventsofthepastweek，affectedbythemelancholybeautyoftheautumnday，Soamescamenearerthanhehadeverbeentorealisationofthattruth——passingtheunderstandingofaForsytepure——thatthebodyofBeautyhasaspiritualessence，uncapturablesavebyadevotionwhichthinksnotofself。Afterall，hewasnearthattruthinhisdevotiontohisdaughter;perhapsthatmadehimunderstandalittlehowhehadmissedtheprize。Andthere，amongthedrawingsofhiskinsman，whohadattainedtothatwhichhehadfoundbeyondhisreach，hethoughtofhimandherwithatolerancewhichsurprisedhim。Buthedidnotbuyadrawing。
JustashepassedtheseatofcustomonhisreturntotheouterairhemetwithacontingencywhichhadnotbeenentirelyabsentfromhismindwhenhewentintotheGallery——Irene，herself，comingin。Soshehadnotgoneyet，andwasstillpayingfarewellvisitstothatfellow’sremains！Hesubduedthelittleinvoluntaryleapofhissubconsciousness，themechanicalreactionofhissensestothecharmofthisonce—ownedwoman，andpassedherwithavertedeyes。Butwhenhehadgonebyhecouldnotforthelifeofhimhelplookingback。
This，then，wasfinality——theheatandstressofhislife，themadnessandthelongingthereof，theonlydefeathehadknown，wouldbeoverwhenshefadedfromhisviewthistime;evensuchmemorieshadtheirownqueerachingvalue。
She，too，waslookingback。Suddenlysheliftedherglovedhand，herlipssmiledfaintly，herdarkeyesseemedtospeak。ItwastheturnofSoamestomakenoanswertothatsmileandthatlittlefarewellwave;hewentoutintothefashionablestreetquiveringfromheadtofoot。Heknewwhatshehadmeanttosay:\"NowthatIamgoingforeveroutofthereachofyouandyours——forgiveme;Iwishyouwell。\"
Thatwasthemeaning;lastsignofthatterriblereality——passingmorality，duty，commonsense——heraversionfromhimwhohadownedherbody，buthadnevertouchedherspiritorherheart。Ithurt;yes——
morethanifshehadkepthermaskunmoved，herhandunlifted。
Threedayslater，inthatfast—yellowingOctober，Soamestookataxi—
cabtoHighgateCemeteryandmountedthroughitswhiteforesttotheForsytevault。Closetothecedar，abovecatacombsandcolumbaria，tall，ugly，andindividual，itlookedlikeanapexofthecompetitivesystem。HecouldrememberadiscussionwhereinSwithinhadadvocatedtheadditiontoitsfaceofthepheasantproper。Theproposalhadbeenrejectedinfavourofawreathinstone，abovethestarkwords:
\"ThefamilyvaultofJolyonForsyte:1850。\"Itwasingoodorder。
Alltraceoftherecentintermenthadbeenremoved，anditssobergreygloomedreposefullyinthesunshine。Thewholefamilylaytherenow，exceptoldJolyon’swife，whohadgonebackunderacontracttoherownfamilyvaultinSuffolk;oldJolyonhimselflyingatRobinHill;andSusanHayman，crematedsothatnoneknewwhereshemightbe。Soamesgazedatitwithsatisfaction——massive，needinglittleattention;andthiswasimportant，forhewaswellawarethatnoonewouldattendtoitwhenhehimselfwasgone，andhewouldhavetobelookingoutforlodgingssoon。Hemighthavetwentyyearsbeforehim，butoneneverknew。Twentyyearswithoutanauntoruncle，withawifeofwhomonehadbetternotknowanything，withadaughtergonefromhome。Hismoodinclinedtomelancholyandretrospection。
Thiscemeterywasfull，theysaid——ofpeoplewithextraordinarynames，buriedinextraordinarytaste。Still，theyhadafineviewuphere，rightoverLondon。AnnettehadoncegivenhimastorytoreadbythatFrenchman，Maupassant，mostlugubriousconcern，wherealltheskeletonsemergedfromtheirgravesonenight，andallthepiousinscriptionsonthestoneswerealteredtodescriptionsoftheirsins。Notatruestoryatall。Hedidn’tknowabouttheFrench，buttherewasnotmuchrealharminEnglishpeopleexcepttheirteethandtheirtaste，whichwascertainlydeplorable。\"ThefamilyvaultofJolyonForsyte:1850。\"Alotofpeoplehadbeenburiedheresincethen——alotofEnglishlifecrumbledtomouldanddust！Theboomofanairplanepassingunderthegold—tintedcloudscausedhimtolifthiseyes。Thedeuceofalotofexpansionhadgoneon。Butitallcamebacktoacemetery——toanameandadateonatomb。Andhethoughtwithacuriouspridethatheandhisfamilyhaddonelittleornothingtohelpthisfeverishexpansion。Goodsolidmiddlemen，theyhadgonetoworkwithdignitytomanageandpossess。\"SuperiorDosset，\"indeed，hadbuiltinadreadful，andJolyonpaintedinadoubtful，period，butsofarasherememberednotanotherofthemallhadsoiledhishandsbycreatinganything——unlessyoucountedValDartieandhishorse—breeding。Collectors，solicitors，barristers，merchants，publishers，accountants，directors，landagents，evensoldiers——theretheyhadbeen！Thecountryhadexpanded，asitwere，inspiteofthem。Theyhadchecked，controlled，defended，andtakenadvantageoftheprocessandwhenyouconsideredhow\"SuperiorDosset\"hadbegunlifewithnexttonothing，andhislinealdescendantsalreadyownedwhatoldGradmanestimatedatbetweenamillionandamillionandahalf，itwasnotsobad！Andyethesometimesfeltasifthefamilyboltwasshot，theirpossessiveinstinctdyingout。Theyseemedunabletomakemoney——thisfourthgeneration;theyweregoingintoart，literature，farming，orthearmy;orjustlivingonwhatwasleftthem——theyhadnopushandnotenacity。Theywoulddieoutiftheydidn’ttakecare。
Soamesturnedfromthevaultandfacedtowardthebreeze。Theairupherewouldbedeliciousifonlyhecouldridhisnervesofthefeelingthatmortalitywasinit。Hegazedrestlesslyatthecrossesandtheurns，theangels，the\"immortelles，\"theflowers，gaudyorwithering;andsuddenlyhenoticedaspotwhichseemedsodifferentfromanythingelseuptherethathewasobligedtowalkthefewnecessaryyardsandlookatit。Asobercorner，withamassivequeer—shapedcrossofgreyrough—hewngranite，guardedbyfourdarkyew—trees。Thespotwasfreefromthepressureoftheothergraves，havingalittlebox—hedgedgardenonthefarside，andinfrontagoldeningbirch—tree。ThisoasisinthedesertofconventionalgravesappealedtotheaestheticsenseofSoames，andhesatdownthereinthesunshine。ThroughthosetremblinggoldbirchleaveshegazedoutatLondon，andyieldedtothewavesofmemory。HethoughtofIreneinMontpellierSquare，whenherhairwasrusty—goldenandherwhiteshouldershis——Irene，theprizeofhislove—passion，resistanttohisownership。HesawBosinney’sbodylyinginthatwhitemortuary，andIrenesittingonthesofalookingatspacewiththeeyesofadyingbird。AgainhethoughtofherbythelittlegreenNiobeintheBoisdeBoulogne，oncemorerejectinghim。HisfancytookhimonbesidehisdriftingriverontheNovemberdaywhenFleurwastobeborn，tookhimtothedeadleavesfloatingonthegreen—tingedwaterandthesnake—headedweedforeverswayingandnosing，sinuous，blind，tethered。AndonagaintothewindowopenedtothecoldstarrynightaboveHydePark，withhisfatherlyingdead。
Hisfancydartedtothatpictureof\"thefuturetown，\"tothatboy’sandFleur’sfirstmeeting;tothebluishtrailofProsperProfond’scigar，andFleurinthewindowpointingdowntowherethefellowprowled。TothesightofIreneandthatdeadfellowsittingsidebysideinthestandatLord’s。ToherandthatboyatRobinHill。Tothesofa，whereFleurlaycrushedupinthecorner;toherlipspressedintohischeek，andherfarewell\"Daddy。\"AndsuddenlyhesawagainIrene’sgrey—glovedhandwavingitslastgestureofrelease。
Hesattherealongtimedreaminghiscareer，faithfultothescutofhispossessiveinstinct，warminghimselfevenwithitsfailures。
\"ToLet\"——theForsyteageandwayoflife，whenamanownedhissoul，hisinvestments，andhiswoman，withoutcheckorquestion。AndnowtheStatehad，orwouldhave，hisinvestments，hiswomanhadherself，andGodknewwhohadhissoul。\"ToLet\"——thatsaneandsimplecreed！
Thewatersofchangewerefoamingin，carryingthepromiseofnewformsonlywhentheirdestructivefloodshouldhavepasseditsfull。
Hesatthere，subconsciousofthem，butwithhisthoughtsresolutelysetonthepast——asamanmightrideintoawildnightwithhisfacetothetailofhisgallopinghorse。AthwarttheVictoriandykesthewaterswererollingonproperty，manners，andmorals，onmelodyandtheoldformsofart——watersbringingtohismouthasalttasteasofblood，lappingtothefootofthisHighgateHillwhereVictorianismlayburied。Andsittingthere，highuponitsmostindividualspot，Soames——likeafigureofInvestment——refusedtheirrestlesssounds。
Instinctivelyhewouldnotfightthem——therewasinhimtoomuchprimevalwisdom，ofManthepossessiveanimal。Theywouldquietdownwhentheyhadfulfilledtheirtidalfeverofdispossessinganddestroying;whenthecreationsandthepropertiesofothersweresufficientlybrokenanddefected——theywouldlapseandebb，andfreshformswouldrisebasedonaninstinctolderthanthefeverofchange—
—theinstinctofHome。
\"Jem’enfiche，\"saidProsperProfond。Soamesdidnotsay\"Jem’enfiche\"——itwasFrench，andthefellowwasathorninhisside——butdeepdownheknewthatchangewasonlytheintervalofdeathbetweentwoformsoflife，destructionnecessarytomakeroomforfresherproperty。Whatthoughtheboardwasup，andcosinesstolet？——someonewouldcomealongandtakeitagainsomeday。
Andonlyonethingreallytroubledhim，sittingthere——themelancholycravinginhisheart——becausethesunwaslikeenchantmentonhisfaceandonthecloudsandonthegoldenbirchleaves，andthewind’srustlewassogentle，andtheyewtreegreensodark，andthesickleofamoonpaleinthesky。
Hemightwishandwishandnevergetit——thebeautyandthelovingintheworld！
