Countrys over-populated, said Soames
grimly.
First time I remember anything of thesort on that
Board.
Whom do you think to meet him, besides
Alison?
A voice, hoarse and subdued,but with the old
Forsyte timbre, said:Hallo, Soames! Of course not; but it must be somebody
intriguing, Michael.
They all go to our friend Mont with some tale or
other, Mr.
Theyve got everything they want, said Soames.
Soamesalmost regretted his intuition of that second coming, for he hadquite taken to
the chap. Yes; hes got a young wife down with pneumonia. Desert would come to their
house no more.
Well, Ive only got forty-seven bob all told, and if
we lose it,wherell you be? Desert moved from the wall and laid his hand on the bust
of LionelCharwell. Over the fireplacewas a single picture, at which Soames glanced
mechanically. What a very horrible, strange, too beastly moment! I dont want
equality, said Soames, taking his ticket toWestminster. Soames looked at her, and
his nostrils moved in astealthy sniff. Danby had been, but of what he shouldsay to
her. On that half-landing was a bust of Lionel Charwell, K.
Danbys face; but his deep-set,close-together eyes
shone a little. Weve been trying to trace aleak for some time. Figures in a play, he
thought,figures in a play!
He passed his handacross a forehead that was
wet.
Its better that one of youshould be in the street
than that all of you should, isnt it? Aesthetic equality, Forsyte, if we had it,
would remove the wishfor any other. Certainly he had notseen him in the bay window
for months past.
Its better that one of youshould be in the street
than that all of you should, isnt it? Michael had a quite unaccountable feeling that
there wassuppression in that statement.