The Forsyte Saga Volume 2(107)
‘It’s the prettiest room I ever was in.’
‘What a perfectly charming thing to overhear!’
A young woman, with crinkly chestnut hair above a creamy face, with smiling lips, a short straight nose, and very white dark-lashed eyelids active over dark hazel eyes, stood near the door. She came towards him, and held out her hand.
Francis Wilmot bowed over it, and said gravely:
‘Mrs Michael Mont?’
‘So Jon’s married your sister. Is she pretty?’
‘She is.’
‘Very?’
‘Yes, indeed.’
‘I hope baby has been entertaining you.’
‘He’s just great.’
‘He is, rather. I hear Dandie bit you?’
‘I reckon he didn’t break the cuticle.’
‘Haven’t you looked? But he’s quite healthy. Sit down, and tell me all about your sister and Jon. Is it a marriage of true minds?’
Francis Wilmot sat down.
‘It certainly is. Young Jon is a pretty white man, and Anne –’
He heard a sigh.
‘I’m very glad. He says in his letter that he’s awfully happy. You must come and stay here. You can be as free as you like. Look on us as an hotel.’
The young man’s dark eyes smiled.
‘That’s too good of you! I’ve never been on this side before. They got through the war too soon.’
Fleur took the baby out of its nest.
‘This creature doesn’t bite. Look – two teeth, but they don’t antagonize – isn’t that how you put it?’
‘What is its name?’
‘Kit – for Christopher. We agreed about his name luckily. Michael – my husband – will be in directly. He’s in Parliament, you know. They’re not sitting till Monday – Ireland, of course. We only came back for it from Italy yesterday. Italy’s so wonderful – you must see it.’
‘Pardon me, but is that the Parliament clock that chimes so loud?’
‘Big Ben – yes. He marks time for them. Michael says Parliament is the best drag on Progress ever invented. With our first Labour Government, it’s been specially interesting this year. Don’t you think it’s rather touching the way this dog watches my baby? He’s got the most terrific jaw!’
‘What kind of dog is he?’
‘A Dandie Dinmont. We did have a Peke. It was a terrible tragedy. He would go after cats; and one day he struck a fighting Tom, and got clawed over both eyes – quite blinded – and so –’
The young man saw her eyes suddenly too bright. He made a soft noise, and said gently: ‘That was too bad.’
‘I had to change this room completely. It used to be Chinese. It reminded me too much.’
‘This little fellow would chaw any cat.’
‘Luckily he was brought up with kittens. We got him for his legs – they’re so bowed in front that he can hardly run, so he just suits the pram. Dan, show your legs!’
The Dandie looked up with a negative sound.
‘He’s a terrible little “character”. Do tell me, what’s Jon like now? Is he still English?’
The young man was conscious that she had uttered at last something really in her mind.
‘He is; but he’s a dandy fellow.’
‘And his mother? She used to be beautiful.’
‘And is to this day.’
‘She would be. Grey, I suppose, by now?’
‘Yes. You don’t like her?’
‘Well, I hope she won’t be jealous of your sister!’
‘I think, perhaps, you’re unjust.’
‘I think, perhaps, I am.’
She sat very still, her face hard above the baby’s. And the young man, aware of thoughts beyond his reach, got up.
‘When you write to Jon,’ she said suddenly, ‘tell him that I’m awfully glad, and that I wish him luck. I shan’t write to him myself. May I call you Francis?’
Francis Wilmot bowed. ‘I shall be proud, ma’am.’
‘Yes; but you must call me Fleur. We’re sort of related, you know.’
The young man smiled, and touched the name with his lips.
‘Fleur! It’s a beautiful name!’
‘Your room will be ready when you come back. You’ll have a bathroom to yourself, of course.’
He put his lips to the hand held out.
‘It’s wonderful,’ he said. ‘I was feeling kind of homesick; I miss the sun over here.’
In going out, he looked back. Fleur had put her baby back in its nest, and was staring straight before her.
Chapter Two
CHANGE
BUT more than the death of a dog had caused the regarnishing of Fleur’s Chinese room. On the evening of her twenty-second birthday Michael had come home saying: