corner liaison. A marriage at the Embassy in Paris, a few months’ travel, and he could bring Annette back quite separatedfrom a past which in truth was not too distinguished, for she only kept the accounts in her mother’s Soho Restaurant; hecould bring her back as something very new and chic with her French taste and self-possession, to reign at ‘The Shelter’near Mapledurham. On Forsyte ‘Change and among his riverside friends it would be current that he had met a charming Frenchgirl on his travels and married her. There would be the flavour of romance, and a certain cachet about a French wife. No! Hewas not at all afraid of that. It was only this cursed undivorced condition of his, and — and the question whether Annettewould take him, which he dared not put to the touch until he had a clear and even dazzling future to offer her.

In his aunts’ drawing-room he heard with but muffled ears those usual questions: How was his dear father? Not going out,of course, now that the weather was turning chilly? Would Soames be sure to tell him that Hester had found boiled hollyleaves most comforting for that pain in her side; a poultice every three hours, with red flannel afterwards. And could herelish just a little pot of their very best prune preserve — it was so delicious this year, and had such a wonderful effect.Oh! and about the Darties — had Soames heard that dear Winifred was having a most distressing time with Montague? Timothythought she really ought to have protection It was said — but Soames mustn’t take this for certain — that he had given someof Winifred’s jewellery to a dreadful dancer. It was such a bad example for dear Val just as he was going to college. Soameshad not heard? Oh, but he must go and see his sister and look into it at once! And did he think these Boers were reallygoing to resist? Timothy was in quite a stew about it. The price of Consols was so high, and he had such a lot of money in