Dangerous — ah, dangerous! June, of course, had not seen this, but, though not yet nineteen, she was notorious. Had shenot said to Mrs. Soames — who was always so beautifully dressed — that feathers were vulgar? Mrs. Soames had actually givenup wearing feathers, so dreadfully downright was dear June!

These misgivings, this disapproval, and perfectly genuine distrust, did not prevent the Forsytes from gathering to oldJolyon’s invitation. An ‘At Home’ at Stanhope Gate was a great rarity; none had been held for twelve years, not indeed,since old Mrs. Jolyon had died.

Never had there been so full an assembly, for, mysteriously united in spite of all their differences, they had taken armsagainst a common peril. Like cattle when a dog comes into the field, they stood head to head and shoulder to shoulder,prepared to run upon and trample the invader to death. They had come, too, no doubt, to get some notion of what sort ofpresents they would ultimately be expected to give; for though the question of wedding gifts was usually graduated in thisway: ‘What are you givin’? Nicholas is givin’ spoons!’— so very much depended on the bridegroom. If he were sleek,well-brushed, prosperous-looking, it was more necessary to give him nice things; he would expect them. In the end each gaveexactly what was right and proper, by a species of family adjustment arrived at as prices are arrived at on the StockExchange — the exact niceties being regulated at Timothy’s commodious, red-brick residence in Bayswater, overlooking thePark, where dwelt Aunts Ann, Juley, and Hester.

The uneasiness of the Forsyte family has been justified by the simple mention of the hat. How impossible and wrong wouldit have been for any family, with the regard for appearances which should ever characterize the great upper middle-class, tofeel otherwise than uneasy!

The author of the uneasiness stood talking to June by the further door; his curly hair had a rumpled appearance, asthough he found what was going on around him unusual. He had an air, too, of having a joke all to himself. George, speakingaside to his brother, Eustace, said: