South Australia 5005

Awakening

Through the massive skylight illuminating the hall at Robin Hill, the July sunlight at five o’clock felljust where the broad stairway turned; and in that radiant streak little Jon Forsyte stood, blue-linen-suited. His hair wasshining, and his eyes, from beneath a frown, for he was considering how to go downstairs, this last of innumerable times,before the car brought his father and mother home. Four at a time, and five at the bottom? Stale! Down the banisters? But inwhich fashion? On his face, feet foremost? Very stale. On his stomach, sideways? Paltry! On his back, with his armsstretched down on both sides? Forbidden! Or on his face, head foremost, in a manner unknown as yet to any but himself? Suchwas the cause of the frown on the illuminated face of little Jon....

In that Summer of 1909 the simple souls who even then desired to simplify the English tongue, had, of course, nocognizance of little Jon, or they would have claimed him for a disciple. But one can be too simple in this life, for hisreal name was Jolyon, and his living father and dead half-brother had usurped of old the other shortenings, Jo and Jolly. Asa fact little Jon had done his best to conform to convention and spell himself first Jhon, then John; not till his fatherhad explained the sheer necessity, had he spelled his name Jon.

Up till now that father had possessed what was left of his heart by the groom, Bob, who played the concertina, and his