Forsyte Saga: Book I: Part III. Mostly...

[isabel79]

Part I, Part II.

Characters:
Publius "Val":  (b. 1880)  Son of Winifred and Dartie.  Brother of Imogen, Maud and Benedict.
Imogen:  (b. 1882)  Daughter of Winifred and Dartie.  Sister of Val, Maud and Benedict.
Maud:  (b. 1884)  Daughter of Winifred and Dartie.  Sister of Val, Imogen and Benedict.
Benedict:  (b. 1886)  Son of Winifred and Dartie.  Brother of Val, Imogen, and Maud.
Flippard:  Friend of Winifred.
Major Scrotton:  Friend of Dartie.
Nathans:  "Jew boy".
Mrs. Smeech:  Friend of June.
Mrs. Baynes:  Bosinney's aunt.
Jobling:  Soames's solicitor.
Boulter:  Soames's solicitor.
Freak:  Bosinney's solicitor.
Able:  Bosinney's solicitor.
Chankery:  Lawyer.
Waterbuck:  Advisor to Soames's team.
Mrs. MacAnder:  Friend of Winifred.
Fred MacAnder:  Mrs. MacAnder's ex husband.
Mademoiselle Vigor:  French girl, friend of June.  Died of TB.
Ram:  Bosinney's legal adviser.
Bumley Tomm:  Where James has dinner with Bentham twice.
Warmson:  Butler at Park Lane.


Chapter IX:

Everyone, not only June and Soames has seen Irene and Bosinney exiting the conservatory.

It explained June's late arrival and her early departure.

June has gone to the seaside with Old Jolyon.

They wondered how far Bosinney and Irene had gone.  Sure nothing, considering neither had money.  A flirtation that would end.

Winifred felt Irene was bored.  Why shouldn't she have fun?  Bosinney was chic.

Winifred writes to Irene, with Soames going to Henley, she, Irene, Bosinney and Flippard should go to Richmond.

Augustus Flippard is engaged.

Erotic has not won.  Dartie, therefore, bets on Concertina.

Dartie replaces Flippard.  He couldn't turn down a chance to admire Irene.

Mrs. Forsyte replies.  Her horse has a cough.

Winifred sends Publius (7 yo) to Montpellier Square.

They would meet at the Crown and Scepter.

Dartie and Winifred arrive.  Irene and Bosinney are already there.  Standing close together, but not much going on.

Dartie orders.  Even without money he orders the best.

Dartie could not see anything between Irene and Bosinney in his convo with them.  Bosinney did not eat, but he drank well.

They sat on a bench overlooking the river.  Dartie, Irene, Bosinney then Winifred.  So close, Dartie was touching Irene.  He'd subtly move to be closer.

Dartie looks at Bosinney.  Staring straight ahead, Bosinney's arms crossed like he was tortured.  Irene.  Dark darkness, soft, mysterious, enticing.

Getting closer to her again, Irene gets up.  They all follow.

Dartie hopes to ride home with Irene.

Instead of entering a cab lead to by Dartie, Irene pets the horse.  Bosinney follows.

With a word, Bosinney turns to Dartie saying he is bringing Irene home.

No!  Take my wife!  Bosinney threatens to push him into the street.

Irene slips off.  Bosinney soon follows.  Dartie rushes off to his wife's cab.

They follow.  Bosinney returns Irene home.

Something had happened in the cab.  Winifred could not defend her theory.  She would not say anything of tonight.

Later that night, with no Forsyte out, Bosinney returns to look on the house.

Chapter X:

A Forsyte was ignorant of being a Forsyte, except for Young Jolyon.  He realized having sense of property enabled him to obtain / hold onto his 2nd wife.

With painting, even with Young Jolyon's devotion to it, it could not be taken seriously.

Young Jolyon receives a letter from Old Jolyon.  June says nothing, but is harping on the engagement.

Since Young Jolyon and Bosinney share a club, could he get his intentions?

His 2nd wife sensing Young Jolyon's preoccupation asks about it.  Nothing.  He had vowed never to bring up June.

Young Jolyon makes his way to the club, uncertain of what to do, how to do it, how to refuse it.

On arriving Young Jolyon sees Bosinney.

Observing Bosinney for the first time.  Unusual.  Unlike any in the club.  Even Jolyon who was removed from the Forsytes retained some appearance.

Young Jolyon sensed suffering in Bosinney and approaches.

They talk of Soames's home, parting with it like a baby.

Young Jolyon begins to talk of Forsytes, men of property.  They make it possible for literature, science, religion to exist.  They are the majority and it is dangerous to go against the majority.

Look out for Soames's grip.

Bosinney leaves.  Young Jolyon remains.  He pitied / envied Bosinney.

The only escape was flight.

With Young Jolyon it was different.  He broke up his own home, not another's.

Young Jolyon did not know Irene, just an unhappy marriage, indefinable malaise.

Young Jolyon sees Soames.  Imagining protecting himself from the gossip a separation would bring.

Soames and Irene's marriage was successful in some eyes.  More than 50% of the upper class marriages were like it.

Young Jolyon leaves the club, tearing the letter, returning to an empty home.

Chapter XI:

Soames returns from a business trip, the day after the evening of Irene, Bosinney, Dartie and Winifred's night out.

Irene did not expect him.  She was sitting in her favorite chair.  She was not meant to be home either.

Irene is expecting Bosinney.

Soames asks her to accompany him to the stores, then to the park.  She has a headache.

Irene brings up his promise.  Soames demands she put on her hat and they go to the park.

Irene asks to be let go.  What would she do?  She has no money.  She'll manage.

Soames says he's sure she won't want to miss Bosinney...  Irene leaves the room and return with her hat on.  They go out.

Soames remembered the pleasure of sitting there in his first year of married life, possessing her.

Time passed, benches cleared and still they sat there, like a secret punishment.  Soames would comment occasionally and all Irene would say was yes.

Soames sees a man walking fast.  Realizing it's Bosinney and calls out to him.  He wonders if Irene will bow to him.

Bosinney seeing them stops dead in his tracks and raises his hat to them.  Soames does the same.

Soames asks what he's doing in the park.  Bosinney answers to Irene saying he stopped by.

Soames invites him to dinner.  Bosinney says he is not deceived, yet trusts Soames.

Walking at times in front of them, Soames did not listen to their conversation.  Soames was like a gambler that must play it for what it's worth.

They dressed for dinner.  Irene finishing before Soames.  For a full 5 minutes Soames waits and purposely closes his door loudly to announce his arrival.

Soames kept up with the farce.  Invited Bosinney again to dinner.  Irene loves talking to him about the house...

Soames went to bed certain of Bosinney's love for his wife.

Soames lay in bed hearing Irene breath as she slept.  He gets up and goes to his dressing room window for air.

Soames remembers a night 4 years ago, like this.  Hot.  Standing by a window, a man banging at a door, a woman crying out.  Later the street being cleaned.

Soames remembered dressing, going out onto the streets and standing outside Irene's house.

Soames realized...  What Bosinney was doing, prowling about the house, watching.

Soames rushes to the front of the house, opens the curtains.  Nothing...  He hears a cry.  He shudders.  It's only a peacock.

Chapter XII:

Still by the seaside, Old Jolyon packs a dispatch case.  There is a meeting at New Colliery Company.

Old Jolyon had received a letter from Young Jolyon.  He has seen Bosinney.  He is not a criminal.

June wants to go into the city.  She wants to meet with Smeech.  Instead she plans on getting information from Bosinney's aunt or Irene herself.

Hearing June has come to call, Louisa dresses.  She had a sense of property, like the Forsytes.

She had heard about June and Bosinney, but had never met her.

Mrs. Baynes inquires about Old Jolyon, whether Bosinney sees her daily.  He never writes.  Oh...  That's very Bosinney.

June realizes she will get nothing out of her and gets up to leave.

Mrs. Baynes freaks, but sees the chance of being a true Forsyte slip away.

June goes to Bosinney's, continuously ringing the door bell.  No answer.

She sits by the door crying.  Eventually June leaves only to see Bosinney in the street.  Their eyes meet.  A tip of the had and he is gone.

Chapter XIII:

James and Soames have lunch together.  They talk of Irene, the house.

Soames is to see the house afterwards.  Irene does not want to go.

James says Irene is spoiled.  Soames will hear nothing of it.

James goes to Irene's and convinces her to go to Robin Hill with him.

James mentions what Soames says about not having anything said against her, why not show him affection?

She cannot show what she does not have.

They arrive at Robin Hill.  First seeing it as a tomb, opening the curtain into the inner courtyard, James approves.

James turns to see Soames, Irene and Bosinney talking.  Clearly something is not right.

James is angered he knows nothing of it.

Soames is angered by the expenses again.

With the change in the weather, Soames is ready to leave.

James leads Irene to the carriage, suspecting she made an appointment to meet Bosinney.

Soames could think of nothing but the extra 400.

Back home, Irene is sitting in her chair, Soames mentions Bosinney made a fool of himself.  He will have to pay.

Irene says he has no money and finds Soames meaner than she thought.

Soames breaks a glass with his bare hands and asks if she is flirting with Bosinney.  Irene denies.

Soames threatens to beat her and leaves the room.

Chapter XIV:

Soames goes up for the night, but pauses to think of an apology.

The main door is locked, most likely by mistake.  Soames goes through his dressing room and tries the connecting door.  It too is locked.  He notices the camp bed is made with his clothes upon it.

Telling Irene to unlock the door, Soames can hear her breathing on the opposite side.

Soames stops himself from kicking down the door in fear of the servants.

He tried to read, thinking with the locked door, Irene was no longer his wife.  He could have other women.  Soames wanted no other.

Irene must hate him, yet it seemed incredible.  Soames could not even believe she had something with Bosinney.

Thinking of Bosinney's love for Irene, he is determined to sue.  Soames could ruin him.  Knowing Irene had no money as well, gave him satisfaction.

The next day, Soames looks into the square at a barrel organ.  It is playing the waltz Irene and Bosinney danced to.

Soames sees Irene in the square making her way home.  She stops and gives the barrel organ player money.

Irene enters.  Soames stands where he cannot be seen.  She is happy, cheeks flushed.

Soames complementing her makes her spin around and leave.  Irene is stopped by him.

Irene seemed on fire.  Commenting on her blouse, Soames not liking it.

Soames tries to touch Irene's breast, but she cries not waiting to be touched.

Irene says she's been out of the house, in heaven and rushes up.

Soames did not follow.  Imagining Bosinney looking down on Irene as she left him, smelling her lingering scent.

Part III:
Chapter I:

Soames does not have the locks removed, nor beats Irene, then returns to wedded bliss.

Brutality was not popular amongst the Forsytes.  They were too soft hearted.

Nothing could be done.

The house finished, remained empty.  Soames sued Bosinney for 350.

Soames got some information about the case from Bustard, who overheard something at dinner...  There was a nice point to it, a big effort would be made about it.

Soames's lawyer Boulter, (Jobling is dead.) wants advice on Bosinney's defense and consults Waterbuck, who says it depends on each sides' understanding of the term, "free hand."

Thinking on Waterbuck's letter, Soames who has not seen Bosinney since Robin Hill feels he haunts the house, everyman in the shadows is Bosinney.

Soames believes Irene still sees Bosinney.

Soames asks Irene daily where she has been.  She had an expression that was never there before

Soames goes up to Irene's room.  She does not lock it till night.

Irene asks him to leave.  Treat me as your husband...  Soames will takes steps to make her...

Irene asks him to leave again.  Soames does.  He could not take steps and Irene knew it.

Soames had the custom of telling Irene about his day.

Soames would attempt to kiss Irene when they said their goodnights.

Soames never seriously thought of separation.

The remainder of the family was not affected.  They were all at sea.  By the end of September they had returned.

Mrs. MacAnder, a friend of Winifred saw Irene and Bosinney in the park.  This got to Mrs. Smalls.

Mrs. MacAnder was divorced who lived in a building with "forsytes," who outside of business hours talked of other's affairs.  Seeing "those two" was a pick me up.

Mrs. MacAnder disliked Irene.  Her "charm," subtle seductiveness.

Mrs. MacAnder found it necessary to be full of information to retain her position in society.

Mrs. MacAnder dined at Timothy's.  Aunt Juley and Hester found the change exhilarating.  Mrs. MacAnder would gossip, advise them on family matters, stocks.

At dinner Mrs. MacAnder brings up seeing Bosinney and Irene.  Having been away she did not hear of the suit.

Mrs. MacAnder looked around for reaction.  One of the Hayman boys stares at his mutton and devours it.

Giles and Jesse are described as being alike, inseparable.  They were called the Dromios.  Never talking, occupied by nothing.

Simultaneously, they say "Have you seen the...?"  Mrs. MacAnder asks for more mutton.

In the drawing room Mrs. MacAnder tried to obtain more information.  Mrs. Smalls says it is a subject they don't talk about.

Chapter II:

They suspect Soames was fed up.

They would say nothing to Soames, nothing to each other.  Be cold toward Irene.

James blames the family, including Young Jolyon and his daughter.  How could she introduce Bosinney into the family?

James took joy in talking the little Darties out.

Publius was nothing like his father...  He would get James to bet on sailing boats.  Giving the winnings over for Publius's money box.  The idea he would be rich delighted James, but Publius knew a Sweet shop...

Soames walks through the park after dinner at Timothy's.  He sees couples kissing in the dark and thinks he sees Irene.  It is only a shop girl.  Soames is disgusted.

Chapter III:

Young Jolyon goes to the Botanical Gardens to sketch.

He was told he is a good artist, but should focus on a subject and make a series.

Before recollecting this he had made a set and sold them.  This time Young Jolyon would paint an artificial pond.

Someone was sitting in his usual spot.  Young Jolyon didn't like to be watched.

Young Jolyon looks at her.  Her face reminded him of his wife, Titian's "Heavenly Love."

She sat alone, men would pass to look at her.

Her expression changed.  Young Jolyon sees Bosinney approach.

Young Jolyon continues to look, but couldn't hear.  By outward appearances they were a couple.

Young Jolyon realized he had been like them.  He imagined hearing her say it would ruin him, like he had been told.

Soames will have his revenge.

Old Jolyon and June were in the mountains.  She befriends a French girl dying of TB.  With her death they move on to Paris.

In October they returned home and June's brooding returned.

June goes to Timothy's to hear of Bosinney.  Nothing was said, nothing was asked.

June asks if Irene / Soames were in town.  They had not left.  Trouble with the house.

Silence from Aunt Juley was most telling.

June heard of the court case from Mrs. Baynes.

Old Jolyon goes to Forsyte, Bustard and Forsyte.  James is going through Forsyte vs Bosinney, how it's a visual sign of the scandal.

Old Jolyon doesn't understand the point.

He has come about his will.  It had been 20K to Young Jolyon, the rest to June.  Now it was 50K to June, the rest to Jolyon.

He saw it as revenge.  His son would be richer than Soames.  Holly would be educated at Oxford.

Jolyon thought of a horse for Jolly...  But also of Bosinney and Irene.

Chapter IV:

Soames has raped Irene (?).

He ate breakfast alone.  At times feeling he could not swallow.

He was haunted by her face, her sobs.  And surprised by it.

Two nights before Soames dinned with Mrs. MacAnder, who asked if Irene was a great friend of Bosinney.  Without this what happened may not have happened.

Sleeping removed the doubts that came back in the AM.  What he had done sustained the sanctity of marriage.  The first step toward reconciliation.

Soames leaves and goes to the city via the underground, first class compartment.

Reading a news paper to occupy his mind.

Soames was selling his shares in New Colliery Co.  He had a conference at Waterbuck, Q.C.'s cambers.  His case vs Bosinney was to be heard tomorrow.

Soames returned home.  Irene had left 15 mins before.

He sits in front of the fire, again reading to preoccupy his mind.

Irene returned home and the memory of her sobbing returns.  He couldn't face her.

She went straight up.

Bilson says Irene is having dinner in her room.  Soames did not change for dinner.

Soames goes to his picture room where he finally finds relief.

Looking long at his favorite painting he thinks the price is lower.

Putting it away Soames thinks he heard sobbing.  He says it is the same thing that has been bothering him all day.

The same day George is out in the fog.  He had planned to dine, play billiards.

George sees Bosinney stagger instead of walking out the 1st class compartment of the train.  He then notices Irene is there too.  He follows.

Bosinney's not drunk, but talking to himself with violent emotion.  Thereby justifying to George to keep a close eye.

George wondered what Irene had said to make him act like he did.

George continues to follow him into the fog.  He could not see 6 paces ahead of him.

In the chase, George over hears what Soames had done, the greatest, the supreme act of property...

Bosinney comes to sit in Trafalgar Square.  George does the same, feeling a strange brotherliness for Bosinney.

George got bored waiting.  Bosinney begins to get angry again.  George taps him on the shoulder.

Bosinney questions who he is.  George seeing his craziness thinks of calling a bobby to arrest him.

Bosinney does not wait for a reply and leaves.  George continues to follow, suspecting he will go to Soames.

In Piccadilly, George is reminded of being with a girl who said he was not her only one.  He felt like grabbing Bosinney and saying time will heal all wounds, lets have a drink...

He has lost Bosinney.

That night he tells it to Dartie.

George thinks of Bosinney still out there in the fog, if he isn't dead...

Chapter V:

The day of the trial, Soames has still not seen Irene.  He did not know what attitude to take with her.

Soames arrives at the courthouse early and eats lunch with James who is also there.

Mrs. James wants Soames and Irene to come for dinner.

They enter the courtroom.

Bosinney was not there...

Waterbuck, Q.C. says the dispute is over the correspondence, the cost of decorating the house.

Soames takes the stand.  He says he did not use the expression, "a free hand," but "a free hand in the terms of this correspondence."

James continues to look on proudly.

Questioning is over.

Bosinney's absence makes an awkward situation.

Chankery explains Bosinney was to give evidence.  He had gone to his house and office and he was not to be seen.  Chankery found it ominous knowing how anxious Bosinney was to give evidence.

He explains Bosinney never expected Soames to sue if he went over.  Had he said so, he wouldn't have.

Chankery adds to protect artist from Men of Property.

Bosinney is called.  No answer.  It gave James the sense of a dog...  A man missing.

Judgment for the plaintiff, 350.

James goes to Timothy's.  Swithen is there.  James tells him, Aunt Juley and Hester of the proceedings.

Footsteps...  It is Timothy.  He soon turns around and leaves.

James knows something is wrong.

Chapter VI:

Soames goes to Timothy's.  They congratulate him.

They want to know what will be Irene's reaction, June's, but dare not ask.

Soames talks of his paintings.

They ask if Soames is to move soon.  He does not know.

Soames says his goodbyes.  Aunt Juley is compelled...  She tells Soames of Mrs. MacAnder seeing Irene and Bosinney together.

Soames calls Mrs. MacAnder a cat and leaves the room.

Soames decides he would not be hard on Bosinney.  The would move to Robin Hill.  He would shake hands with Irene and perhaps she would allow a kiss.

As Soames left, the feelings of jealousy returned.  He would not have his name dragged in dirt.  If Irene would not love him, she could love no other.  He would threaten divorce.

The idea of divorce paralyzed Soames.  Irene would no longer belong to him, not even in name.

Entering his house he sees Bilson.  Irene left around noon with a trunk and a bag.

What?  Trying not to betray his emotions Soames asks if there is a message.  None.

Soames goes up.  Everything is in it's place.  Instead of calling the maid who must know Irene's whereabouts, he closes the door and must discover for himself.

Soames leaves for Bosinney's not knowing what to do if Irene was there or not.

Bosinney was not home and had not been seen for several days.

Soames took a cab to Park Lane.  Trying to think of how much Irene had...  If she sold her jewels she could live on them for months.

Soames goes straight to his parent's room where they were dressing for dinner.

Has Irene come to dinner?  She left me!  What is he to do?

James could not see anything but scandal.  Emily was more optimistic.  Soames would get Irene back.

Dinner.  Emily kept convo with trivial matters.  Mostly quiet.

Arriving home again.  No message from Irene.  Soames sits in the dinning room, by the fire.

Soon he goes up.  Fire in his dressing room.  Her room dark and cold.

Soames lights candles and paces the room.  Still in disbelief she was gone.

Looking for a message from her.  Soames went through Irene's things.

Irene took very few clothes.  Hoping it was only a temporary leave...

He opened her jewelry box expecting it to be empty.  It was not.

Within was a letter addressed to Soames.  "I think I have taken nothing you or your people have given me."

Looking at the jewelry Soames began to cry.  The realization Irene had loathe him for years hit him.  They were from different worlds.  She had suffered.

The feeling quickly passed.  Purged of his weakness.  He takes the jewelry box into the other room.

Chapter VII:

June was present at the court case.

When it was over she took a cab to Bosinney's rooms.

No answer.  She decided to wait outside his door.

June remembers the key under the mat and lets herself in.

She noticed the place was covered in dust.  June supposed for economy's sake Bosinney had given up his servant.

June notices the absence of things, a clock, field glasses, a piece of pottery from her.

She sense being watched.  Turning around it is Irene.

June offers her hand.  It is refused.

June asks what Irene is doing here.  Sayings she came to tell Bosinney he has lost the case.

Irene does not respond.  June says Irene is made of stone.  She does not want to hear anyway.  June was there first, they can't both stay.

Irene says she has left Soames.

June calls her a false friend.  Irene laughs.  She has ruined June's life and will ruin Bosinney's.

Irene leaves.

Bosinney never comes.

Old Jolyon returns home from Wisteria Ave.  He will tell June he is reconciled with her father.  He would move to the country with his son.  If she doesn't want to come she will get an allowance and can live by herself.

June said nothing till asked what she thought and told him what had happened.

June asks him to buy Robin Hill.

June did not say how she knew it would remain unoccupied.

Old Jolyon refuses to buy the house.  If not the house, the pay the sum owned to Soames.  It can come out of her own money.

Old Jolyon thought it over.  The house would secure Jo's place as a man of property.  If he could he would.  Old Jolyon could not refuse June.  He said he'll think it over.

The end.

Will update as I continue to read.
Last Updated:  Tuesday, April 15, 2008, 4:50 P.M.