第68章

She might be safer if we could give her asylum somewhere."The word asylum,which he had used by chance,was of all most calculated to rouse June's interest.

"Irene!I haven't seen her since!Of course!I'd love to help her."It was Jolyon's turn to squeeze her arm,in warm admiration for this spirited,generous-hearted little creature of his begetting.

"Irene is proud,"he said,with a sidelong glance,in sudden doubt of June's discretion;"she's difficult to help.We must tread gently.This is the place.I wired her to expect us.Let's send up our cards.""I can't bear Soames,"said June as she got out;"he sneers at everything that isn't successful"Irene was in what was called the 'Ladies'drawing-room'of the Piedmont Hotel.

Nothing if not morally courageous,June walked straight up to her former friend,kissed her cheek,and the two settled down on a sofa never sat on since the hotel's foundation.Jolyon could see that Irene was deeply affected by this simple forgiveness.

"So Soames has been worrying you?"he said.

"I had a visit from him last night;he wants me to go back to him.""You're not going,of course?"cried June.

Irene smiled faintly and shook her head."But his position is horrible,"she murmured.

"It's his own fault;he ought to have divorced you when he could."Jolyon ,remembered how fervently in the old days June had hoped that no divorce would smirch her dead and faithless lover's name.

"Let us hear what Irene is going to do,"he said.

Irene's lips quivered,but she spoke calmly.

"I'd better give him fresh excuse to get rid of me.""How horrible!"cried June.

"What else can I do?"

"Out of the question,"said Jolyon very quietly,"sans amour."He thought she was going to cry;but,getting up quickly,she half turned her back on them,and stood regaining control of herself.

June said suddenly:

"Well,I shall go to Soames and tell him he must leave you alone.

What does he want at his age?"

"A child.It's not unnatural"

"A child!"cried June scornfully."Of course!To leave his money to.If he wants one badly enough let him take somebody and have one;then you can divorce him,and he can marry her."Jolyon perceived suddenly that he had made a mistake to bring June--her violent partizanship was fighting Soames'battle.

"It would be best for Irene to come quietly to us at Robin Hill,and see how things shape.""Of course,"said June;"only."

Irene looked full at Jolyon--in all his many attempts afterwards to analyze that glance he never could succeed.

"No!I should only bring trouble on you all.I will go abroad."He knew from her voice that this was final.The irrelevant thought flashed through him:'Well,I could see her there.'But he said:

"Don't you think you would be more helpless abroad,in case he followed?""I don't know.I can but try."

June sprang up and paced the room."It's all horrible,"she said.

"Why should people be tortured and kept miserable and helpless year after year by this disgusting sanctimonious law?"But someone had come into the room,and June came to a standstill.Jolyon went up to Irene:

"Do you want money?"No.

"And would you like me to let your fiat?"

"Yes,Jolyon,please."

"When shall you be going?"

"To-morrow."

"You won't go back there in the meantime,will you?"This he said with an anxiety strange to himself.

"No;I've got all I want here."

"You'll send me your address?"

She put out her hand to him."I feel you're a rock.""Built on sand,"answered Jolyon,pressing her hand hard;"but it's a pleasure to do anything,at any time,remember that.And if you change your mind.!Come along,June;say good-bye."June came from the window and flung her arms round Irene.

"Don't think of him,"she said under her breath;"enjoy yourself,and bless you!"With a memory of tears in Irene's eyes,and of a smile on her lips,they went away extremely silent,passing the lady who had interrupted the interview and was turning over the papers on the table.

Opposite the National Gallery June exclaimed:

"Of all undignified beasts and horrible laws!"But Jolyon did not respond.He had something of his father's balance,and could see things impartially even when his emotions were roused.Irene was right;Soames'position was as bad or worse than her own.As for the law--it catered for a human nature of which it took a naturally low view.And,feeling that if he stayed in his daughter's company he would in one way or another commit an indiscretion,he told her he must catch his train back to Oxford;and hailing a cab,left her to Turner's water-colours,with the promise that he would think over that Gallery.

But he thought over Irene instead.Pity,they said,was akin to love!If so he was certainly in danger of loving her,for he pitied her profoundly.To think of her drifting about Europe so handicapped and lonely!'I hope to goodness she'll keep her head!'

He thought;'she might easily grow desperate.'In fact,now that she had cut loose from her poor threads of occupation,he couldn't imagine how she would go on--so beautiful a creature,hopeless,and fair game for anyone!In his exasperation was more than a little fear and jealousy.Women did strange things when they were driven into corners.'I wonder what Soames will do now!'he thought.'Arotten,idiotic state of things!And I suppose they would say it was her own fault.'Very preoccupied and sore at heart,he got into his train,mislaid his ticket,and on the platform at Oxford took his hat off to a lady whose face he seemed to remember without being able to put a name to her,not even when he saw her having tea at the Rainbow.