第62章

AuntsJuleyandHester，ratherhurtthattheirpresentshadnotreceivedspecialmention——theyforgoteveryyearthatJamescouldnotbeartoreceivepresents，’throwingawaytheirmoneyonhim，’

ashealwayscalledit——were’delighted’；itshowedthatJameswasingoodspirits，andthatwassoimportantforhim。AndtheybegantowaitforWinifred。Shecameatfour，bringingImogen，andMaud，justbackfromschool，and’gettingsuchaprettygirl，too，’sothatitwasextremelydifficulttoaskfornewsaboutAnnette。

AuntJuley，however，summonedcouragetoenquirewhetherWinifredhadheardanything，andifSoameswasanxious。”UncleSoamesisalwaysanxious，Auntie，”interruptedImogen；”hecan’tbehappynowhe’sgotit。”

ThewordsstruckfamiliarlyonAuntJuley’sears。Ah！yes；thatfunnydrawingofGeorge’s，whichhadnotbeenshownthem！ButwhatdidImogenmean?Thatherunclealwayswantedmorethanhecouldhave?Itwasnotatallnicetothinklikethat。

Imogen’svoiceroseclearandclipped：”Imagine！Annette’sonlytwoyearsolderthanme；itmustbeawfulforher，marriedtoUncleSoames。”

AuntJuleyliftedherhandsinhorror。”Mydear，”shesaid，”youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout。

YourUncleSoamesisamatchforanybody。He’saverycleverman，andgood-lookingandwealthy，andmostconsiderateandcareful，andnotatallold，consideringeverything。”

Imogen，turningherlusciousglancefromonetotheotherofthe’olddears，’onlysmiled。”Ihope，”saidAuntJuleyquiteseverely，”thatyouwillmarryasgoodaman。””Ishan’tmarryagoodman，Auntie，”murmuredImogen；”they’redull。””Ifyougoonlikethis，”repliedAuntJuley，stillverymuchupset，”youwon’tmarryanybody。We’dbetternotpursuethesubject；”andturningtoWinifred，shesaid：”HowisMontague?”

Thatevening，whiletheywerewaitingfordinner，shemurmured：”I’vetoldSmithertogetuphalfabottleofthesweetchampagne，Hester。IthinkweoughttodrinkdearJames’health，and——andthehealthofSoames’wife；only，let’skeepthatquitesecret。I’llJustsaylikethis，’Andyouknow，Hester！’andthenwe’lldrink。

ItmightupsetTimothy。””It’smorelikelytoupsetus，”saidAuntNester。”Butwemust，I

suppose；forsuchanoccasion。””Yes，”saidAuntJuleyrapturously，”itisanoccasion！Onlyfancyifhehasadearlittleboy，tocarrythefamilyon！Idofeelitsoimportant，nowthatIrenehashadason。WinifredsaysGeorgeiscallingJolyon’TheThree-Decker，’becauseofhisthreefamilies，youknow！Georgeisdroll。Andfancy！IreneislivingafterallinthehouseSoameshadbuiltforthemboth。ItdoesseemhardondearSoames；andhe’salwaysbeensoregular。”

Thatnightinbed，excitedandalittleflushedstillbyherglassofwineandthesecrecyofthesecondtoast，shelaywithherprayer-bookopenedflat，andhereyesfixedonaceilingyellowedbythelightfromherreading-lamp。Youngthings！Itwassoniceforthemall！AndshewouldbesohappyifshecouldseedearSoameshappy。But，ofcourse，hemustbenow，inspiteofwhatImogenhadsaid。Hewouldhaveallthathewanted：property，andwife，andchildren！Andhewouldlivetoagreenoldage，likehisdearfather，an

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