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property are between the leaves of the Byron in my tin chest； they
should go to Lucy Toraddress thereon。 Perhaps you will do me the
honour to retain for yourself any of my books that may give you
pleasure。 In the Pilgrim's Progress you will find some excellent
recipes for Turkish coffee； Italian and Spanish dishes； and washing
wounds。 The landlady's daughter speaks Italian； and she would； I
know； like to have Freda； the poor dog will miss me。 I have read of
old Indian warriors taking their horses and dogs with them to the
happy hunting…grounds。 Freda would comenoble animals are dogs！ She
eats once a daya good large mealand requires much salt。 If you
have animals of your own； sir； don't forgetall animals require
salt。 I have no debts； thank God！ The money in my pockets would
bury me decentlynot that there is any danger。 And I am ashamed to
weary you with detailsthe least a man can do is not to make a fuss…
…and yet he must be found ready。Sir； with profound gratitude； your
servant；
〃ROGER BRUNE。〃
Everything was as he had said。 The photograph on the stove was that
of a young girl of nineteen or twenty； dressed in an old…fashioned
style； with hair gathered backward in a knot。 The eyes gazed at you
with a little frown； the lips were tightly closed； the expression of
the face was eager； quick； wilful； and； above all； young。
The tin trunk was scented with dry fragments of some herb； the
history of which in that trunk man knoweth not。。。。 There were a few
clothes； but very few； all older than those he usually wore。 Besides
the Byron and Pilgrim's Progress were Scott's Quentin Durward；
Captain Marryat's Midshipman Easy； a pocket Testament； and a long and
frightfully stiff book on the art of fortifying towns； much thumbed；
and bearing date 1863。 By far the most interesting thing I found；
however； was a diary； kept down to the preceding Christmas。 It was a
pathetic document； full of calculations of the price of meals；
resolutions to be careful over this or that； doubts whether he must
not give up smoking； sentences of fear that Freda had not enough to
eat。 It appeared that he had tried to live on ninety pounds a year；
and send the other hundred pounds home to Lucy for the child； in this
struggle he was always failing； having to send less than the amount…
the entries showed that this was a nightmare to him。 The last words；
written on Christmas Day； were these 〃What is the use of writing
this； since it records nothing but failure！〃
The landlady's daughter and myself were at the funeral。 The same
afternoon I went into the concert…room； where I had spoken to him
first。 When I came out Freda was lying at the entrance； looking into
the faces of every one that passed； and sniffing idly at their heels。
Close by the landlady's daughter hovered； a biscuit in her hand； and
a puzzled； sorry look on her face。
September 1900。
TO
MY BROTHER
HUBERT GALSWORTHY
SALVATION OF A FORSYTE
I
Swithin Forsyte lay in bed。 The corners of his mouth under his white
moustache drooped towards his double chin。 He panted：
〃My doctor says I'm in a bad way； James。〃
His twin…brother placed his hand behind his ear。 〃I can't hear you。
They tell me I ought to take a cure。 There's always a cure wanted
for something。 Emily had a cure。〃
Swithin replied： 〃You mumble so。 I hear my man； Adolph。 I trained
him。。。。 You ought to have an ear…trumpet。 You're getting very
shaky； James。〃
There was silence； then James Forsyte； as if galvanised； remarked： 〃I
s'pose you've made your will。 I s'pose you've left your money to the
family； you've nobody else to leave it to。 There was Danson died the
other day； and left his money to a hospital〃
The hairs of Swithin's white moustache bristled。 〃My fool of a
doctor told me to make my will；〃 he said； 〃I hate a fellow who tells
you to make your will。 My appetite's good； I ate a partridge last
night。 I'm all the better for eating。 He told me to leave off
champagne！ I eat a good breakfast。 I'm not eighty。 You're the same
age； James。 You look very shaky。〃
James Forsyte said： 〃You ought to have another opinion。 Have Blank；
he's the first man now。 I had him for Emily； cost me two hundred
guineas。 He sent her to Homburg； that's the first place now。 The
Prince was thereeverybody goes there。〃
Swithin Forsyte answered： 〃I don't get any sleep at night； now I
can't get out； and I've bought a new carriagegave a pot of money
for it。 D' you ever have bronchitis？ They tell me champagne's
dangerous； it's my belief I couldn't take a better thing。〃
James Forsyte rose。
〃You ought to have another opinion。 Emily sent her love； she would
have come in； but she had to go to Niagara。 Everybody goes there；
it's the place now。 Rachel goes every morning： she overdoes it
she'll be laid up one of these days。 There's a fancy ball there to…
night； the Duke gives the prizes。〃
Swithin Forsyte said angrily： 〃I can't get things properly cooked
here； at the club I get spinach decently done。〃 The bed…clothes
jerked at the tremor of his legs。
James Forsyte replied： 〃You must have done well with Tintos； you must
have made a lot of money by them。 Your ground…rents must be falling
in； too。 You must have any amount you don't know what to do with。〃
He mouthed the words； as if his lips were watering。
Swithin Forsyte glared。 〃Money！〃 he said； 〃my doctor's bill's
enormous。〃
James Forsyte stretched out a cold； damp hand 〃Goodbye！ You ought to
have another opinion。 I can't keep the horses waiting： they're a new
pairstood me in three hundred。 You ought to take care of yourself。
I shall speak to Blank about you。 You ought to have himeverybody
says he's the first man。 Good…bye！〃
Swithin Forsyte continued to stare at the ceiling。 He thought： 'A
poor thing； James！ a selfish beggar！ Must be worth a couple of
hundred thousand！' He wheezed； meditating on life。。。。
He was ill and lonely。 For many years he had been lonely； and for
two years ill； but as he had smoked his first cigar； so he would live
his life…stoutly； to its predestined end。 Every day he was driven to
the club； sitting forward on the spring cushions of a single
brougham； his hands on his knees； swaying a little； strangely solemn。
He ascended the steps into that marble hallthe folds of his chin
wedged into the aperture of his collarwalking squarely with a
stick。 Later he would dine； eating majestically； and savouring his
food； behind a bottle of champagne set in an ice…pailhis waistcoat
defended by a napkin； his eyes rolling a little or glued in a stare
on the waiter。 Never did he suffer his head or back to droop； for it
was not distinguished so to do。
Because he was old and deaf； he spoke to no one； and no one spoke to
him。 The club gossip； an Irishman； said to each newcomer： 〃Old
Forsyte！ Look