Foursyte Saga - The Man of Property
interrupted by Irene's arrival home. She's flushed, excited, happy. Winifred comments on how
lovely she looks and how unfair it is on other women. Soames says nothing, but looks stricken. He
knows that excitement is not for him.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Park at Timothy's, Swithin is already telling the story to the
suitably shocked and titillated Aunts Juley and Hester. He shouldn't wonder if Bosinney was sweet
on Mrs. Soames! He tells of catching him "slobbering" on her handkerchief. Swithin is just as
captivated by Irene as Bosinney was, as Hester drily comments.Upstairs, the maid Smither tries to
wake Aunt Anne, but fails. Aunt Anne is dead. (The crisis has struck deep at the root of the
Forsytes: the most primal property-- a man's wife-- has been threatened.)