for his money; and this isolation had slowly and surely undermined a spirit perhaps better than commonly endowed with caution.

He had become almost a myth--a kind of incarnation of security haunting the background of the Forsyte universe.
He had never committed the imprudence of marrying, or encumbering himself in any way with children.
James resumed, tapping the piece of china: "This isn't real old Worcester.

I s'pose Jolyon's told you something about the young man.

From all I can learn, he's got no business, no income, and no connection worth speaking of; but then, I know nothing--nobody tells me anything." Aunt Ann shook her head.

Over her square-chinned, aquiline old face a trembling passed; the spidery fingers of her hands pressed against each other and interlaced, as though she were subtly recharging her will.
The eldest by some years of all the Forsytes, she held a peculiar position amongst them.