If he were not told, he would be against her! Yet, how dreadful to be told such things of his own father! Clenching her lips, she nodded.
Soames spoke in a rapid, even voice: "He has always been a burden round your mother's neck.

She has paid his debts over and over again; he has often been drunk, abused and threatened her; and now he is gone to Buenos Aires with a dancer." And, as if distrusting the efficacy of those words on the boy, he went on quickly: "He took your mother's pearls to give to her." Val jerked up his hand, then.

At that signal of distress Winifred cried out: "That'll do, Soames--stop!" In the boy, the Dartie and the Forsyte were struggling.

For debts, drink, dancers, he had a certain sympathy; but the pearls--no! That was too much! And suddenly he found his mother's hand squeezing his.
"You see," he heard Soames say, "we can't have it all begin over again.
There's a limit; we must strike while the iron's hot." Val freed his hand.
"But--you're--never going to bring out that about the pearls! I couldn't stand that--I simply couldn't!" Winifred cried out: "No, no, Val--oh no! That's only to show you how impossible your father is!" And his uncle nodded.

Somewhat assuaged, Val took out a cigarette.