The two were seated side by side on an arrangement in marqueterie which looked like three silvery pink chairs made one, with a low tea-table in front of them.

They seemed to have taken up that position, as far apart as the seat would permit, so that they need not look at each other too much; and they were eating and drinking rather than talking--Soames with his air of despising the tea-cake as it disappeared, Jolyon of finding himself slightly amusing.

To the casual eye neither would have seemed greedy, but both were getting through a good deal of sustenance.

The two young ones having been supplied with food, the process went on silent and absorbative, till, with the advent of cigarettes, Jolyon said to Soames: "And how's Uncle James ?" "Thanks, very shaky." "We're a wonderful family, aren't we?
The other day I was calculating the average age of the ten old Forsytes from my father's family Bible.
I make it eighty-four already, and five still living.

They ought to beat the record;" and looking whimsically at Soames, he added: "We aren't the men they were, you know." Soames smiled.