James regarded her with the air of an inquisitor.
"What? You're not thinking of buying land!" he ejaculated, dropping his
fork.
June was greatly encouraged by his interest. It had long been her pet
plan that her uncles should benefit themselves and Bosinney by building
country-houses.
"Of course not," she said. "I thought it would be such a splendid place
for--you or--someone to build a country-house!"
James looked at her sideways, and placed a second piece of ham in his
mouth....
"Land ought to be very dear about there," he said.
What June had taken for personal interest was only the impersonal
excitement of every Forsyte who hears of something eligible in danger
of passing into other hands. But she refused to see the disappearance of
her chance, and continued to press her point.
"You ought to go into the country, Uncle James. I wish I had a lot of
money, I wouldn't live another day in London."
James was stirred to the depths of his long thin figure; he had no idea
his niece held such downright views.
"Why don't you go into the country?" repeated June; "it would do you a
lot of good."
"Why?" began James in a fluster. "Buying land--what good d'you suppose I
can do buying land, building houses?--I couldn't get four per cent.
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