He would gain credit by living in a house like that--with
such individual features, yet perfectly well-arranged.
He continued poring over the plans, while Bosinney went into his bedroom
to shave and dress.
The two walked back to Montpellier Square in silence, Soames watching
him out of the corner of his eye.
The Buccaneer was rather a good-looking fellow--so he thought--when he
was properly got up.
Irene was bending over her flowers when the two men came in.
She spoke of sending across the Park to fetch June.
"No, no," said Soames, "we've still got business to talk over!"
At lunch he was almost cordial, and kept pressing Bosinney to eat. He
was pleased to see the architect in such high spirits, and left him
to spend the afternoon with Irene, while he stole off to his pictures,
after his Sunday habit. At tea-time he came down to the drawing-room,
and found them talking, as he expressed it, nineteen to the dozen.
Unobserved in the doorway, he congratulated himself that things were
taking the right turn. It was lucky she and Bosinney got on; she seemed
to be falling into line with the idea of the new house.
Quiet meditation among his pictures had decided him to spring the
five hundred if necessary; but he hoped that the afternoon might have
softened Bosinney's estimates.
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