And once more he felt baffled in the presence of
this man whom by habit he despised. He hastened on to the house.
"The only colour for those tiles," he heard Bosinney say,--"is ruby with
a grey tint in the stuff, to give a transparent effect. I should like
Irene's opinion. I'm ordering the purple leather curtains for the
doorway of this court; and if you distemper the drawing-room ivory cream
over paper, you'll get an illusive look. You want to aim all through the
decorations at what I call charm."
Soames said: "You mean that my wife has charm!"
Bosinney evaded the question.
"You should have a clump of iris plants in the centre of that court."
Soames smiled superciliously.
"I'll look into Beech's some time," he said, "and see what's
appropriate!"
They found little else to say to each other, but on the way to the
Station Soames asked:
"I suppose you find Irene very artistic."
"Yes." The abrupt answer was as distinct a snub as saying: "If you want
to discuss her you can do it with someone else!"
And the slow, sulky anger Soames had felt all the afternoon burned the
brighter within him.
Neither spoke again till they were close to the Station, then Soames
asked:
"When do you expect to have finished?"
"By the end of June, if you really wish me to decorate as well.
Pages:
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179