“Yes, it seems a good deal. But I wanted it, you know, and one pays anything for what one wants; in fact, one often pays a good deal for what one doesn’t want.”
“You can’t say that that speech is optimistic,” said Manvers, triumphantly.
“No, I don’t defend it,” said Tom. “May dear, let’s come in and have tea now. It is getting much cooler, and then we can start in half an hour.”
May rose and walked with Manvers towards the house. Tom strolled on a few steps ahead of them. As they reached the terrace which ran along the front of the house he turned.
“I don’t think you ever saw the Demeter finished,” he said to Manvers. “Come with me and look at it.”
“Yes, let’s all go and see it,” said May. “It looks so nice in that corner, with the dark red paper behind, Tom. I went to see it just before I came out.”
Tom’s room opened out of the hall, opposite the drawing-room. Just as they got to the door he stopped and spoke to May without looking at her.
“Then will you have us told when tea is ready, dear?” he said.
May had intended to come in with them, but something in Tom’s voice made her hesitate.
“Yes; don’t be long,” she said; “and don’t get to talking shop about it. We shall never start if you do.”