“ ’Course you are; what’s old Barrett run the place for? Choose, and quick about it.”
Long economy prompted Eve to decide upon the smallest and cheapest. Whereupon Clementine pointed to another with his stick, and cried:
“Sling it in the taxi—you know me! Right! On we go.”
But he did not go on before he had purchased a great spray of malmaisons at Solomon’s.
“Hats, dresses, and all the rest of it! Bond Street, cabby.”
In Bond Street he was at his best. He insisted on following Eve through all manner of extraordinary departments.
“Oh, go on with you. I’m old enough to have been married years ago. I’ll look out of the window if you like—but if the bill ain’t big enough I shall turn round. Get busy!”
Infected by his enthusiasm Eve got busy, and two great boxes of exquisite frillies floated down to the taxi.
“When we’ve filled this cab we’ll get another,” he declared as they clambered in and took their seats.
At Redfern’s, in Conduit Street, he showed that he was a man of discrimination. He paraded the mannequins, and bought four dresses after a deal of inspection and deliberation.