She soothed, amused, stimulated
him at once. He taught her all he knew of country-lore, gave her, as they
say, "the hang" of landed estate; he learned by teaching, and might have
become a wholesome gentleman.
But domestic business called him to London presently. He went, and was
away three months, with lawyers, fierce threatenings from Claire,
intermediaries, friends of both parties, and the rest of them. He was
worried, flurried, put into a rage; exploded, put himself a thousand times
in the wrong; finally, he came back to Wanless embittered and restless. He
came back to find himself welcome, but not excessively so. At least he
thought not. His extensions, suggested in that first wonderful time--a
range of glass-houses, new heating apparatus, acetylene gas installations,
were well advanced. Sanchia's brows were often knit over estimates,
specifications, and bills. He had to pay for novelties from which the salt
had evaporated; he he was never very fond of paying, and now, it seemed,
he wasn't very fond of what he had to pay for. Sanchia was kind to him,
but there was a difference. She was as happy as the day was long, always
at work, outdoors or in, had not a moment for him (business apart) until
the very end of the day, when (at eleven or so) she dressed with care and
went to him at his supper.
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