Page:The Van Roon (IA thevanroon00snaiiala).pdf/117



When William came in to dinner there was music to face. But as there was no sure ground at the moment for real battle, the music opened pianissimo. It began with a few rather pointed enquiries.

"Had a rather busy morning, haven't you?"

"I don't think it has been anything out of the way," was the non-committal answer.

"Done any business?" The question was casual, but June fixed him with her eye.

"Oh, yes!" So light and airy was the tone that business might have mattered nothing. "I've sold the Lowestoft bowl."

"Uncle Si'll be pleased, I expect." She found it terribly difficult to keep a sneer out of her voice, but you never know what you can do till you try. "Fetch much?"

She knew perfectly well, of course, the price it had fetched.

"Six guineas!"

"Isn't that a pretty good profit on what you paid for it at Saxmundham?" said June, with the precision of the born head for affairs.

"I got it for thirty shillings at Saxmundham, but of course that was at a sale."

"Seems a fair profit, anyway."

"Yes, I suppose it is."

"Will you get any?"