"Yes;and have no income left to help anybody with.""My dear child,"murmured Jolyon,"wouldn't it come to the same thing?""No,"said June shrewdly,"I could buy for ten thousand;that would only be four hundred a year.But I should have to pay a thousand a year rent,and that would only leave me five hundred.If I had the Gallery,Dad,think what I could do.I could make Eric Cobbley's name in no time,and ever so many others.""Names worth making make themselves in time.""When they're dead."
"Did you ever know anybody living,my dear,improved by having his name made?""Yes,you,"said June,pressing his arm.
Jolyon started.'I?'he thought.'Oh!Ah!Now she's going to ask me to do something.We take it out,we Forsytes,each in our different ways.'
June came closer to him in the cab.
"Darling,"she said,"you buy the Gallery,and I'll pay you four hundred a year for it.Then neither of us will be any the worse off.Besides,it's a splendid investment."Jolyon wriggled."Don't you think,"he said,"that for an artist to buy a Gallery is a bit dubious?Besides,ten thousand pounds is a lump,and I'm not a commercial character."June looked at him with admiring appraisement.
"Of course you're not,but you're awfully businesslike.And I'm sure we could make it pay.It'll be a perfect way of scoring off those wretched dealers and people."And again she squeezed her father's arm.
Jolyon's face expressed quizzical despair.
"Where is this desirable Gallery?Splendidly situated,I suppose?""Just off Cork Street."
'Ah!'thought Jolyon,'I knew it was just off somewhere.Now for what I want out of her!'
"Well,I'll think of it,but not just now.You remember Irene?Iwant you to come with me and see her.Soames is after her again.