CHAPTER I--PROGRESS OF THE HOUSE 

The winter had been an open one. Things in the trade were slack; and as Soames had reflected before making up his mind, it had been a good time for building. The shell of the house at Robin Hill was thus completed by the end of April. 

Now that there was something to be seen for his money, he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week, and would mouse about among the debris for hours, careful never to soil his clothes, moving silently through the unfinished brickwork of doorways, or circling round the columns in the central court. 

And he would stand before them for minutes' together, as though peering into the real quality of their substance. 

On April 30 he had an appointment with Bosinney to go over the accounts, and five minutes before the proper time he entered the tent which the architect had pitched for himself close to the old oak tree. 

The accounts were already prepared on a folding table, and with a nod Soames sat down to study them. It was some time before he raised his head. 

"I can't make them out," he said at last; "they come to nearly seven hundred more than they ought." 

After a glance at Bosinney's face he went on quickly: 

"If you only make a firm stand against these builder chaps you'll get them down. They stick you with everything if you don't look sharp.... Take ten per cent. off all round. I shan't mind it's coming out a hundred or so over the mark!" 
Who felt it was a good time for building?
When was the house shell done by?
How was area trade?
What would he visit a at least once a week?
What would he circle around?
For how long?
Who did he have to meet on the 30th?
Of what month?
To do what?
Where had the tent been set?
By whom?
How long did he have to wait for account preparation?
Did he review the docs quickly?
How much more did it come to?
Soames
Soames
the end of April
the end of April. 
slack
slack
The shell of the house
 he had been coming down once, twice, even three times a week
columns
columns
hours
hours
Bosinney
Bosinney
Apri
Apri
go over the accounts
go over the accounts
close to the old oak tree
close to the old oak tree
the architect
 the architect
HE didn't.
The accounts were already prepared on a folding table
No.
It was some time before he raised his head. 

seven hundred
seven hundred