He examined them carelessly one after the other, and then, laying them down, he inquired: 'How long would it take you to do this work--if we get the job ?' 'About three weeks: say 150 hours.

That is--the decorative work only.
Of course, the walls and ceiling would have to be painted first: they will need three coats of white.' Rushton scribbled a note on a piece of paper.
'Well,' he said, after a pause, 'you can leave these 'ere and I'll see Mr Sweater about it and tell 'im what it will cost, and if he decides to have it done I'll let you know.' He put the drawings aside with the air of a man who has other matters to attend to, and began to open one of the several letters that were on his desk.

He meant this as an intimation that the audience was at an end and that he desired the 'hand' to retire from the presence.

Owen understood this, but he did not retire, because it was necessary to mention one or two things which Rushton would have to allow for when preparing the estimate.
'Of course I should want some help,' he said.

'I should need a man occasionally, and the boy most of the time.