Architecture appeared to have exhausted his regularity.
"Won't it look like a barrack ?" he inquired.
He did not at once receive a reply.
"I can see what it is," said Bosinney, "you want one of Littlemaster's houses--one of the pretty and commodious sort, where the servants will live in garrets, and the front door be sunk so that you may come up again.

By all means try Littlemaster, you'll find him a capital fellow, I've known him all my life!" Soames was alarmed.

He had really been struck by the plans, and the concealment of his satisfaction had been merely instinctive.

It was difficult for him to pay a compliment.

He despised people who were lavish with their praises.
He found himself now in the embarrassing position of one who must pay a compliment or run the risk of losing a good thing.