He did enjoy it, but not as his uncle wished and hoped.

Gaston did not respond eagerly to the charms of Mademoiselle Cerise and Madame Juliette.
Was Delia, then, so strong in the barbarian's mind?
He could not think so, but Gaston had not shown yet, either for model, for daughter of joy, or for the mademoiselles of the stage any disposition to an amour or a misalliance; and either would be interesting and sufficient! Models went in and out of Ian's studio and the studios of others, and Gaston chatted with them at times; and once he felt the bare arm and bare breast of a girl as she sat for a nymph, and said in an interested way that her flesh was as firm and fine as a Tongan's.

He even disputed with his uncle on the tints of her skin, on seeing him paint it in, showing a fine eye for colour.

But there was nothing more; he was impressed, observant, interested--that was all.

His uncle began to wonder if the Englishman was, after all, deeper in the grain than the savage.