He was not the sort of man, for instance, even in his youngest days, who would go by omnibus to the gallery to the opera, to hear a favourite singer or a special performance; not that he had the faintest tinge of snobbishness, but simply because such trifling drawbacks irritated him, and spoilt his pleasure.
Impressionistic as he was in life, on the other hand, curiously, Aylmer's real taste in art and decoration was Pre-Raphaelite; delicate, detailed and meticulous almost to preciousness.

He often had delightful things in his house, but never for long.

He had no pleasure in property; valuable possessions worried him, and after any amount of trouble to get some object of art he would often give it away the next week.

For he really liked money only for freedom and ease.

The general look of the house was, consequently, distinguished, sincere and extremely comfortable.