"It could become less miserable," Val says, with perhaps surprising agreeability, "over time, with work and effort and a correct eye--and yes, wallpapering will certainly be of service in this area. Remind me, which rooms will be so repaired when we return? The workmen had not yet arrived when I had departed, and I recall nothing of you telling me of this project. No, I have changed my mind, do not tell me a thing, I should prefer to be surprised."
It is easy to attempt to talk over Wysteria. It is nearly impossible to succeed, and still more impossible to prevent her from speaking by speaking before her, no matter how quickly one might rush to speak. She might very well begin telling him of the rooms that have been wallpapered, and so Val makes a great show of putting his hands over his ears.
"Now I am pleased that you mentioned nothing of the project. It is very exciting. Perhaps I might guess. The large eastern room."
He stretches one leg out toward Ruadh and traps a few of the wood shavings under the toe of his boot, so he might pull them clear of the mabari's questing nose, and continues: "The terribly dingy room on the first floor, beside the kitchen. The little bedroom with the smallest windows."
Yes indeed, she has begun to speak. And she continues valiantly on even as her husband clamps his hands dramatically over his ears, saying first "I hardly see why I should keep you informed of every small detail regarding the renovation of my own home, Valentine—" before presumably being reduced to a shrilly insistent womp-womp-womp.
Eventually, Wysteria sets the ugly statuette beside her in the bunk and makes to slap away one of the offensive hands away by its wrist.
"—not dingy. It is charming. I believe it is meant to be a little gentleman or a ladywoman's study, for when I first arrived it was home to a great desk and a shocking array of all manner of chairs and the ugliest portrait you have ever lain your eyes on. The portrait has of course been removed to the attic, along with a vast majority of the furniture. But I suppose if you should be in desperate need of a desk, you might look to retrieve that one back down again. I recall it being rather ugly, but I trust you will only go about covering it with papers and books and Maker only knows what else in any case."
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It is easy to attempt to talk over Wysteria. It is nearly impossible to succeed, and still more impossible to prevent her from speaking by speaking before her, no matter how quickly one might rush to speak. She might very well begin telling him of the rooms that have been wallpapered, and so Val makes a great show of putting his hands over his ears.
"Now I am pleased that you mentioned nothing of the project. It is very exciting. Perhaps I might guess. The large eastern room."
He stretches one leg out toward Ruadh and traps a few of the wood shavings under the toe of his boot, so he might pull them clear of the mabari's questing nose, and continues: "The terribly dingy room on the first floor, beside the kitchen. The little bedroom with the smallest windows."
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Eventually, Wysteria sets the ugly statuette beside her in the bunk and makes to slap away one of the offensive hands away by its wrist.
"—not dingy. It is charming. I believe it is meant to be a little gentleman or a ladywoman's study, for when I first arrived it was home to a great desk and a shocking array of all manner of chairs and the ugliest portrait you have ever lain your eyes on. The portrait has of course been removed to the attic, along with a vast majority of the furniture. But I suppose if you should be in desperate need of a desk, you might look to retrieve that one back down again. I recall it being rather ugly, but I trust you will only go about covering it with papers and books and Maker only knows what else in any case."
Short breath.
"Your first guess, at least, was correct."