第2章

Ihadhearditdarklywhisperedthathewassomethingofavagabond。Butthetermissolooselyapplied，anditseemssodifficult，afterall，todefinewhatavagabondis，ortostriketherightmoralbalancebetweenthevagabondworkwhichisboldlypublished，andthevagabondworkwhichisreservedforprivatecirculationonly，thatIdidnotfeeljustifiedinholdingalooffrommyformerfriend。Accordingly，Irenewedouracquaintance，andtoldhimmypresentdifficulty。Hewasasharpman，andheshowedmeawayoutofitdirectly。

"Youhaveagoodeyeforalikeness，"hesaid；"andyouhavemadeitkeepyouhitherto。Verywell。Makeitkeepyoustill。Youcan"tprofitablycaricaturepeople"sfacesanylonger——nevermind!gototheotherextreme，andflatterthemnow。Turnportrait-painter。Youshallhavetheuseofthisstudythreedaysintheweek，fortenshillingsaweek——sleepingonthehearth-rugincluded，ifyoulike。Getyourpaints，rouseupyourfriends，settoworkatonce。Drawingisofnoconsequence；paintingisofnoconsequence；perspectiveisofnoconsequence；ideasareofnoconsequence。Everythingisofnoconsequence，exceptcatchingalikenessandflatteringyoursitter——andthatyouknowyoucando。”

IfeltthatIcould；andlefthimforthenearestcolorman"s。

BeforeIgottotheshop，ImetMr。Batterburytakinghiswalkingexercise。Hestopped，shookhandswithmeaffectionately，andaskedwhereIwasgoing。Awonderfulideastruckme。Insteadofansweringhisquestion，IaskedafterLadyMalkinshaw。

"Don"tbealarmed，"saidMr。Batterbury；"herladyshiptumbleddownstairsyesterdaymorning。”

"Mydearsir，allowmetocongratulateyou!"

"Mostfortunately，"continuedMr。Batterbury，withastrongemphasisonthewords，andafixedstareatme；"mostfortunately，theservanthadbeencarelessenoughtoleavealargebundleofclothesforthewashatthefootofthestairs，whileshewenttoanswerthedoor。Fallingheadlongfromthelanding，herladyshippitched(pardonmetheexpression)——pitchedintotheverymiddleofthebundle。Shewasalittleshakenatthetime，butisreportedtobegoingoncharminglythismorning。

Mostfortunate，wasitnot？Seenthepapers？AwfulnewsfromDemerara——theyellowfever——"

"IwishIwasatDemerara，"Isaid，inahollowvoice。

"You!Why？"exclaimedMr。Batterbury，aghast。

"Iamhomeless，friendless，penniless，"Iwenton，gettingmorehollowateveryword。"AllmyintellectualinstinctstellmethatIcouldretrievemypositionandliverespectablyintheworld，ifImightonlytrymyhandatportrait-painting——thethingofallothersthatIamnaturallyfittestfor。ButIhavenobodytostartme；nosittertogivemeafirstchance；nothinginmypocketbutthree-and-sixpence；andnothinginmymindbutadoubtwhetherIshallstruggleonalittlelonger，orenditimmediatelyintheThames。Don"tletmedetainyoufromyourwalk，mydearsir。I"mafraidLadyMalkinshawwilloutliveme，afterall!"

"Stop!"criedMr。Batterbury；hismahoganyfaceactuallygettingwhitewithalarm。"Stop!Don"ttalkinthatdreadfullyunprincipledmanner——don"t，Iimplore，Iinsist!Youhaveplentyoffriends——youhaveme，andyoursister。Taketoportrait-painting——thinkofyourfamily，andtaketoportrait-painting!"

"WhereamItogetasitter？"Iinquired，withagloomyshakeofthehead。

"Me，"saidMr。Batterbury，withaneffort。"I"llbeyourfirstsitter。Asabeginner，andespeciallytoamemberofthefamily，Isupposeyourtermswillbemoderate。Smallbeginnings——youknowtheproverb？"Herehestopped；andamiserlyleerpuckereduphismahoganycheeks。

"I"lldoyou，life-size，downtoyourwaistcoat，forfiftypounds，"saidI。

Mr。Batterburywinced，andlookedabouthimtotherightandleft，asifhewantedtorunaway。Hehadfivethousandayear，buthecontrivedtotook，atthatmoment，asifhisutmostincomewasfivehundred。Iwalkedonafewsteps。

"Surelythosetermsareratherhightobeginwith？"hesaid，walkingafterme。"Ishouldhavethoughtfive-and-thirty，orperhapsforty——"

"Agentleman，sir，cannotcondescendtobargain，"saidI，withmournfuldignity。"Farewell!"Iwavedmyhand，andcrossedovertheway。

"Don"tdothat!"criedMr。Batterbury。"Iaccept。Givemeyouraddress。I"llcometomorrow。Willitincludetheframe!There!

there!itdoesn"tincludetheframe，ofcourse。Whereareyougoingnow？Tothecolorman？Hedoesn"tliveintheStrand，I

hope——ornearoneofthebridges。ThinkofAnnabella，thinkofthefamily，thinkofthefiftypounds——anincome，ayear"sincometoaprudentman。Pray，praybecareful，andcomposeyourmind:

promiseme，mydear，dearfellow——promiseme，onyourwordofhonor，tocomposeyourmind!"

Ilefthimstillharpingonthatstring，andsuffering，I

believe，theonlyseriousattackofmentaldistressthathadeveraffectedhiminthewholecourseofhislife。

Beholdme，then，nowstartingafreshintheworld，inthecharacterofaportrait-painter；withthepaymentofmyremunerationfrommyfirstsitterdependingwhimsicallyonthelifeofmygrandmother。IfyoucaretoknowhowLadyMalkinshaw"shealthgoton，andhowIsucceededinmynewprofession，youhaveonlytofollowthefurthercourseoftheseconfessions，inthenextchapter。

CHAPTERIV。

IGAVEmyorderstothecolorman，andsettledmatterswithmyfriendtheartistthatday。

Thenextmorning，beforethehouratwhichIexpectedmysitter，havingjustnowasmuchinterestinthelifeofLadyMalkinshawasMr。Batterburyhadinherdeath，Iwenttomakekindinquiriesafterherladyship"shealth。Theanswerwasmostreassuring。LadyMalkinshawhadnopresentintentionofpermittingmetosurviveher。Shewas，atthatverymoment，meritoriouslyandheartilyengagedineatingherbreakfast。Myprospectsbeingnowofthebestpossiblekind，lfeltencouragedtowriteoncemoretomyfather，tellinghimofmyfreshstartinlife，andproposingarenewalofouracquaintance。Iregrettosaythathewassorudeasnottoanswermyletter。

Mr。Batterburywaspunctualtothemoment。Hegaveagaspofreliefwhenhebeheldme，fulloflife，withmypaletteonmythumb，gazingfondlyonmynewcanvas。

"That"sright!"hesaid。"Iliketoseeyouwithyourmindcomposed。Annabellawouldhavecomewithme；butshehasalittleheadachethismorning。Shesendsherloveandbestwishes。”

Iseizedmychalksandbeganwiththatconfidenceinmyselfwhichhasneverforsakenmeinanyemergency。Beingperfectlywellawareoftheabsolutedependenceoftheartofportrait-paintingontheartofflattery，Ideterminedtostartwithmakingthemereoutlineofmylikenessacomplimenttomysitter。

Itwasmucheasiertoresolveondoingthisthanreallytodoit。

Inthefirstplace，myhandwouldrelapseintoitswickedoldcaricaturinghabits。Inthesecondplace，mybrother-in-law"sfacewassoinveteratelyandcompletelyuglyastoseteveryartificeofpictorialimprovementatflatdefiance。Whenamanhasanoseaninchlong，withthenostrilssetperpendicularly，itisimpossibletoflatterit——youmusteitherchangeitintoafancynose，orresignedlyacquiesceinit。Whenamanhasnoperceptibleeyelids，andwhenhiseyesglobularlyprojectsofaroutofhishead，thatyouexpecttohavetopickthemupforhimwheneveryouseehimleanforward，howaremortalfingersandbushestodiffusetherightcomplimentaryexpressionoverthem？

Youmusteitherdothemthemosthideousandcompletejustice，orgivethemupaltogether。ThelateSirThomasLawrence，P。R。A。，wasundoubtedlythemostartfulanduncompromisingflattererthateversmoothedoutallthenaturalcharacteristicblemishesfromasitter"sface；buteventhataccomplishedparasitewouldhavefoundMr。Batterburytoomuchforhim，andwouldhavebeendriven，forthefirsttimeinhispracticeofart，totheuncustomaryanduncourtlyresourceofabsolutelypaintingagenuinelikeness。

Asforme，IputmytrustinLadyMalkinshaw"spowerofliving，andportrayedthefaceofMr。Batterburyinallitsnativehorror。Atthesametime，Isensiblyguardedagainsteventhemostimprobableaccidents，bymakinghimpaymethefiftypoundsaswewenton，byinstallments。Wehadtensittings。EachoneofthembeganwithamessagefromMr。Batterbury，givingmeAnnabella"sloveandapologiesfornotbeingabletocomeandseeme。EachoneofthemendedwithanargumentbetweenMr。

Batterburyandmerelativetothetransferoffivepoundsfromhispockettomine。Icameoffvictoriousoneveryoccasion——beingbackedbythenoblebehaviorofLadyMalkinshaw，whoabstainedfromtumblingdown，andwhoateanddrank，andsleptandgrewlusty，forthreeweekstogether。Venerablewoman!

Sheputfiftypoundsintomypocket。Ishallthinkofherwithgratitudeandrespecttotheendofmydays。

Onemorning，whileIwassittingbeforemycompletedportrait，inwardlyshudderingovertheuglinessofit，asuffocatingsmellofmuskwaswaftedintothestudio；itwasfollowedbyasoundofrustlinggarments；andthatagainwassucceededbythepersonalappearanceofmyaffectionatesister，withherhusbandatherheels。Annabellahadgottotheendofherstockofapologies，andhadcometoseeme。

Sheputherhandkerchieftohernosethemomentsheenteredtheroom。

"Howdoyoudo，Frank？Don"tkissme:yousmellofpaint，andI

can"tbearit。”

Ifeltasimilarantipathytothesmellofmusk，andhadnottheslightestintentionofkissingher；butIwastoogallantamantosayso；andIonlybeggedhertofavormebylookingatherhusband"sportrait。

Annabellaglancedallroundtheroom，withherhandkerchiefstillathernose，andgatheredhermagnificentsilkdresscloseabouthersuperbfigurewithherdisengagedhand。

"Whatahorridplace!"shesaidfaintlybehindherhandkerchief。

"Can"tyoutakesomeofthepaintaway？I"msurethere"soilonthefloor。HowamItogetpastthatnastytablewiththepaletteonit？Whycan"tyoubringthepicturedowntothecarriage，Frank？"

Advancingafewsteps，andlookingsuspiciouslyaboutherwhileshespoke，hereyesfellonthechimney-piece。Aneau-de-Colognebottlestooduponit，whichshetookupimmediatelywithalanguishingsigh。

Itcontainedturpentineforwashingbrushesin。BeforeIcouldwarnher，shehadsprinkledherselfabsentlywithhalfthecontentsofthebottle。Inspiteofallthemuskthatnowfilledtheroom，theturpentinebetrayeditselfalmostassoonasI

cried"Stop!"Annabella，withashriekofdisgust，flungthebottlefuriouslyintothefireplace。Fortunatelyitwassummer-time，orImighthavehadtoechotheshriekwithacryof"Fire!"

"Youwretch!youbrute!youlow，mischievous，swindlingblackguard!"criedmyamiablesister，shakingherskirtswithallhermight，"youhavedonethisonpurpose!Don"ttellme!Iknowyouhave。Whatdoyoumeanbypesteringmetocometothisdog-kennelofaplace？"shecontinued，turningfiercelyuponthepartnerofherexistenceandlegitimatereceptacleofallhersuperfluouswrath。"Whatdoyoumeanbybringingmehere，toseehowyouhavebeenswindled？Yes，sir，swindled!Hehasnomoreideaofpaintingthanyouhave。Hehascheatedyououtofyourmoney。IfhewasstarvingtomorrowhewouldbethelastmaninEnglandtomakeawaywithhimself——heistoogreatawretch——heistoovicious——heistoolosttoallsenseofrespectability——heistoomuchofadiscredittohisfamily。Takemeaway!Givemeyourarmdirectly!Itoldyounottogonearhimfromthefirst。

Thisiswhatcomesofyourhorridfondnessformoney。SupposeLadyMalkinshawdoesoutlivehim；supposeIdolosemylegacy。

Whatisthreethousandpoundstoyou？Mydressisruined。Myshawl"sspoiled。_He_die!IftheoldwomanlivestotheageofMethuselah，hewon"tdie。Givemeyourarm。No!Gotomyfather。

Iwantmedicaladvice。Mynervesaretorntopieces。Imgiddy，faint，sick——SICK，Mr。Batterbury!"

Hereshebecamehysterical，andvanished，leavingamixedodorofmuskandturpentinebehindher，whichpreservedthememoryofhervisitfornearlyaweekafterward。

"Anothersceneinthedramaofmylifeseemslikelytocloseinbeforelong，"thoughtI。"Nochancenowofgettingmyamiablesistertopatronizestrugglinggenius。DoIknowofanybodyelsewhowillsittome？No，notasoul。Havingthusnoportraitsofotherpeopletopaint，whatisitmyduty，asaneglectedartist，todonext？Clearlytotakeaportraitofmyself。”

Ididso，makingmyownlikenessquiteapleasantrelieftotheuglinessofmybrother-in-law"s。ItwasmyintentiontosendbothportraitstotheRoyalAcademyExhibition，togetcustom，andshowthepublicgenerallywhatIcoulddo。IknewtheinstitutionwithwhichIhadtodeal，andcalledmyownlikeness，PortraitofaNobleman。

Thatdexterousappealtothetenderestfeelingsofmydistinguishedcountrymenverynearlysucceeded。TheportraitofMr。Batterbury(muchthemorecarefully-paintedpictureofthetwo)wassummarilyturnedout。ThePortraitofaNoblemanwaspolitelyreservedtobehungup，iftheRoyalAcademicianscouldpossiblyfindroomforit。Theycouldnot。Sothatpicturealsovanishedbackintotheobscurityoftheartist"seasel。Weakandwell-meaningpeoplewouldhavedespondedunderthesecircumstances；butyourgenuineRogueisamanofelastictemperament，noteasilycompressibleunderanypressureofdisaster。IsenttheportraitofMr。Batterburytothehouseofthatdistinguishedpatron，andthePortraitofaNoblemantothePawnbroker"s。AfterthisIhadplentyofelbow-roominthestudio，andcouldwalkupanddownbriskly，smokingmypipe，andthinkingaboutwhatIshoulddonext。

Ihadobservedthatthegenerousfriendandvagabondbrotherartist，whoselodgerInowwas，neverseemedtobeinabsolutewantofmoney；andyetthewallsofhisstudioinformedmethatnobodyboughthispictures。Therehungallhisgreatworks，rejectedbytheRoyalAcademy，andneglectedbythepatronsofArt；andthere，nevertheless，washe，blithelyplyingthebrush；

notrich，itistrue，butcertainlyneverwithoutmoneyenoughinhispocketforthesupplyofallhismodestwants。Wheredidhefindhisresources？Ideterminedtoaskhimthequestiontheverynexttimehecametothestudio。

"Dick，"Isaid(wecalledeachotherbyourChristiannames)，"wheredoyougetyourmoney？"

"Frank，"heanswered，"whatmakesyouaskthatquestion？"

"Necessity，"Iproceeded。"Mystockofmoneyisdecreasing，andI

don"tknowhowtoreplenishit。Mypictureshavebeenturnedoutoftheexhibition-rooms；nobodycomestosittome；Ican"tmakeafarthing；andImusttryanotherlineintheArts，orleaveyourstudio。Weareoldfriendsnow。I"vepaidyouhonestlyweekbyweek；andifyoucanobligeme，Ithinkyouought。Youearnmoneysomehow。Whycan"tI？"

"Areyouatallparticular？"askedDick。

"Notintheleast，"Ianswered。

Dicknodded，andlookedpleased；handedmemyhat，andputonhisown。

"YouarejustthesortofmanIlike，"heremarked，"andIwouldsoonertrustyouthananyoneelseIknow。YouaskhowIcontrivetoearnmoney，seeingthatallmypicturesarestillinmyownpossession。Mydearfellow，whenevermypocketsareempty，andI

wantaten-poundnotetoputintothem，ImakeanOldMaster。”

Istaredhardathim，notatfirstquiteunderstandingwhathemeant。

"TheOldMasterIcanmakebest，"continuedDick，"isClaudeLorraine，whomyoumayhaveheardofoccasionallyasafamouspainterofclassicallandscapes。Idon"texactlyknow(hehasbeendeadsolong)howmanypicturesheturnedout，fromfirsttolast；butwewillsay，forthesakeofargument，fivehundred。

Notfiveoftheseareofferedforsale，perhaps，inthecourseoffiveyears。Enlightenedcollectorsofoldpicturespourintothemarketbyfifties，whilegenuinespecimensofClaude，orofanyotherOldMasteryouliketomention，onlydribbleinbyonesandtwos。Underthesecircumstances，whatistobedone？Areunoffendingownersofgalleriestobesubjectedtodisappointment？OraretheworksofClaude，andtheotherfellows，tobebenevolentlyincreasedinnumber，tosupplythewantsofpersonsoftasteandquality？Nomanofhumanitybutmustleantothelatteralternative。Thecollectors，observe，don"tknowanythingaboutit——theybuyClaude(totakeaninstancefrommyownpractice)astheybuyalltheotherOldMasters，becauseofhisreputation，notbecauseofthepleasuretheygetfromhisworks。Givethemapicturewithagoodlargeruin，fancytrees，prancingnymphs，andawaterysky；dirtyitdowndexterouslytotherightpitch；putitinanoldframe；callitaClaude；andthesphereoftheOldMasterisenlarged，thecollectorisdelighted，thepicture-dealerisenriched，andtheneglectedmodernartistclapsajoyfulhandonawell-filledpocket。SomemenhaveaknackatmakingRembrandts，othershaveaturnforRaphaels，Titians，Cuyps，Watteaus，andtherestofthem。Anyhow，weareallmadehappy——allpleasedwitheachother——allbenefitedalike。Kindnessispropagatedandmoneyisdispersed。Comealong，myboy，andmakeanOldMaster!"

CHAPTERV。

HEledthewayintothestreetashespoke。Ifelttheirresistibleforceofhislogic。Isympathizedwiththeardentphilanthropyofhismotives。IburnedwithanobleambitiontoextendthesphereoftheOldMasters。Inshort，Itookthetideattheflood，andfollowedDick。

Weplungedintosomeby-streets，struckoffsharpintoacourt，andenteredahousebyabackdoor。Alittleoldgentlemaninablackvelvetdressing-gownmetusinthepassage。Dickinstantlypresentedme:"Mr。FrankSoftly——Mr。IshmaelPickup。”Thelittleoldgentlemanstaredatmedistrustfully。IbowedtohimwiththatinexorablepolitenesswhichIfirstlearnedundertheinstructivefistofGentlemanJones，andwhichnoforceofadversecircumstanceshaseveravailedtomitigateinafterlife。

Mr。IshmaelPickupfollowedmylead。Thereisnottheleastneedtodescribehim——hewasaJew。

"Gointothefrontshow-room，andlookatthepictures，whileI

speaktoMr。Pickup，"saidDick，familiarlythrowingopenadoor，andpushingmeintoakindofgallerybeyond。Ifoundmyselfquitealone，surroundedbymodern-antiquepicturesofallschoolsandsizes，ofalldegreesofdirtanddullness，withallthenamesofallthefamousOldMasters，fromTitiantoTeniers，inscribedontheirframes。A"pearlylittlegem，"byClaude，withaticketmarked"Sold"stuckintotheframe，particularlyattractedmyattention。ItwasDick"slastten-poundjob；anditdidcredittotheyouthfulmaster"sabilitiesasaworkman-likemakerofClaudes。

Ihavebeeninformedthat，sincethetimeofwhichIamwriting，thebusinessofgentlemenofMr。Pickup"sclasshasratherfallenoff，andthattherearedealersinpictures，nowadays，whoareasjustandhonorablemenascanbefoundinanyprofessionorcalling，anywhereunderthesun。Thischange，whichIreportwithsincerityandreflectonwithamazement，is，asIsuspect，mainlytheresultofcertainwholesalemodernimprovementsinthepositionofcontemporaryArt，whichhavenecessitatedimprovementsandalterationsinthebusinessofpicture-dealing。

Inmytime，theencouragersofmodernpaintingwerelimitedinnumbertoafewnoblemenandgentlemenofancientlineage，who，inmattersoftaste，atleast，neverpresumedtothinkforthemselves。Theyeitherinheritedorboughtagallerymoreorlessfullofoldpictures。Itwasasmuchapartoftheireducationtoputtheirfaithintheseonhearsayevidence，astoputtheirfaithinKing，LordsandCommons。Itwasanarticleoftheircreedtobelievethatthedeadpainterswerethegreatmen，andthatthemorethelivingpaintersimitatedthedead，thebetterwastheirchanceofbecomingatsomefutureday，andinaminordegree，greatalso。Atcertaintimesandseasons，thesenoblemenandgentlemenself-distrustfullystrayedintothepainting-roomofamodernartist，self-distrustfullyallowedthemselvestoberatherattractedbyhispictures，self-distrustfullyboughtoneortwoofthematpriceswhichwouldappearsoincrediblylow，inthesedays，thatIreallycannotventuretoquotethem。Thepicturewassenthome；thenoblemanorgentleman(almostalwaysanamiableandahospitableman)wouldasktheartisttohishouseandintroducehimtothedistinguishedindividualswhofrequentedit；butwouldneveradmithispicture，ontermsofequality，intothesocietyevenofthesecond-rateOldMasters。Hisworkwashungupinanyout-of-the-waycornerofthegallerythatcouldbefound；ithadbeenboughtunderprotest；itwasadmittedbysufferance；itsfreshnessandbrightnessdamageditterriblybycontrastwiththedirtinessandthedinginessofitselderlypredecessors；anditsonlypointsselectedforpraisewerethoseinwhichitmostnearlyresembledthepeculiarmannerismofsomeOldMaster，notthoseinwhichitresembledthecharacteristicsoftheoldmistress——Nature。

Theunfortunateartisthadnocourtofappealthathecouldturnto。Nobodybeneaththenobleman，orthegentlemanofancientlineage，somuchasthoughtofbuyingamodernpicture。NobodydaredtowhisperthattheArtofpaintinghadinanywisebeenimprovedorworthilyenlargedinitsspherebyanymodernprofessors。Foronenoblemanwhowasreadytobuyonegenuinemodernpictureatasmallprice，thereweretwentynoblemenreadytobuytwentymorethandoubtfuloldpicturesatgreatprices。

Theconsequencewas，thatsomeofthemostfamousartistsoftheEnglishschool，whosepicturesarenowboughtatauctionsalesforfabuloussums，werethenhardlyabletomakeanincome。Theywereascrupulouslypatientandconscientiousbodyofmen，whowouldassoonhavethoughtofbreakingintoahouse，orequalizingthedistributionofwealth，onthehighway，bythesimplemachineryofahorseandpistol，asofmakingOldMasterstoorder。Theysatresignedlyintheirlonelystudios，surroundedbyunsoldpictureswhichhavesincebeencoveredagainandagainwithgoldandbank-notesbyeagerbuyersatauctionsandshow-rooms，whosemoneyhasgoneintootherthanthepainter"spockets——whohaveneverdreamedthatthepainterhadthesmallestmoralrighttoafarthingofit。Yearafteryear，thesemartyrsofthebrushstood，paletteinhand，fightingtheoldbattleofindividualmeritagainstcontemporarydullness——fightingbravely，patiently，independently；andleavingtoMr。Pickupandhispupilsacompletemonopolyofalltheprofitwhichcouldbeextracted，intheirlineofbusiness，fromthefeebly-buttonedpocketofthepatron，andtheinexhaustiblecredulityoftheconnoisseur。

Nowallthisischanged。Tradersandmakersofallkindsofcommoditieshaveeffectedarevolutioninthepicture-world，neverdreamedofbythenoblemenandgentlemenofancientlineage，andconsistentlyprotestedagainsttothisdaybytheveryfewofthemwhostillremainalive。

Thedaringinnovatorsstartedwiththenewnotionofbuyingapicturewhichtheythemselvescouldadmireandappreciate，andforthegenuinenessofwhichtheartistwasstilllivingtovouch。Theseroughandreadycustomerswerenottobeledbyrulesorfrightenedbyprecedents；theywerenottobeeasilyimposedupon，forthearticletheywantedwasnottobeeasilycounterfeited。Sturdilyholdingtotheirownopinions，theythoughtincessantrepetitionsofSaints，Martyrs，andHolyFamilies，monotonousanduninteresting——andsaidso。TheythoughtlittlepicturesofuglyDutchwomenscouringpots，anddrunkenDutchmenplayingcards，dirtyanddearattheprice——andsaidso。

Theysawthattreesweregreeninnature，andbrownintheOldMasters，andtheythoughtthelattercolornotanimprovementontheformer——andsaidso。Theywantedinterestingsubjects；

variety，resemblancetonature；genuinenessofthearticle，andfreshpaint；theyhadnoancestorswhosefeelings，asfoundersofgalleries，itwasnecessarytoconsult；nocriticalgentlemenandwritersofvaluableworkstosnubthemwhentheywereinspirits；

nothingtoleadthembythenosebuttheirownshrewdness，theirowninterests，andtheirowntastes——sotheyturnedtheirbacksvaliantlyontheOldMasters，andmarchedoffinabodytothelivingmen。

Fromthattimegoodmodernpictureshaveriseninthescale。Evenasarticlesofcommerceandsafeinvestmentsformoney，theyhavenow(assomedisinterestedcollectorswhodineatcertainannualdinnersIknowof，cantestify)distancedtheoldpicturesintherace。Themodernpainterswhohavesurvivedthebruntofthebattle，havelivedtoseepicturesforwhichtheyonceaskedhundreds，sellingforthousands，andtheyounggenerationmakingincomesbythebrushinoneyear，whichitwouldhavecosttheoldheroesoftheeaseltentoaccumulate。TheposterityofMr。

Pickupstilldoatolerablestrokeofbusiness(makingbrightmodernmastersforthemarketwhichisgluttedwiththedingyoldmaterial)，andwill，probably，continuetothriveandmultiplyinthefuture:theonevenerableinstitutionofthisworldwhichwecansafelycountuponaslikelytolast，beingtheinstitutionofhumanfolly。Nevertheless，ifawisemanofthereformedtastewantsamodernpicture，thereareplacesforhimtogotonowwherehemaybesureofgettingitgenuine；where，iftheartistisnotalivetovouchforhiswork，thefactsatanyratehavenothadtimetodiewhichvouchforthedealerwhosellsit。Inmytimematterswereratherdifferent。Thepainters_we_throvebyhaddiedlongenoughagoforpedigreestogetconfused，andidentitiesdisputable；andifIhadbeendesirousofreallypurchasingagenuineOldMasterformyself——speakingasapracticalman——Idon"tknowwhereIshouldhavegonetoaskforone，orwhosejudgmentIcouldhavesafelyreliedontoguardmefrombeingcheated，beforeIboughtit。

Wearestoppingalongtimeinthepicture-gallery，youwillsay。

Iamverysorry——butwemuststayalittlelonger，forthesakeofalivingpicture，thegemofthecollection。

IwasstilladmiringMr。Pickup"sOldMasters，whenadirtylittleboyopenedthedoorofthegallery，andintroducedayounglady。

Myheart——fancymyhavingaheart!——gaveonegreatboundinme。I

recognizedthecharmingpersonwhomIhadfollowedinthestreet。

Herveilwasnotdownthistime。Allthebeautyofherlarge，soft，melancholy，browneyesbeamedonme。Herdelicatecomplexionbecamesuddenlysuffusedwithalovelyrosyflush。Hergloriousblackhair——no!Iwillmakeaneffort，Iwillsuppressmyecstasies。Letmeonlysaythatsheevidentlyrecognizedme。

Willyoubelieveit？——IfeltmyselfcoloringasIbowedtoher。I

neverblushedbeforeinmylife。Whataverycurioussensationitis!

Thehorridboyclaimedherattentionwithagrin。

"Master"sengaged，"hesaid。"Pleasetowaithere。”

"Idon"twishtodisturbMr。Pickup，"sheanswered。

Whatavoice!No!Iamdriftingbackintoecstasies:hervoicewasworthyofher——Isaynomore。

"Ifyouwillbesokindastoshowhimthis，"sheproceeded；"heknowswhatitis。Andpleasesay，myfatherisveryillandveryanxious。ItwillbequiteenoughifMr。Pickupwillonlysendmewordbyyou——YesorNo。”

Shegavetheboyanoblongslipofstampedpaper。Evidentlyapromissorynote。Anangelonearth，sentbyaninhumanfather，toaskaJewfordiscount!Monstrous!

Theboydisappearedwiththemessage。

Iseizedmyopportunityofspeakingtoher。Don"taskmewhatI

said!Neverbefore(orsince)haveItalkedsuchutternonsense，withsuchintenseearnestnessofpurposeandsuchimmeasurabledepthoffeeling。Doprayrememberwhatyousaidyourself，thefirsttimeyouhadthechanceofopeningyourheartto_your_

younglady。TheboyreturnedbeforeIhadhalfdone，andgaveherbacktheodiousdocument。

"Mr。Pickup"sverysorry，miss。Theansweris，No。”

Shelostallherlovelycolor，andsighed，andturnedaway。Asshepulleddownherveil，Isawthetearsinhereyes。Didthatpiteousspectaclepartiallydeprivemeofmysenses？Iactuallyentreatedhertoletmebeofsomeuse——asifIhadbeenanoldfriend，withmoneyenoughinmypockettodiscountthenotemyself。Shebroughtmebacktomysenseswiththeutmostgentleness。

"Iamafraidyouforget，sir，thatwearestrangers。

Good-morning。”

Ifollowedhertothedoor。Iaskedleavetocallonherfather，andsatisfyhimaboutmyselfandmyfamilyconnections。Sheonlyansweredthatherfatherwastooilltoseevisitors。Iwentoutwithherontothelanding。Sheturnedonmesharplyforthefirsttime。

"Youcanseeforyourself，sir，thatIamingreatdistress。I

appealtoyou，asagentleman，tospareme。”

IfyoustilldoubtwhetherIwasreallyinlove，letthefactsspeakforthemselves。Ihungmyhead，andlethergo。

WhenIreturnedalonetothepicture-gallery——whenIrememberedthatIhadnotevenhadthewittoimprovemyopportunitybydiscoveringhernameandaddress——Ididreallyandseriouslyaskmyselfifthesewerethefirstsymptomsofsofteningofthebrain。Igotup，andsatdownagain。I，themostaudaciousmanofmyageinLondon，hadbehavedlikeabashfulboy!OncemoreIhadlosther——andthistime，also，Ihadnobodybutmyselftoblameforit。

Thesemelancholymeditationswereinterruptedbytheappearanceofmyfriend，theartist，inthepicture-gallery。Heapproachedmeconfidentially，andspokeinamysteriouswhisper。

"Pickupissuspicious，"hesaid；"andIhavehadallthedifficultyintheworldtopaveyourwaysmoothlyforyouattheoutset。However，ifyoucancontrivetomakeasmallRembrandt，asaspecimen，youmayconsideryourselfemployedhereuntilfurthernotice。IamobligedtoparticularizeRembrandt，becauseheistheonlyOldMasterdisengagedatpresent。TheprofessionalgentlemanwhousedtodohimdiedtheotherdayintheFleet——hehadaturnforRembrandts，andcan"tbeeasilyreplaced。Doyouthinkyoucouldstepintohisshoes？It"sapeculiargift，likeanearformusic，oraturnformathematics。Ofcourseyouwillbeputuptothesimpleelementaryrules，andwillhavetheprofessionalgentleman"slastRembrandtasaguide；therestdepends，mydearfriend，onyourpowersofimitation。Don"tbediscouragedbyfailures，buttryagainandagain；andmindyouaredirtyanddarkenough。YouhaveheardagreatdealaboutthelightandshadeofRembrandt——Rememberalwaysthat，inyourcase，lightmeansduskyyellow，andshadedenseblack；rememberthat，and——"

"Nopay，"saidthevoiceofMr。Pickupbehindme；"nopay，mydear，unleshyourRembrandtishgoodenoughtotakemein——evenme，Ishmael，whodealshinpictershandknowshwhat"shwhat。”

WhatdidIcareaboutRembrandtatthatmoment？Iwasthinkingofmylostyounglady；andIshouldprobablyhavetakennonoticeofMr。Pickup，ifithadnotoccurredtomethattheoldwretchmustknowherfather"snameandaddress。Iatonceputthequestion。

TheJewgrinned，andshookhisgrislyhead。"Herfather"shindifficultiesh，andmum"stheword，mydear。”Tothatanswerheadhered，inspiteofallthatIcouldsaytohim。

WithequalobstinacyIdetermined，soonerorlater，togetmyinformation。

ItookserviceunderMr。Pickup，purposingtomakemyselfessentialtohisprosperity，inacommercialsense——andthentothreatenhimwithofferingmyservicestoarivalmanufacturerofOldMasters，unlesshetrustedmewiththesecretofthenameandaddress。Myplanlookedpromisingenoughatthetime。But，assomewisepersonhassaid，Manisthesportofcircumstances。Mr。

PickupandIpartedcompanyunexpectedly，oncompulsion。And，ofallthepeopleintheworld，mygrandmother，LadyMalkinshaw，wastheunconsciousfirstcauseoftheeventswhichbroughtmeandthebelovedobjecttogetheragain，forthethirdtime!

CHAPTERVI。

ONthenextday，IwasintroducedtotheJew"sworkshop，andtotheeminentgentlemenoccupyingit。MymodelRembrandtwasputbeforeme；thesimpleelementaryruleswereexplained；andmymaterialswereallplacedundermyhands。

RegardfortheloversoftheOldMasters，andforthemoralwell-beingofsociety，forbidsmetobeparticularaboutthenatureofmylabors，ortogointodangerousdetailonthesubjectofmyfirstfailuresandmysubsequentsuccess。Imay，however，harmlesslyadmitthatmyRembrandtwastobeofthesmallorcabinetsize，andthat，astherewasarunonBurgomastersjustthen，mysubjectwasnaturallytobeoftheBurgomastersort。Threepartsofmypictureconsistedentirelyofdifferentshadesofdirtybrownandblack；thefourthbeingcomposedofarayofyellowlightfallinguponthewrinkledfaceofatreacle-coloredoldman。Adimglimpseofahand，andafaintsuggestionofsomethinglikeabrasswashhandbasin，completedthejob，whichgavegreatsatisfactiontoMr。

Pickup，andwhichwasdescribedinthecatalogueas——

"ABurgomasteratBreakfast。OriginallyinthecollectionofMynheerVanGrubb。Amsterdam。Arareexampleofthemaster。Notengraved。Thechiar"oscurointhisextraordinaryworkisofatrulysublimecharacter。Price，TwoHundredGuineas。”

Igotfivepoundsforit。IsupposeMr。Pickupgotone-ninety-five。

Thiswasperhapsnotveryencouragingasabeginning，inapecuniarypointofview。ButIwastogetfivepoundsmore，ifmyRembrandtsoldwithinagiventime。Itsoldaweekafteritwasinafitstatetobetrustedintheshowroom。Igotmymoney，andbeganenthusiasticallyonanotherRembrandt——"ABurgomaster"sWifePokingtheFire。”Lasttime，thechiar"oscuroofthemasterhadbeenyellowandblack，thistimeitwastoberedandblack。

IwasjustonthepointofforcingmywayintoMr。Pickup"sconfidence，asIhadresolved，whenacatastrophehappened，whichshutuptheshopandabruptlyterminatedmyexperienceasamakerofOldMasters。

"TheBurgomaster"sBreakfast"hadbeensoldtoanewcustomer，avenerableconnoisseur，blessedwithagreatfortuneandalargepicture-gallery。Theoldgentlemanwasinraptureswiththepicture——withitstone，withitsbreadth，withitsgrandfeelingforeffect，withitssimpletreatmentofdetail。Itwantednothing，inhisopinion，butalittlecleaning。Mr。Pickupknewtherawandticklishstateofthesurface，however，fartoowell，toallowofevenanattemptatperformingthisprocess，andsolemnlyasserted，thathewasacquaintedwithnocleansingpreparationwhichcouldbeusedontheRembrandtwithoutdangerof"flayingoffthelastexquisiteglazingsoftheimmortalmaster"sbrush。”TheoldgentlemanwasquitesatisfiedwiththisreasonfornotcleaningtheBurgomaster，andtookawayhispurchaseinhisowncarriageonthespot。

Forthreeweeksweheardnothingmoreofhim。Attheendofthattime，aHebrewfriendofMr。Pickup，employedinalawyer"soffice，terrifiedusallbytheinformationthatagentlemanrelatedtoourvenerableconnoisseurhadseentheRembrandt，hadpronouncedittobeanimpudentcounterfeit，andhadengagedonhisownaccounttohavethepicturetestedinacourtoflaw，andtochargethesellerandmakerthereofwithconspiringtoobtainmoneyunderfalsepretenses。Mr。PickupandIlookedateachotherwithveryblankfacesonreceivingthisagreeablepieceofnews。Whatwastobedone？Irecoveredthefulluseofmyfacultiesfirst；andIwasthemanwhosolvedthatimportantanddifficultquestion，whiletherestwerestillutterlybewilderedbyit。"WillyoupromisemefiveandtwentypoundsinthepresenceofthesegentlemenifIgetyououtofthisscrape？"