第2章

ThecasewasworsewiththeMajor——nothingIcoulddowouldkeepHIM

down，sothathebecameusefulonlyfortherepresentationofbrawnygiants。Iadoredvarietyandrange，Icherishedhumanaccidents，theillustrativenote；Iwantedtocharacteriseclosely，andthethingintheworldImosthatedwasthedangerofbeingriddenbyatype。I

hadquarrelledwithsomeofmyfriendsaboutit——IhadpartedcompanywiththemformaintainingthatoneHADtobe，andthatifthetypewasbeautiful（witnessRaphaelandLeonardo），theservitudewasonlyagain。IwasneitherLeonardonorRaphael；Imightonlybeapresumptuousyoungmodernsearcher，butIheldthateverythingwastobesacrificedsoonerthancharacter。WhentheyaverredthatthehauntingtypeinquestioncouldeasilyBEcharacter，Iretorted，perhapssuperficially:"Whose？"Itcouldn’tbeeverybody’s——itmightendinbeingnobody’s。

AfterIhaddrawnMrs。MonarchadozentimesIperceivedmoreclearlythanbeforethatthevalueofsuchamodelasMissChurmresidedpreciselyinthefactthatshehadnopositivestamp，combinedofcoursewiththeotherfactthatwhatshedidhavewasacuriousandinexplicabletalentforimitation。Herusualappearancewaslikeacurtainwhichshecoulddrawupatrequestforacapitalperformance。

Thisperformancewassimplysuggestive；butitwasawordtothewise——itwasvividandpretty。Sometimes，even，Ithoughtit，thoughshewasplainherself，tooinsipidlypretty；Imadeitareproachtoherthatthefiguresdrawnfromherweremonotonously（betement，asweusedtosay）graceful。Nothingmadehermoreangry:itwassomuchherpridetofeelthatshecouldsitforcharactersthathadnothingincommonwitheachother。Shewouldaccusemeatsuchmomentsoftakingawayher"reputytion。"

Itsufferedacertainshrinkage，thisqueerquantity，fromtherepeatedvisitsofmynewfriends。MissChurmwasgreatlyindemand，neverinwantofemployment，soIhadnoscrupleinputtingheroffoccasionally，totrythemmoreatmyease。Itwascertainlyamusingatfirsttodotherealthing——itwasamusingtodoMajorMonarch’strousers。TheyWEREtherealthing，evenifhedidcomeoutcolossal。Itwasamusingtodohiswife’sbackhair（itwassomathematicallyneat，）andtheparticular"smart"tensionofhertightstays。Shelentherselfespeciallytopositionsinwhichthefacewassomewhatavertedorblurred；sheaboundedinlady—likebackviewsandprofilsperdus。Whenshestooderectshetooknaturallyoneoftheattitudesinwhichcourt—paintersrepresentqueensandprincesses；sothatIfoundmyselfwonderingwhether，todrawoutthisaccomplishment，Icouldn’tgettheeditoroftheCheapsidetopublishareallyroyalromance，"ATaleofBuckinghamPalace。"

Sometimes，however，therealthingandthemake—believecameintocontact；bywhichImeanthatMissChurm，keepinganappointmentorcomingtomakeoneondayswhenIhadmuchworkinhand，encounteredherinvidiousrivals。Theencounterwasnotontheirpart，fortheynoticedhernomorethanifshehadbeenthehousemaid；notfromintentionalloftiness，butsimplybecause，asyet，professionally，theydidn’tknowhowtofraternise，asIcouldguessthattheywouldhaveliked——oratleastthattheMajorwould。Theycouldn’ttalkabouttheomnibus——theyalwayswalked；andtheydidn’tknowwhatelsetotry——shewasn’tinterestedingoodtrainsorcheapclaret。

Besides，theymusthavefelt——intheair——thatshewasamusedatthem，secretlyderisiveoftheireverknowinghow。Shewasnotapersontoconcealherscepticismifshehadhadachancetoshowit。

OntheotherhandMrs。Monarchdidn’tthinkhertidy；forwhyelsedidshetakepainstosaytome（itwasgoingoutoftheway，forMrs。Monarch），thatshedidn’tlikedirtywomen？

Onedaywhenmyyoungladyhappenedtobepresentwithmyothersitters（sheevendroppedin，whenitwasconvenient，forachat），I

askedhertobesogoodastolendahandingettingtea——aservicewithwhichshewasfamiliarandwhichwasoneofaclassthat，livingasIdidinasmallway，withslenderdomesticresources，Ioftenappealedtomymodelstorender。Theylikedtolayhandsonmyproperty，tobreakthesitting，andsometimesthechina——ImadethemfeelBohemian。ThenexttimeIsawMissChurmafterthisincidentshesurprisedmegreatlybymakingasceneaboutit——sheaccusedmeofhavingwishedtohumiliateher。Shehadnotresentedtheoutrageatthetime，buthadseemedobligingandamused，enjoyingthecomedyofaskingMrs。Monarch，whosatvagueandsilent，whethershewouldhavecreamandsugar，andputtinganexaggeratedsimperintothequestion。Shehadtriedintonations——asifshetoowishedtopassfortherealthing；tillIwasafraidmyothervisitorswouldtakeoffence。

Oh，THEYweredeterminednottodothis；andtheirtouchingpatiencewasthemeasureoftheirgreatneed。Theywouldsitbythehour，uncomplaining，tillIwasreadytousethem；theywouldcomebackonthechanceofbeingwantedandwouldwalkawaycheerfullyiftheywerenot。Iusedtogotothedoorwiththemtoseeinwhatmagnificentordertheyretreated。Itriedtofindotheremploymentforthem——Iintroducedthemtoseveralartists。Buttheydidn’t"take，"forreasonsIcouldappreciate，andIbecameconscious，ratheranxiously，thataftersuchdisappointmentstheyfellbackuponmewithaheavierweight。TheydidmethehonourtothinkthatitwasIwhowasmostTHEIRform。Theywerenotpicturesqueenoughforthepainters，andinthosedaystherewerenotsomanyseriousworkersinblackandwhite。Besides，theyhadaneyetothegreatjobIhadmentionedtothem——theyhadsecretlysettheirheartsonsupplyingtherightessenceformypictorialvindicationofourfinenovelist。TheyknewthatforthisundertakingIshouldwantnocostume—effects，noneofthefripperyofpastages——thatitwasacaseinwhicheverythingwouldbecontemporaryandsatiricaland，presumably，genteel。IfIcouldworkthemintoittheirfuturewouldbeassured，forthelabourwouldofcoursebelongandtheoccupationsteady。

OnedayMrs。Monarchcamewithoutherhusband——sheexplainedhisabsencebyhishavinghadtogototheCity。Whileshesatthereinherusualanxiousstiffnesstherecame，atthedoor，aknockwhichI

immediatelyrecognisedasthesubduedappealofamodeloutofwork。

ItwasfollowedbytheentranceofayoungmanwhomIeasilyperceivedtobeaforeignerandwhoprovedinfactanItalianacquaintedwithnoEnglishwordbutmyname，whichheutteredinawaythatmadeitseemtoincludeallothers。Ihadnotthenvisitedhiscountry，norwasIproficientinhistongue；butashewasnotsomeanlyconstituted——whatItalianis？——astodependonlyonthatmemberforexpressionheconveyedtome，infamiliarbutgracefulmimicry，thathewasinsearchofexactlytheemploymentinwhichtheladybeforemewasengaged。Iwasnotstruckwithhimatfirst，andwhileIcontinuedtodrawIemittedroughsoundsofdiscouragementanddismissal。Hestoodhisground，however，notimportunately，butwithadumb，dog—likefidelityinhiseyeswhichamountedtoinnocentimpudence——themannerofadevotedservant（hemighthavebeeninthehouseforyears），unjustlysuspected。SuddenlyIsawthatthisveryattitudeandexpressionmadeapicture，whereuponItoldhimtositdownandwaittillIshouldbefree。Therewasanotherpictureinthewayheobeyedme，andIobservedasIworkedthattherewereothersstillinthewayhelookedwonderingly，withhisheadthrownback，aboutthehighstudio。HemighthavebeencrossinghimselfinSt。Peter’s。BeforeIfinishedIsaidtomyself:"Thefellow’sabankruptorange—monger，buthe’satreasure。"

WhenMrs。Monarchwithdrewhepassedacrosstheroomlikeaflashtoopenthedoorforher，standingtherewiththerapt，puregazeoftheyoungDantespellboundbytheyoungBeatrice。AsIneverinsisted，insuchsituations，ontheblanknessoftheBritishdomestic，I

reflectedthathehadthemakingofaservant（andIneededone，butcouldn’tpayhimtobeonlythat），aswellasofamodel；inshortI

madeupmymindtoadoptmybrightadventurerifhewouldagreetoofficiateinthedoublecapacity。Hejumpedatmyoffer，andintheeventmyrashness（forIhadknownnothingabouthim），wasnotbroughthometome。Heprovedasympatheticthoughadesultoryministrant，andhadinawonderfuldegreethesentimentdelapose。

Itwasuncultivated，instinctive；apartofthehappyinstinctwhichhadguidedhimtomydoorandhelpedhimtospelloutmynameonthecardnailedtoit。Hehadhadnootherintroductiontomethanaguess，fromtheshapeofmyhighnorthwindow，seenoutside，thatmyplacewasastudioandthatasastudioitwouldcontainanartist。

HehadwanderedtoEnglandinsearchoffortune，likeotheritinerants，andhadembarked，withapartnerandasmallgreenhandcart，onthesaleofpennyices。Theiceshadmeltedawayandthepartnerhaddissolvedintheirtrain。MyyoungmanworetightyellowtrouserswithreddishstripesandhisnamewasOronte。Hewassallowbutfair，andwhenIputhimintosomeoldclothesofmyownhelookedlikeanEnglishman。HewasasgoodasMissChurm，whocouldlook，whenrequired，likeanItalian。

CHAPTERIV。

IthoughtMrs。Monarch’sfaceslightlyconvulsedwhen，onhercomingbackwithherhusband，shefoundOronteinstalled。ItwasstrangetohavetorecogniseinascrapofalazzaroneacompetitortohermagnificentMajor。Itwasshewhoscenteddangerfirst，fortheMajorwasanecdoticallyunconscious。ButOrontegaveustea，withahundredeagerconfusions（hehadneverseensuchaqueerprocess），andIthinkshethoughtbetterofmeforhavingatlastan"establishment。"TheysawacoupleofdrawingsthatIhadmadeoftheestablishment，andMrs。Monarchhintedthatitneverwouldhavestruckherthathehadsatforthem。"NowthedrawingsyoumakefromUS，theylookexactlylikeus，"sheremindedme，smilingintriumph；

andIrecognisedthatthiswasindeedjusttheirdefect。WhenIdrewtheMonarchsIcouldn’t，somehow，getawayfromthem——getintothecharacterIwantedtorepresent；andIhadnottheleastdesiremymodelshouldbediscoverableinmypicture。MissChurmneverwas，andMrs。MonarchthoughtIhidher，veryproperly，becauseshewasvulgar；whereasifshewaslostitwasonlyasthedeadwhogotoheavenarelost——inthegainofanangelthemore。

BythistimeIhadgotacertainstartwith"RutlandRamsay，"thefirstnovelinthegreatprojectedseries；thatisIhadproducedadozendrawings，severalwiththehelpoftheMajorandhiswife，andIhadsenttheminforapproval。Myunderstandingwiththepublishers，asIhavealreadyhinted，hadbeenthatIwastobelefttodomywork，inthisparticularcase，asIliked，withthewholebookcommittedtome；butmyconnectionwiththerestoftheserieswasonlycontingent。Thereweremomentswhen，frankly，itWASacomforttohavetherealthingunderone’shand；fortherewerecharactersin"RutlandRamsay"thatwereverymuchlikeit。TherewerepeoplepresumablyasstraightastheMajorandwomenofasgoodafashionasMrs。Monarch。Therewasagreatdealofcountry—houselife——treated，itistrue，inafine，fanciful，ironical，generalisedway——andtherewasaconsiderableimplicationofknickerbockersandkilts。TherewerecertainthingsIhadtosettleattheoutset；suchthingsforinstanceastheexactappearanceofthehero，theparticularbloomoftheheroine。Theauthorofcoursegavemealead，buttherewasamarginforinterpretation。ItooktheMonarchsintomyconfidence，ItoldthemfranklywhatIwasabout，Imentionedmyembarrassmentsandalternatives。"Oh，takeHIM！"Mrs。Monarchmurmuredsweetly，lookingatherhusband；and"Whatcouldyouwantbetterthanmywife？"theMajorinquired，withthecomfortablecandourthatnowprevailedbetweenus。

Iwasnotobligedtoanswertheseremarks——Iwasonlyobligedtoplacemysitters。Iwasnoteasyinmind，andIpostponed，alittletimidlyperhaps，thesolutionofthequestion。Thebookwasalargecanvas，theotherfigureswerenumerous，andIworkedoffatfirstsomeoftheepisodesinwhichtheheroandtheheroinewerenotconcerned。WhenonceIhadsetTHEMupIshouldhavetosticktothem——Icouldn’tmakemyyoungmansevenfeethighinoneplaceandfivefeetnineinanother。Iinclinedonthewholetothelattermeasurement，thoughtheMajormorethanonceremindedmethatHE

lookedaboutasyoungasanyone。Itwasindeedquitepossibletoarrangehim，forthefigure，sothatitwouldhavebeendifficulttodetecthisage。AfterthespontaneousOrontehadbeenwithmeamonth，andafterIhadgivenhimtounderstandseveraldifferenttimesthathisnativeexuberancewouldpresentlyconstituteaninsurmountablebarriertoourfurtherintercourse，Iwakedtoasenseofhisheroiccapacity。Hewasonlyfivefeetseven，buttheremainingincheswerelatent。Itriedhimalmostsecretlyatfirst，forIwasreallyratherafraidofthejudgmentmyothermodelswouldpassonsuchachoice。IftheyregardedMissChurmaslittlebetterthanasnare，whatwouldtheythinkoftherepresentationbyapersonsolittletherealthingasanItalianstreet—vendorofaprotagonistformedbyapublicschool？

IfIwentalittleinfearofthemitwasnotbecausetheybulliedme，becausetheyhadgotanoppressivefoothold，butbecauseintheirreallypatheticdecorumandmysteriouslypermanentnewnesstheycountedonmesointensely。IwasthereforeverygladwhenJackHawleycamehome:hewasalwaysofsuchgoodcounsel。Hepaintedbadlyhimself，buttherewasnoonelikehimforputtinghisfingerontheplace。HehadbeenabsentfromEnglandforayear；hehadbeensomewhere——Idon’trememberwhere——togetafresheye。Iwasinagooddealofdreadofanysuchorgan，butwewereoldfriends；hehadbeenawayformonthsandasenseofemptinesswascreepingintomylife。Ihadn’tdodgedamissileforayear。

Hecamebackwithafresheye，butwiththesameoldblackvelvetblouse，andthefirsteveninghespentinmystudiowesmokedcigarettestillthesmallhours。Hehaddonenoworkhimself，hehadonlygottheeye；sothefieldwasclearfortheproductionofmylittlethings。HewantedtoseewhatIhaddonefortheCheapside，buthewasdisappointedintheexhibition。Thatatleastseemedthemeaningoftwoorthreecomprehensivegroanswhich，asheloungedonmybigdivan，onafoldedleg，lookingatmylatestdrawings，issuedfromhislipswiththesmokeofthecigarette。

"What’sthematterwithyou？"Iasked。

"What’sthematterwithYOU？"

"NothingsavethatI’mmystified。"

"Youareindeed。You’requiteoffthehinge。What’sthemeaningofthisnewfad？"Andhetossedme，withvisibleirreverence，adrawinginwhichIhappenedtohavedepictedbothmymajesticmodels。I

askedifhedidn’tthinkitgood，andherepliedthatitstruckhimasexecrable，giventhesortofthingIhadalwaysrepresentedmyselftohimaswishingtoarriveat；butIletthatpass，Iwassoanxioustoseeexactlywhathemeant。Thetwofiguresinthepicturelookedcolossal，butIsupposedthiswasNOTwhathemeant，inasmuchas，foraughtheknewtothecontrary，Imighthavebeentryingforthat。I

maintainedthatIwasworkingexactlyinthesamewayaswhenhelasthaddonemethehonourtocommendme。"Well，there’sabigholesomewhere，"heanswered；"waitabitandI’lldiscoverit。"I

dependeduponhimtodoso:whereelsewasthefresheye？Butheproducedatlastnothingmoreluminousthan"Idon’tknow——Idon’tlikeyourtypes。"Thiswaslame，foracriticwhohadneverconsentedtodiscusswithmeanythingbutthequestionofexecution，thedirectionofstrokesandthemysteryofvalues。

"Inthedrawingsyou’vebeenlookingatIthinkmytypesareveryhandsome。"

"Oh，theywon’tdo！"

"I’vehadacoupleofnewmodels。"

"Iseeyouhave。THEYwon’tdo。"

"Areyouverysureofthat？"

"Absolutely——they’restupid。"

"Youmean_I_am——forIoughttogetroundthat。"

"YouCAN’T——withsuchpeople。Whoarethey？"

Itoldhim，asfaraswasnecessary，andhedeclared，heartlessly:

"Cesontdesgensqu’ilfautmettrealaporte。"

"You’veneverseenthem；they’reawfullygood，"Icompassionatelyobjected。

"Notseenthem？Why，allthisrecentworkofyoursdropstopieceswiththem。It’sallIwanttoseeofthem。"

"Nooneelsehassaidanythingagainstit——theCheapsidepeoplearepleased。"

"Everyoneelseisanass，andtheCheapsidepeoplethebiggestassesofall。Come，don’tpretend，atthistimeofday，tohaveprettyillusionsaboutthepublic，especiallyaboutpublishersandeditors。

It’snotforSUCHanimalsyouwork——it’sforthosewhoknow，colorochesanno；sokeepstraightforMEifyoucan’tkeepstraightforyourself。There’sacertainsortofthingyoutriedforfromthefirst——andaverygoodthingitis。Butthistwaddleisn’tINit。"

WhenItalkedwithHawleylaterabout"RutlandRamsay"anditspossiblesuccessorshedeclaredthatImustgetbackintomyboatagainorIwouldgotothebottom。Hisvoiceinshortwasthevoiceofwarning。

Inotedthewarning，butIdidn’tturnmyfriendsoutofdoors。Theyboredmeagooddeal；buttheveryfactthattheyboredmeadmonishedmenottosacrificethem——iftherewasanythingtobedonewiththem—

—simplytoirritation。AsIlookbackatthisphasetheyseemtometohavepervadedmylifenotalittle。Ihaveavisionofthemasmostofthetimeinmystudio，seated，againstthewall，onanoldvelvetbenchtobeoutoftheway，andlookinglikeapairofpatientcourtiersinaroyalante—chamber。Iamconvincedthatduringthecoldestweeksofthewintertheyheldtheirgroundbecauseitsavedthemfire。Theirnewnesswaslosingitsgloss，anditwasimpossiblenottofeelthattheywereobjectsofcharity。WheneverMissChurmarrivedtheywentaway，andafterIwasfairlylaunchedin"RutlandRamsay"MissChurmarrivedprettyoften。TheymanagedtoexpresstometacitlythattheysupposedIwantedherforthelowlifeofthebook，andIletthemsupposeit，sincetheyhadattemptedtostudythework——itwaslyingaboutthestudio——withoutdiscoveringthatitdealtonlywiththehighestcircles。Theyhaddippedintothemostbrilliantofournovelistswithoutdecipheringmanypassages。I

stilltookanhourfromthem，nowandagain，inspiteofJackHawley’swarning:itwouldbetimeenoughtodismissthem，ifdismissalshouldbenecessary，whentherigouroftheseasonwasover。Hawleyhadmadetheiracquaintance——hehadmetthematmyfireside——andthoughtthemaridiculouspair。Learningthathewasapaintertheytriedtoapproachhim，toshowhimtoothattheyweretherealthing；buthelookedatthem，acrossthebigroom，asiftheyweremilesaway:theywereacompendiumofeverythingthathemostobjectedtointhesocialsystemofhiscountry。Suchpeopleasthat，allconventionandpatent—leather，withejaculationsthatstoppedconversation，hadnobusinessinastudio。Astudiowasaplacetolearntosee，andhowcouldyouseethroughapairoffeatherbeds？

ThemaininconvenienceIsufferedattheirhandswasthat，atfirst，Iwasshyoflettingthemdiscoverhowmyartfullittleservanthadbeguntosittomefor"RutlandRamsay。"TheyknewthatIhadbeenoddenough（theywerepreparedbythistimetoallowodditytoartists，）topickaforeignvagabondoutofthestreets，whenImighthavehadapersonwithwhiskersandcredentials；butitwassometimebeforetheylearnedhowhighIratedhisaccomplishments。Theyfoundhiminanattitudemorethanonce，buttheyneverdoubtedIwasdoinghimasanorgan—grinder。Therewereseveralthingstheyneverguessed，andoneofthemwasthatforastrikingsceneinthenovel，inwhichafootmanbrieflyfigured，itoccurredtometomakeuseofMajorMonarchasthemenial。Ikeptputtingthisoff，Ididn’tliketoaskhimtodonthelivery——besidesthedifficultyoffindingaliverytofithim。Atlast，onedaylateinthewinter，whenIwasatworkonthedespisedOronte（hecaughtone’sideainaninstant），andwasintheglowoffeelingthatIwasgoingverystraight，theycamein，theMajorandhiswife，withtheirsocietylaughaboutnothing（therewaslessandlesstolaughat），likecountry—callers——

theyalwaysremindedmeofthat——whohavewalkedacrosstheparkafterchurchandarepresentlypersuadedtostaytoluncheon。

Luncheonwasover，buttheycouldstaytotea——Iknewtheywantedit。

Thefitwasonme，however，andIcouldn’tletmyardourcoolandmyworkwait，withthefadingdaylight，whilemymodelpreparedit。SoIaskedMrs。Monarchifshewouldmindlayingitout——arequestwhich，foraninstant，broughtallthebloodtoherface。Hereyeswereonherhusband’sforasecond，andsomemutetelegraphypassedbetweenthem。Theirfollywasoverthenextinstant；hischeerfulshrewdnessputanendtoit。Sofarfrompityingtheirwoundedpride，Imustadd，IwasmovedtogiveitascompletealessonasI

could。Theybustledabouttogetherandgotoutthecupsandsaucersandmadethekettleboil。Iknowtheyfeltasiftheywerewaitingonmyservant，andwhentheteawaspreparedIsaid:"He’llhaveacup，please——he’stired。"Mrs。Monarchbroughthimonewherehestood，andhetookitfromherasifhehadbeenagentlemanataparty，squeezingacrush—hatwithanelbow。

Thenitcameovermethatshehadmadeagreateffortforme——madeitwithakindofnobleness——andthatIowedheracompensation。EachtimeIsawherafterthisIwonderedwhatthecompensationcouldbe。

Icouldn’tgoondoingthewrongthingtoobligethem。Oh，itWAS

thewrongthing，thestampoftheworkforwhichtheysat——Hawleywasnottheonlypersontosayitnow。IsentinalargenumberofthedrawingsIhadmadefor"RutlandRamsay，"andIreceivedawarningthatwasmoretothepointthanHawley’s。TheartisticadviserofthehouseforwhichIwasworkingwasofopinionthatmanyofmyillustrationswerenotwhathadbeenlookedfor。MostoftheseillustrationswerethesubjectsinwhichtheMonarchshadfigured。

WithoutgoingintothequestionofwhatHADbeenlookedfor，IsawatthisrateIshouldn’tgettheotherbookstodo。IhurledmyselfindespairuponMissChurm，Iputherthroughallherpaces。InotonlyadoptedOrontepubliclyasmyhero，butonemorningwhentheMajorlookedintoseeifIdidn’trequirehimtofinishafigurefortheCheapside，forwhichhehadbeguntosittheweekbefore，ItoldhimthatIhadchangedmymind——Iwoulddothedrawingfrommyman。Atthismyvisitorturnedpaleandstoodlookingatme。"IsHEyourideaofanEnglishgentleman？"heasked。

Iwasdisappointed，Iwasnervous，Iwantedtogetonwithmywork；

soIrepliedwithirritation:"Oh，mydearMajor——Ican’tberuinedforYOU！"

Hestoodanothermoment；then，withoutaword，hequittedthestudio。

Idrewalongbreathwhenhewasgone，forIsaidtomyselfthatI

shouldn’tseehimagain。IhadnottoldhimdefinitelythatIwasindangerofhavingmyworkrejected，butIwasvexedathisnothavingfeltthecatastropheintheair，readwithmethemoralofourfruitlesscollaboration，thelessonthat，inthedeceptiveatmosphereofart，eventhehighestrespectabilitymayfailofbeingplastic。

Ididn’towemyfriendsmoney，butIdidseethemagain。Theyre—

appearedtogether，threedayslater，andunderthecircumstancestherewassomethingtragicinthefact。Itwasaprooftomethattheycouldfindnothingelseinlifetodo。Theyhadthreshedthematteroutinadismalconference——theyhaddigestedthebadnewsthattheywerenotinfortheseries。IftheywerenotusefultomeevenfortheCheapsidetheirfunctionseemeddifficulttodetermine，andIcouldonlyjudgeatfirstthattheyhadcome，forgivingly，decorously，totakealastleave。ThismademerejoiceinsecretthatIhadlittleleisureforascene；forIhadplacedbothmyothermodelsinpositiontogetherandIwaspeggingawayatadrawingfromwhichIhopedtoderiveglory。IthadbeensuggestedbythepassageinwhichRutlandRamsay，drawingupachairtoArtemisia’spiano—

stool，saysextraordinarythingstoherwhilesheostensiblyfingersoutadifficultpieceofmusic。IhaddoneMissChurmatthepianobefore——itwasanattitudeinwhichsheknewhowtotakeonanabsolutelypoeticgrace。Iwishedthetwofiguresto"compose"

together，intensely，andmylittleItalianhadenteredperfectlyintomyconception。Thepairwerevividlybeforeme，thepianohadbeenpulledout；itwasacharmingpictureofblendedyouthandmurmuredlove，whichIhadonlytocatchandkeep。Myvisitorsstoodandlookedatit，andIwasfriendlytothemovermyshoulder。

Theymadenoresponse，butIwasusedtosilentcompanyandwentonwithmywork，onlyalittledisconcerted（eventhoughexhilaratedbythesensethatTHISwasatleasttheidealthing），atnothavinggotridofthemafterall。PresentlyIheardMrs。Monarch’ssweetvoicebeside，orratheraboveme:"Iwishherhairwasalittlebetterdone。"IlookedupandshewasstaringwithastrangefixednessatMissChurm，whosebackwasturnedtoher。"Doyoumindmyjusttouchingit？"shewenton——aquestionwhichmademespringupforaninstant，aswiththeinstinctivefearthatshemightdotheyoungladyaharm。ButshequietedmewithaglanceIshallneverforget——

IconfessIshouldliketohavebeenabletopaintTHAT——andwentforamomenttomymodel。Shespoketohersoftly，layingahanduponhershoulderandbendingoverher；andasthegirl，understanding，gratefullyassented，shedisposedherroughcurls，withafewquickpasses，insuchawayastomakeMissChurm’sheadtwiceascharming。

ItwasoneofthemostheroicpersonalservicesIhaveeverseenrendered。ThenMrs。Monarchturnedawaywithalowsighand，lookingaboutherasifforsomethingtodo，stoopedtothefloorwithanoblehumilityandpickedupadirtyragthathaddroppedoutofmypaint—box。

TheMajormeanwhilehadalsobeenlookingforsomethingtodoand，wanderingtotheotherendofthestudio，sawbeforehimmybreakfastthings，neglected，unremoved。"Isay，can’tIbeusefulHERE？"hecalledouttomewithanirrepressiblequaver。IassentedwithalaughthatIfearwasawkwardandforthenexttenminutes，whileI

worked，Iheardthelightclatterofchinaandthetinkleofspoonsandglass。Mrs。Monarchassistedherhusband——theywashedupmycrockery，theyputitaway。Theywanderedoffintomylittlescullery，andIafterwardsfoundthattheyhadcleanedmyknivesandthatmyslenderstockofplatehadanunprecedentedsurface。Whenitcameoverme，thelatenteloquenceofwhattheyweredoing，Iconfessthatmydrawingwasblurredforamoment——thepictureswam。Theyhadacceptedtheirfailure，buttheycouldn’taccepttheirfate。Theyhadbowedtheirheadsinbewildermenttotheperverseandcruellawinvirtueofwhichtherealthingcouldbesomuchlesspreciousthantheunreal；buttheydidn’twanttostarve。Ifmyservantsweremymodels，mymodelsmightbemyservants。Theywouldreversetheparts——theotherswouldsitfortheladiesandgentlemen，andTHEY

woulddothework。Theywouldstillbeinthestudio——itwasanintensedumbappealtomenottoturnthemout。"Takeuson，"theywantedtosay——"we’lldoANYTHING。"

Whenallthishungbeforemetheafflatusvanished——mypencildroppedfrommyhand。MysittingwasspoiledandIgotridofmysitters，whowerealsoevidentlyrathermystifiedandawestruck。Then，alonewiththeMajorandhiswife，Ihadamostuncomfortablemoment，Heputtheirprayerintoasinglesentence:"Isay，youknow——justletUSdoforyou，can’tyou？"Icouldn’t——itwasdreadfultoseethememptyingmyslops；butIpretendedIcould，toobligethem，foraboutaweek。ThenIgavethemasumofmoneytogoaway；andIneversawthemagain。Iobtainedtheremainingbooks，butmyfriendHawleyrepeatsthatMajorandMrs。Monarchdidmeapermanentharm，gotmeintoasecond—ratetrick。IfitbetrueIamcontenttohavepaidtheprice——forthememory。