第1章

Asmaybegatheredfromthefollowingpages,mytitlewasobtainedanumberofyearsago,andthestoryhassincebeentakingformandcolorinmymind.WhathasbecomeofthebeautifulbutdiscordantfaceIsawattheconcertgardenIdonotknow,butItrustthatthecountenanceitsuggested,anditschangesmaynotprovesovagueandunsatisfactoryastobeindistincttothereader.Ithaslookeduponthewriterduringthepastyearalmostlikethefaceofalivingmaiden,andIhavefelt,inawaythatwouldbehardtoexplain,thatIhavehadbutlittletodowithitsexpressions,andthatforcesandinfluencesoverwhichIhadnocontrolweremouldingcharacter.

Theoldgarden,andtheagedmanwhogrewyoungwithinit,arenotcreations,butsacredmemories.

ThatthebookmaytendtoennobleotherfacesthanthatofIdaMayhew,istheearnestwishofE.P.Roe.

Althoughthesunwasapproachingthehorizon,itsslantingraysfoundayoungartiststillbendingoverhiseasel.Thathisshouldersarebroadisapparentataglance;thatuponthemisplacedashapelyhead,wellthatchedwithcrispblackhair,isalsoseenatonce;thattheheadisnotanemptyoneisprovedbythepictureontheeasel,whichissufficientlyadvancedtoshowcorrectandspiriteddrawing.Abrainthatcandirectthehandhowtodoonethingwell,islikeageneralwhohasoccupiedastrategicpointwhichwillgivehimthevictoryifhefollowsuphisadvantage.

Aknockatthedoorisnotansweredatoncebytheintentandpreoccupiedartist,butitssharpandimpatientrepetitionsecurestheratherreluctantinvitation,"Comein,"andevenashespokehebentforwardtogiveanotherstroke.

"Sixo"clock,andworkingstill!"criedtheintruder."Youwillkeepthepaintmarketactive,ifyouachievenothingelseasanartist."

"Heigho!Ik,isthatyou?"saidheofthepalette,good-naturedly;

andrisingslowlyhegavealingeringlookathiswork,thenturnedandgreetedhisfriendwiththequietcordialityoflongandfamiliaracquaintance."Whatamarplotyouarewithyouridleways!"headded."Sitdownhereandmakeyourselfusefulforoncebydoingnothingnothingfortenminutes.IaminjustthemoodandhavejustthelightforabitofworkwhichperhapsIcanneverdoaswellagain,"andtheartistreturnedpromptlytohispicture.

Ingreetinghisfriendhehadrevealedthathewasabovemiddleheight,thathehadfullblackeyesthatwerenotonlygoodforseeing,butcouldalso,ifhechose,givegreatemphasistohiswords,andattimesbeevenmoreexpressive.Athickmustachecoveredhislip,buttherestofhisfacewascleanlyshaven,andwasstronganddecidedinitsoutlinesratherthanhandsome.

"Theysayawoman"sworkisneverdone,"remarkedIkStanton,droppingintotheeasiestchairinthestudio,"andforthisreason,weretherenoother,yourmuseisevidentlyofthefemininepersuasion.

Ialsoadmitthatsheisaladyofgreatantiquity.IndeedIwouldplacehernearertothetimewhen"AdamdelvedandEvespan"thantotheclassicage."

"MydearIk,"respondedtheartist,"IamoftenatalosstoknowwhetherIloveordespiseyoumost.Ifalittleofthewhirrofourgreatgrandam"sspinningwheelwouldonlygetintoyourbraintheworldmighthearfromyou.Youareamanofunboundedstomachandunboundedheart,andsoyouhavewonallthereisofmeexceptmyhead,andthatdisapprovesofyou."

"Afigfortheworld!whatgoodwillitdomeorittohaveithearfromme?youambitiousfellowsarealreadymakingsuchadinthatthepooroldworldishalfreadyforBedlam;andwouldgostarkmadwereitnotforusquiet,easy-goingpeople,whohavetimeforagooddinnerandasnackbetweenmeals.You"vegotageniusthat"slikeawindmillinatradewind,alwaysinmotion;youareworthmoremoneythanIshalleverhave,butyouarethegreatestdrudgeinthestudiobuilding,andworkasmanyhoursasahouse-painter."

"Whenyourbrainoncegetsinmotion,Ik,fictionwillbeitsnaturalproduct.YoumustadmitthatIhavenotpaintedmanypictures."

"ThatisoneofthethingsIcomplainof;I,yourbosomfriendandfamiliar,your,Imightadd,guardianangel——I,whohavesooftensavedyourlifebyquenchingtheflameofyourconsuminggeniuswithaheartydinner,havebeenabletoobtainonepictureonlyfromyou,andasonemightdrawatooth.Yourpicturesarelikeoldmaid"schildren——theymustbesoperfectthattheycan"texistatall.Butcome,thetenminutesareup.Here"stheprogrammefortheevening——adriveintheParkandalittledinneratacoolrestaurantnearThomas"sGarden,andthentheconcert.Thatprinceofmusicalcaterershasmadeafineselectionforto-night,and,withthecigarstandononesideofusandtheorchestraontheother,wearecertaintokillacoupleofhoursthatwilldielikeswans."

"Youmentionthecigar-standfirst."

"Whynot?Smokeismorerealthanemptysound."

"Areyounotequallyempty,Ik,saveafterdinner?Howhavetheprecedinghoursofthislongdaybeenkilled?"

"Likeboas.Theyhaveenfoldedmewithawearyweight."

"Thesnakesinyourcomparisonarelargerthanyourpun,andthepun,ratherthanyourself,suggestsaconstrictor"ssqueeze."

"Come,youareonlyabusingmetogaintime,andyoumaygaintoomuch.Myhorseshavemoremettlethantheirmaster,andmaycarryoffmytrapandgroomtopartsunknown,whileyouarewastingpaintandwords.YouareliketheanimalsatthePark,thataregood-naturedonlyaftertheyarefed.Soshutupyouroldpaintshop,andcomealong;wewillshortenourrideandlengthenourdinner."

Withmutualchaffingandlaughtertheyoungmenatlastwentdowntowherealiveriedcoachmanandapairofhandsomebayswereinwaiting.Takingthehighfrontseatandgatheringupthereins,IkStanton,withhisfriendHaroldVanBergathisside,bowledawaytowardstheParkatarapidpace.

HaroldVanBergwas,intruth,somethingofaparadox.Hewasanartist,andyetwasrich;hehadinheritedlargewealth,andyethadformedhabitsofcarefulindustry.Themajorityofhisyoungacquaintances,whohadbeenlaunchedfromhomeslikehisown,wereknownonlyassonsoftheirfathers,anddegeneratesonsatthat.

VanBergwasalreadywinningaplaceamongmenonthegroundofwhathewasandcoulddohimself.

Itwerehardtosaywhichwasthestrongermotive,hisambitionortheloveofhisart;butitseemedcertainthatbetweenthetwo,suchtalentashehadbeenendowedwithwouldbedevelopedquitethoroughly.Andhedidpossessdecidedtalent,ifnotgenius.Buthisartisticgiftaccordedwithhischaracter,andwascontrolledbyjudgement,correcttaste,andintellectualityratherthanbystronganderraticimpulses.Hisaimsweredefiniteanddecidedratherthanvagueanddiffusive;buthisstandardsweresohighthat,thusfar,hehadscarcelyattemptedmorethanstudiesthatwerelikethemusician"sscalesbywhichheseekstoacquireaskillintouchthatshallenablehimtorenderjustlytheworksofthegreatcomposers.

Hisfamilyhadpraisedhisworkunstintedly,andhonestlythoughtitwonderful;hehadalsobeendelugedwiththatkindofflatterywhichrelaxestherulesofcriticisminfavorofthewealthy.Thusitwasnotstrangethattheyoungfellow,atonetime,believedthathewasborntogreatnessbyakindlydecreeoffate.Butashishorizonwidenedhewastaughtbetter.Hismind,fortunately,grewfasterthanhisvanity,andashecomparedhiscrudebutpromisingworkwiththatofmaturegenius,hewasnotstrickenwiththatmosthelplessphaseofblindness——theinabilitytoseethesuperiorityofotherstoone"sself.Everyday,therefore,ofstudyandobservationwasnowchasteningHaroldVanBergandpreparinghimtobuildhisfuturesuccessonthesolidgroundofpositivemeritascomparedwiththatofotherandgiftedartists.

VanBerg"stasteandtalentledhimtoselect,ashisspecialty,thehumanformandcountenance,andhechieflydelightedinthosefaceswhichwereexpressiveofsomestrikingorsubtlecharacteristicoftheindwellingmind.Hewouldneverbecontenttopaintsurfacescorrectly,givingtofeaturesmerelytheirexactproportions.Whetherthefacewerehistorical,ideal,oraportrait,thecontrollingtraitortraitsofthespiritwithinmustshinethrough,orelseheregardedthepictureasscarcelyhalffinished.

AmoresincereidolatorthanVanBerg,inhisworshipofbeauty,neverexisted;butitwasthebeautyofacompletemanoracompletewoman.Eveninhisearlyyouthhehadnotbeensosensuousastobecaptivatedbythatopaquefragmentofawoman——anattractiveformdevoidofamind.Indeedwiththeexceptionofafewboyishfollies,hisarthadbeenhismistressthusfar,anditwasbeginningtoabsorbbothheartandbrain.

Withwhataquietpulse——withwhatacomplacentsenseofsecurityweoftenmeetthoseseeminglytrivialeventswhichmaychangethewholecharacterofourlives!Theridehadbeentaken,thedinnerenjoyed,andthetwofriendswereseatedinthelargecoolhallwayofftheconcertgarden,wheretheycouldsmokewithoutoffence.Theunrivalledleader,Thomas,hadjustliftedhisbaton——thatmagicwandwhosegracefulyetmysteriousmotionevokeswithequalease,seemingly,thethunderofastorm,thesongofabird,thehorriddinofaninferno,oraharmonysopureandloftyastosuggestheavenlystrains.OneofBeethoven"sexquisitesymphonieswastoberendered,andVanBergthrewawayhishalf-burnedcigar,settledhimselfinhischairandglancedaroundwithacongratulatoryair,asiftosay,"Nowwearetohaveoneofthosepleasureswhichfillsthecupoflifetooverflowing."

Oh,thatcasualglance!Itwasoneofthosethingsthatwemightjustlycall"little."Couldanythinghavebeenmoretrivial,slight,andapparentlyinconsequentialthanthishalfinvoluntaryact?Indeeditwastooaimlesseventohavebeenpromptedbyaconsciouseffortofthewill.Butthisbookisoneoftheleastresultsofthatmomentarysweepoftheeye.Anotherwas,thatVanBergdidnotenjoythesymphonyatall,andwassooninaverybadhumor.Thatcasualglancehadrevealed,notfaraway,afacethatwithhispassionforbeauty,atoncerivetedhisattention.Hisslightstartandfaintexclamation,causedIkStantontolookaroundalso,andthen,withamischievousandobservanttwinkleinhiseyes,thebonvivantresumedhiscigar,whichnosymphonycouldexorcisefromhismouth.

Atatablejustwithinthemainaudienceroom,theresatayoungladyandgentleman.EvenVanberg,whomadeithisbusinesstodiscoverandstudybeauty,wassooncompelledtoadmittohimselfthathehadneverseenfinerfeaturesthanwerepossessedbythisfairyoungstranger.Hernosewasstraight,herupperlipwasshort,andmighthavebeenmodelledfromCupid"sbow;herchindidnotformaperfectovalafterthecoldandsevereGreciantype,butwasslightlyfirmandprominent,recedingwithdecidedyetexquisitecurvestothefullwhitethroat.Hercheekshadatransparentfairness,inwhichthecolorcameandwentinsteadoflingeringinanyconventionalplaceandmanner;herhairwastoolighttobecalledbrownandtoodarktobegolden,butwasshadedlikethatonwhichthesunlightfallsinoneofBougereau"spicturesof"MotherandChild;"anditrippledawayfromabroadlowbrowinnaturalwaves,halfhidingthesmall,shell-likeears.

VanBergatfirstthoughhereyestobeherfinestfeature,buthesoonregardedthemastheworst,andforthesamereason,ashespeedilydiscovered,thattheface,eachfeatureofwhichseemedperfect,became,afterbriefstudy,sounsatisfactoryastocausepositiveannoyance.Toapassingglancetheywerelarge,dark,beautifuleyes,buttheyloststeadilyunderthoughtfulscrutiny.

Aflashinggemmayseemrealatfirst,butasitsmeretriciousraysareanalyzed,theylosetheircharmbecauserevealingastonenotonlyworthlessworsethanworthless,sinceitmocksuswithafalseresemblance,thusraisinghopesonlytodisappointthem.TheotherfeaturesremainedbeautifulandsatisfactorytoVanBerg"sfurtiveobservationbecausefurtherremovedfromtheinformingmind,andthereforemorejustlycapableofadmirationupontheirownmerits;

buttheeyesaretoonearakintotheanimatingspiritnottosufferfromtherelationship,shouldthespiritbeessentiallydefective.

Thatthebeautifulfacewasbutatransparentmaskofadeformed,dwarfed,contemptiblelittlesoulwasspeedilymadeevident.Thecreamandasillyflirtationwithherempty-headedattendant——apallidyouthwhopartedhishairlikeagirlandhadnototherpartsworthnaming——absorbedherwholly,andtheexquisitesymphonywasnomoretoherthananannoyingdinwhichmadeitdifficulttohearhercompanion"scomplimentsthatwereassweet,heavy,andstaleasMailard"schocolates,leftayearontheshelves.Theirmutualgiggleandchatteratlastbecamesoobtrusivethatanoldandmusic-lovingGermanturnedhisbroadfacetowardsthem,andhissedouttheword"Hist!"withsuchvindictiveforceastosuggestthatallthewindshadsuddenlybrokenlosefromthecaveofAeolus.

IkStanton,whohadbeenwatchingVanBerg"sperturbed,loweringface,andtheweakcomedyattheadjacenttable,wasobviouslymuchamused,althoughhetookpainstoappearblindtoitallandkepthisback,asfaraspossible,towardstheyounglady.

TheGerman"s"hist"hadbeensofierceastobealmostlikearapfromapoliceman"sclub,andtherewasanenforcedandtemporarysuspensionoftheinanechatter.Theattendantyouthtriedtoassumetheincensedandthreateninglookwithwhichanancientgallantwouldhavelaidhishandonthehiltofhissword.Butsomeanimalsandmenonlybecomeabsurdwhentheytrytoappearformidable.ItwasludicroustoseehimweaklyfrowningatthesturdyTeutonwhohadalreadyforgottenhisexistenceascompletelyashemightthatofabuzzingmosquitohehadexterminatedwithaslap.

Theyyounggirl"sfacegrewevenlesssatisfactoryasitbecamemorequiet.Amuddypool,rippledbyabreeze,willsparklequitebrilliantlywhileinmotion;butwhenquietitisseenthemoreplainlytobeonlyashallowpool.Atfirstthebeautifulfeaturesexpressedonlypettyresentmentatthepublicrebuke.AsthisfaintlyluridlightfadedoutandleftthecountenanceinitsnormalstateitbecamemoreheavyandearthyinitsexpressionthanVanBergwouldhavedeemedpossible,anditeverremainedamysterytohimhowfeaturessodelicate,beautiful,andessentiallyfemininecouldcombinetoshowsoclearlythattheindwellingnaturewaslargelyalloyedwithclay.therewasnotthatdewyfreshnessinthefairyoungfacewhichonemightexpecttoseeintheearlymorningofexistence.TheLordfromheavenbreathedthebreathoflifeintothefirstfairwoman;butthisgirlmightseemtohavebeenthenaturalproductofevolution,andhersoultobeastrulyoftheearthasherbody.

Itwasevidentthatshehadbeenmadefamiliartooearlyandthoroughlywithconventionalandfashionablesociety,and,althoughthisfractionoftheworldisseldomwithoutitsgloves,itstouchneverthelesshadsoiledhernature.Herfacedidnotexpressanyactiveormalignantprincipleofevil;butacloseobserver,likeVanBerg,inwhomthemanwasintheascendantovertheanimal,coulddetecttheabsenceoftheserene,maidenlypurityofexpression,characteristicofthosegirlswhohaveobtainedtheirideasoflifefromgoodmothers,ratherthanfromFrenchnovels,Frenchplays,andaphaseofsocietythatborrowsitsinspirationfromfashionableParis.

Withtheendingofthesymphonythechattingandflirtingatthetablebeganagain,toVanBerg"sincreaseddisgust.Indeed,hewassoirritatedthathecouldnolongercontrolhimself,androseabruptly,sayingtohiscompanion:

"Come,letuswalkoutside."

Hissuddenmovementdrewtheyounglady"sattention,butbythistimehehadonlyhisbroadshouldersturnedtowardsher.ShesawIkStantonlookingather,however,withafacefullofmischief,andsherecognizedhimwithanodandasmile.

He,withthefamiliaritythatindicatedrelationship,butwithamotiontooslighttobenoticedbyothers,threwherakissfromthetipsofhisfingers,asonemighttossasugar-plumtoachild,andthenfollowedhisfriend.

ChapterII.IdaMayhew.

Whatisthematter,Van?Youremindmeofacertainhornedbeastthathasseenaredflag,"saidIkStanton,linkinghisarminthatofVanBerg"s.

"Anaptillustration.Ihavebeenbaitedandirritatedforthelasttwentyminutes."

"IthoughtyouenjoyedBeethoven"smusic,andsurelyThomasrendereditdivinelyto-night."

"Thatisoneofthechiefofmygrievances.Ihaven"tbeenabletohearanote,"wasthewrathfulresponse.

"That"sstrange,"saidStantonwithmockgravity."WereInotafraidyouwouldtakeitamissIwouldhintthatyourearsareofgoodlysize.Howcomesitthattheyhavesosuddenlyfailedyou?"

"Havingseenyourdinneryouhavenoeyesforanythingelse.Ifyouhad,youwouldhaveseenafacenearus."

"Isawascoreoffacesnearus.AGermanhadonewiththeareaofanacre."

"Washetheonewhosaid,"hist,"likeablastfromtheNorth?"

"Fromaporpoiserather."

"Didyouobservethegirltowardswhomhisgustyrebukewasdirected?"

"Yes,aninoffensiveyounglady."

"Inoffensive,indeed!"interruptedVanBerg."Shehasputmeintopurgatory."

"Youdoseemquiteablaze.Well,youarenotthefirstonethatshehasputthere.Butreally,Van,Ididnotknowthatyouweresoinflammable."

"IfyouhadanyoftheinstinctsofanartistyouwouldknowthatIaminflamedwithnogentlerfeelingthananger."

"Why!whathasthepoorchilddonetoyou?"

"Sheisnotachild.Sheknowstoomuchaboutsomethings."

"I"venodoubtsheisbetterthaneitheryouorI,"saidStanton,sharply.

"Thatfactwouldbefarfromprovingherasaint."

"Whatthedickensmakesyousovindictiveagainstthegirl?"

"Becauseshehasthefeaturesofanangelandthefaceofafool.

Whatbusinesshasawomantomockanddisappointoneso!WhenI

firstsawherIthoughtIhaddiscoveredaprize——anewrevelationofbeauty;butamomentlatershelookedsoineffablysillythatIfeltasifIhadbittenintoanappleofSodom.Ofcoursethegirlisnothingtome.IneversawherbeforeandhopeImayneverseeheragain;butherfeaturesweresoperfectthatIcouldnothelplookingatthem,andthemoreIlookedthemoreannoyedIbecametofindthat,insteadofbeingblendedtogetherintoadivinefacebythemindwithin,theywerethereluctantslavesofaspicayuneasoulasevermaintaineditsmicroscopicexistenceinahumanbody.Itisexasperatingtothinkwhatthatfacemightbe,andtoseewhatitis.Howcannaturemakesuchabsurdblunders?Theideaofbuildingsofairatempleforsuchanuglylittledivinity!"

"Ithoughtyouartistsweresatisfiedwithfleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes."

"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandbloodwomen,ifonlyputtogetherinawaypleasingtoyourfastidiouseyes."

"Ifnaturehaddesignedthatwomenshouldconsistonlyoffleshandblood,onewouldhavetobecontent;butnoonesavethe"unspeakableTurk,"believesinsuchawoman,orwantsher.Whoadmiressuchafragmentofawomansavethemanthatisasyetundevelopedbeyondtheanimal?Mymotherismyfriend,mycompanion,myinspiration.

TheideaofyondersillycreaturebeingthecompanionofaMAN."

"Goodevening,Coz,"saidavoicethatwasatrifleshrillandloudforapublicplace,andlookingup,thefriendssawthesubjectoftheirconversation,who,withherspindlingattendantwasalsotakingapromenade.

Stantonraisedhishatwithasmile,whileVanBergtouchedhisbutcoldly.

"Iwishtospeakwithyou,"shesaidinpassing.

"Iwilljoinyousoon,"Stantonanswered.

"Sothisladyisyourcousin?"remarkedVanBerg.

"Sheis,"saidStantonlaughing.

"YouwilldomethejusticetorememberthatIspokeinignoranceofthefact.IfIwereyouIwouldgivehersomecousinlyadvice."

"Blessyou!Ihave,butit"slikepouringwateronaduck"sback.ForonesensiblewordIcansaytohershegetsathousandcomplimentsfromrichandempty-headedyoungfools,liketheonenowwithher,whowilleventuallybeworthhalfamillioninhisownname.Iwasinterestedtoseehowherfacewouldstrikeyou,andIimaginethatyourestimatehashitprettycloseuponthetruth,forinmyjudgmentsheistheprettiestandsilliestgirlinNewYork.Shehasrecentlyreturnedfromayear"sabsenceabroad,andIwasinhopesthatshewouldfindsomethingtorememberbesidesherownhandsomeface,butIimagineshehasseenlittleelsethanitandtheadmiringglanceswhicheverywherefollowher.Takeusasweaverage,Van,Mr.Darwinhasnotgousveryfaralongyet,andifthefaceofawomansuitsusweareapttostareatitasfarassuchpolitenessaswepossesspermits,withoutgivingmuchthoughttoherintellectualendowments.Whenitcomestocompanionship,however,Iagreewithyou.Heavenhelpthemanwhoistiedtosuchawomanforlife.Still,inthefashionablecrowdmycousintrainswith,thismakeslittledifference.Thehusbandgoeshiswayandthewifehers,andtheyarenotlongingettingagoodwaysapart.Butcome,letmeintroduceyou,Ihavealwaysthoughtthelittlefoolhadsomefinegoldmingledwithherdross,andyouaresuchaskilfulanalystthatperhapsyouwilldiscoverit."

"No,Ithankyou,"saidVanBerg,withaslightexpressionofdisgust."IcouldnotspeakcivillytoaladythatIhadjustseengigglingandflirtingthroughoneofBeethoven"sfinestsymphonies."

"Wellwell,"saidStantonlaughing,"Iamrathergladtofindonemanwhoisnotdrawntoherprettyfacelikeamothtoacandle.

Iwilljoinyouagainbyandby."

VanBergsatdowninoneofthelittlestallsthatstoodopentothemainpromenade,andsawhisfriendthreadhiswayamongthemovingfigures,andaddresshiscousin.AssheturnedtospeakwithStanton,theartistreceivedagainthatvividimpressionofbeauty,whichherfaceevercausedbeforetimewasgivenforcloserscrutiny.Indeedfromhissomewhatdistantpointofobservation,andinthelesssearchinglight,thefatalflawcouldscarcelybedetected.Heraffectedtonesandsillywordscouldnotbeheard,andhesawonlydarklustrouseyeslightingupfeaturesthatwerealmostarevelationeventohimwithhisartisticfamiliaritywithbeauty.

"IfIcouldalwayskeepherataboutthatdistance,"hemuttered,"andarrangethelightsandshadowsinwhichtoviewherface,I

couldnotaskforabetterstudy,forshewouldgivemeabasisofperfectbeauty,andIcouldaddanyexpressionofcharacteristicthatIdesired."Andnowhefeastedhiseyesasacompensation,inpart,fortheannoyanceshehadcausedhimintheglareoftheaudienceroom.

Hesoonsawafrownloweruponherhithertolaughingfaceliketheshadowofapassingcloud,anditwasevidentthatsomethinghadbeensaidthatwasnotagreeabletohervanity.

AmomentortwoafterStantonhadjoinedtheyoungladyherescortfortheeveninghadexcusedhimselfforabrieftime,andhadleftthecousinstogether.Shehadthenasked,"Isay,Ik,whowasthatgentlemanyouweretalkingwith?"

"He"sanoldfriendofmine."

"He"snotanOLDfriendofanyone.Heisyoungandquitegood-looking,orratherhehasacertain"distingue"airthatmakesonelookathimtwice.Whoishe?"

"Heisanartist,andifhelivesandworksasheisnowdoing,throughanordinarylifetime,hewillindeedbydistinguished.Infact,hestandshighalready."

"Hownice,"sheexclaimed.

"Hehasanothercharacteristic,whichyouwillappreciatefarmorethananythinghewilleveraccomplishwithhisbrush——heisveryrich."