oes that he always sleeps
late."

Elsa was embarrassed, and there was another interval of silence. Then
Mimi said:

"Is madam to have her portrait painted?"

"Yes."

"I know all those who come here to be painted," Mimi went on. "This is
quite like home to me. I am his model. I don't have to pay for my
portraits. Madam has a splendid profile."

"Please do not call me madam," Elsa said impatiently. "I am miss, like
yourself."

"I beg your pardon," Mimi said. "I am not madam, either. My name is
Mimi."

"My name is Elsa."

"Oh, I know; I have heard of you. You are very rich as well as very
beautiful. I know what it means to be rich. Once our family was well
off, and I did not have to work as a model."

"I am sorry you have been unfortunate," Elsa said.

"But I have heard much of you," the girl went on. She was now
tremendously interested in this beautiful woman whose coming, she
believed, meant that she would no longer be Karl's model. "You see, I
know all the things that go on here; I look out for the artist's
laundry and sew his buttons on; and I almost know his thoughts."

"And do they interest you?"

"Oh, yes; but it will not be so any more."

"Why not?"

"Because he is to be married; because you have come and he will not need
me."

"Why not? He will still paint. He must have models."

"Yes, but it will not be the same, and I will not come any more."

"Do you like Monsieur Karl?"

"Very much."

"Does he paint you now?"

"Ah, no; nothing but landscapes."

"Then you did not come as a model to-day?" Elsa asked.

"I come always as a model. If the artist does not treat me as such it is
not my fault."

She noticed that Elsa looked offended, and went on hurriedly,
apologetically:

"Please, if I offend you I will be quiet. But you seem to be so nice. If
I were you and you were the model I should not be angry with you."

Elsa was touched by the pathos in Mimi's eyes.

"Pardon me; I am very, very sorry if I have hurt you," she cried
impulsively. "Let us be friends."

"Yes, let's," Mimi cried. "You can talk to me about everything. I am not
a bad sort, but I have known him for a long while. I was crying when I
went away yesterday and he felt sorry for me. He came to the house on
his way to the ball last night in his evening clothes, but I would not
see him. It must be finished."

"Was he fond of you?"

"I liked him very much," Mimi replied simply.

"And now?"

"Ah, now it is different.