t would be a sin to leave this screen,
Dolly. Where ever do you suppose that came from?"

"Eastern work," said Lawrence.

"What eastern work?"

"Impossible for me to say. Might have belonged to the Great Mogul, by
the looks of it. Do you admire _that_, Mrs. Copley?"

"How should it come here?"

"Here? the very place!" said Lawrence. "What was there rare or costly
in the world, that did not find its way to Venice and into the palaces
of the old nobles?"

"But how came it _here?_"

"Into this curiosity shop? The old nobles went to pieces, and their
precious things went to auction; and good Master Judas or Master Levi
bought them."

"And these things were in the palaces of the old nobles?"

"Many of them. Perhaps all of them. I should say, a large proportion."

"That makes them worth just so much the more."

"You need not tell Master Levi that. And you have admired so much this
morning, Mrs. Copley, if you will take my advice, it will be most
discreet to come away without making any offer. Do not let him think
you have any purpose of buying. I am afraid he will put on a fearful
price, if you do."

Whether Lawrence meant this counsel seriously, or whether it was a
feint to get Mrs. Copley safely out of the shop, Dolly was uncertain;
she was grateful to Lawrence all the same. No doubt he had seen that
she was anxious. He had been in fact amused at the elder lady not more
than interested for the younger one; Dolly's delicate attempts to draw
off her mother from thoughts of buying had been so pretty,
affectionate, and respectful in manner, sympathising, and yet steady in
self-denial. Mrs. Copley was hard to bring off. She looked at Lawrence,
doubtful and antagonistic, but his suggestion had been too entirely in
her own line not to be appreciated. Mrs. Copley looked and longed, and
held her tongue; except from exclamations. They got out of the shop at
last, and Dolly made a private resolve not to be caught there again if
she could help it.

In the afternoon she devoted herself to painting Lawrence's picture.
Her first purpose had been to take a profile or side view of him; but
St. Leger declared, if the likeness was for his mother she would never
be satisfied if the eyes did not look straight into her eyes; so Dolly
had to give that point up; and accordingly, while she studied him, he
had full and equal opportunity to study her. It was a doubtful
satisfaction. He could rarely meet Dolly's eyes, while yet he saw