ell. Gee-rusalem! you're just great at getting rid of
people."

Left alone, Wyndham gave way to annoyance again. It was a fine thing!
Artists themselves ought to know better than to indulge in
tittle-tattle of that kind. He worked himself up into a towering rage.
Then Mary rang the bell, and he had abruptly to recall his graciousness.

It was her first visit to the studio since the new turn of affairs; her
multifarious duties as worker among the sick and poor after her day's
teaching leaving her so little freedom. They had of course seen each
other in the interim; for Wyndham had himself looked in at the
"Buildings" in Kensington whenever his engagements had taken him that
way, and he had been fortunate enough just to catch her at home for a
few moments on several occasions. The poor girl had been overflowing
with happiness--had not a window on the skies been opened, too, for her?
And though both had so far delicately avoided all reference to that old
painful interview, she had yet often been impelled to throw herself at
his feet in contrition. Only she felt that he, in his great magnanimity,
would be hurt by such an abasement.

When he brought the picture well into the light, her first exclamation
was, "Oh, how beautiful!" Then she kissed him impulsively.

The tribute gave him more pleasure than all the professional praise that
had been showered on the portrait.

"What a charming girl! I should like to know her," were her next words.
"She has such a good face, and I'm sure she's every bit as beautiful as
you've painted her."

Wyndham's vexation at his rumoured engagement seemed to take wing and be
off into the airs. He even felt a shy pride in Miss Robinson. "I'm sure
you'll like her," he said. "Shall I arrange a tea here one of these days
before Christmas?"

"That would be lovely." Mary's voice was full of enthusiasm. "School
breaks up in a day or two, and I shall have so much more time to
myself," she added, still gazing at the picture.

"Any criticism?"

"None," she returned. "You have caught the character with rare genius.
She is so simple and unaffected; one could repose absolute trust in
her.... You see," she continued, smiling, "I feel so strong an interest
in her as being the beginning of your good fortune. I have a sort of
conviction--don't laugh at me, please--that it has come to stay."

When he poured out her tea, she suddenly laughed, remembering she had a
message for him which she had forgotten