ice all to
the duties he had undertaken. He and Lady Betty must not see each other
again. Could he not hear her dear voice saying, "Life is always a
compromise. Perhaps it's a blessing to see our clear obligations." Well,
he at any rate saw his clear obligations. He would reply to Lady Betty;
he would enter into the situation in all sincerity. He would paint her
some little thing for the souvenir, and send it to her, and perhaps she
might care to send him hers in return. His meeting her to-day and this
loving exchange of gifts would remain in his thought as the most poetic
episode of his life; but an episode that must speedily be closed.

She would understand and approve. Was she not the very spirit of
chivalry, of honour and goodness? Since fate had given its decree, let
them both bow to it!

XVIII

But the next morning he dressed with care, choosing with fastidiousness
among his flowing silk ties, and went off to Grosvenor Place, stopping
only on the way to get a new canvas for Lady Betty's portrait. It was as
if some great arm had encircled him irresistibly, and hurried him out of
his studio, and jerked him into a hansom.

The first thing that caught his eye as he entered the usual room was a
travelling easel opened out at its full length, brass-jointed, proudly
agleam; and he marked his appreciation of the significance of its
presence in equally significant fashion--by standing the newly-acquired
canvas upon it. Then he installed himself at his window, and after a
little preliminary fumbling he found himself well under weigh. At last
he had struck the clear, even light he wanted, and he worked rapidly
with his note-taking till the time the butler appeared with
refreshments.

He sipped his wine, with one eye on the folding-door and the other
maintaining some interest in the sketches before him. But the more
vigilant eye of the two soon found its reward. Lady Betty appeared on
the very stroke of noon, and came to him all fresh and smiling, in sunny
contrast to his sense of the dull wintry universe.

"You seem a trifle thoughtful," she observed.

"I was speculating about the mysterious gift you promise."

She laughed merrily. "I observe, then, it is a bargain." She nodded
towards the easel.

"I have had a charming idea as well," he said. "Could you give me two
hours a day till the end of the month?"

"By all means."

"I should like to send you to the Salon."

"That is indeed a charming idea. But