nd report on the matter. The
members of this sub-committee were invited to Tite Street for Show
Sunday, arrived together, were received by Wyndham with charming
urbanity, had every attention showered on them, and were greatly
impressed by this society gathering. They were enchanted at their
reception, and, being kept and marshalled together, stimulated each
other's enthusiasm. This great display of Wyndham's work astonished and
dazzled them. Above all, the amazing _piece de resistance_ of the
afternoon won their obeisance to the genius. They stared at the vast
canvas in wonder, at once conquered by this crowd of tattered labour
intermingled with the silk hats and frock-coats of Bond Street, the
smart brougham rolling along with its aristocratic occupant and her
poodle, the pillared structure in the background, the vista of roadway,
the trees and the foliage. At the buffet they talked it over among
themselves, and presently Wyndham himself appeared again, and with a
discreet introduction here and there to people of social importance, he
quietly and swiftly sealed his victory. Such civility indeed was the
only part that had fallen on him in the matter, and the commission was
well obtained at that outlay of trouble, he told himself, since, with so
fairly an expensive place on his hands, he could not yet despise so
solid a piece of business. But with the new little heap of guineas to
accrue from the month's work or thereabouts that would be involved, he
felt he could face marriage and the beginnings of housekeeping with
dignity, and yet carry out any artistic schemes he might next conceive.
And he welcomed the work, too, as likely to keep him busily occupied
during the time his great picture was in the balance at the Academy.

When Alice reached home after the reception, with the full confidence of
his success in her heart, she realised the end was now fast approaching.
The afternoon had excited and unnerved her again, and she had once more
to reassure herself that she had the strength to go through with the
coming breach. Since her memorable secret visit to the studio she had
borne up with firm strength, but to-night she felt frail and broken! A
storm of sobbing shook her, but when at last she had controlled herself
she knew that she would never weep again for her lost dream of
happiness.

And now all things began to go incredibly well with Wyndham. No sooner
was he flourishing and doing work that was well paid for, than