tril. It denotes the
force of character which has made me what I am."

George went on ruthlessly.

"I want it to be good of you," he said simply. Half way through my
third sitting George gave a cry and flung off his coat.

"What's the matter?" said I. "Something biting--?

"Talk, man," he said, seizing his palette. "Just talk. Don't mind how
I answer. I'm going to paint. By Jove, how I'm going to paint!"

Clearly the fit was upon him. These artists! Not daring to disobey, I
talked and talked. Heaven knows what I said. After an hour my tongue
clove to the roof of my mouth, but I talked on. And all the time
George alternately bent his brews upon me, and hung himself at the
canvas, uttering strange, smothered cries and oaths, but painting,
painting.... At a quarter past two he laid down his palette and cried
to me to descend. Stiffly I did so.

For a long moment I looked at the portrait. Then I turned to George
and clapped him on the back.

"I think you're going to make a name," said I.

"That's right," he said. "And now give me a cigarette."

Before we went to lunch, he showed me the picture of the girl. It was
almost finished. Such a fine, brave face. Not a bit pretty--just
beautiful. Dark hair showing under the brim of the hat, steady brown
eyes, the mouth exquisite...

That was three days ago. And now--pleasedly I regarded the original.

"May I offer you a cigarette?" I said.

When I had lighted it for her:

"To-day is Thursday, isn't it?" she said.

"That's just what I was going to say."

"Yes, I'm sure it is, because last night brother left--"

"The light on in the kitchen garden, with the result that this morning
all the cocks were two hours fast. I know. But of course it is.
Hasn't Thursday always been my lucky day?"

She blew out a little cloud of smoke and smiled at it. Then:

"I don't know you at all, you know," she said gravely, "and Aunt
Prudence always used to say--"

"I know. 'Beware of pickpockets. No smoking.' They quote her in the
lifts on the Tube. But then I'm not a pickpocket, and you are smoking.
Besides, your picture knows mine very well. They've seen quite a lot
of each other lately.

"Yes, but--"

"And then you know my picture a little, and I know yours by heart."

"You're quick to learn."

"Perhaps. But I do. I know every eyelash, long as they are. I
believe I could say them. But then I was always good at poetry." This
with a bow.