, and have the
portrait taken there. Bella wished a photograph of Eric and Roland in
the positions she had chosen for them, but Clodwig said that a portrait
taken with the help of a photograph was always stiff and unnatural; he
condemned photographs of human figures, of which they could give only
the mere form, and often wholly out of drawing. Roland had a word to
say also, in regard to the picture. Why not have Griffin in it? Clodwig
agreed, saying the dog would make a very good foreground.

Bella was out of humor. She had enjoyed companionship and gaiety so
long, that she was reluctant to go back to her lonely life among the
antiquities; perhaps there were further unacknowledged reasons for her
regrets. The visit to Eric and Roland was a welcome reprieve to her;
but the proud Captain was so reserved, and had always some great
principle so ready to apply to even the smallest action, and her
husband--his worst weakness was beginning to show itself, the doting
fondness of old age--whenever the Captain spoke, Clodwig was wholly
absorbed in the young man.

Her features seemed suddenly to become thin and faded, and to lose all
roundness. She noticed this, and recovered her self-control. She was
especially friendly, and when Eric took leave of her and kissed her
hand, he thought he felt a returning pressure on his lips, but perhaps
it was a mistake, or arose from some awkwardness on his part. While he
was thinking about it, Roland said,--

"I don't know why, but I did not feel comfortable while the Countess
was looking at me, did you? and she looked at you so strangely."

"It was the critical look of an artist," answered Eric; but his own
words choked him. Who knew whether this reply was the exact truth?

CHAPTER XVII.

TO FORM A MAN.

The Major sent no notice of his approaching visit; he came himself, he
looked very fresh with his reddish-brown face, and his snow-white,
short-cut hair, and he said that as often as he had bathed in the warm
spring, he felt as if he could remember the very first bath after he
was born. He seemed to himself, every time, literally like a new-born
child, with an unseen nurse, who bent smiling over him and dipped him
gently in the spring. He smiled at everything, at the trees, the roofs,
the houses, and now at the faces of his friends.

He was very glad that Eric had taken the boy out of the ranks and was
exercising him al