recognised that 'papa' and Eugenie had
special claims upon each other, and as the household adored them both,
they were never interfered with.

On this occasion Eugenie was bent on business as well as affection.
She withdrew her hand from her father's shoulder in order to raise a
monitory finger.

'Genius or no, papa, it's time you paid him his money.'

'How you go on, Eugenie!' said Lord Findon, crossing his knees
luxuriously, as the tea filtered down. 'Pray, what money do I owe
him?'

'Well, of course, if you wait till he's made a hit, prices will go
up,' said Eugenie, calmly. 'I advise you to agree with him quickly,
while you are in the way with him.'

'I never asked him to paint you,' said Lord Findon, hastily,
swallowing a sip of tea under the regulation time, and frowning at the
misdeed.

'Oh, shuffling papa! Come--how much?--two hundred?'

'Upon my word! A painter shouldn't propose to paint a picture, my
dear, and then expect to get paid for it as if he'd been commissioned.
The girls might as well propose matrimony to the men.'

'Nobody need accept,' said Eugenie, slyly, replenishing his cup. 'I
consider, papa, that you have bolted that cup.'

'Then for goodness' sake, don't give me any more!' cried Lord Findon.
'It's no joke, Eugenie, this sipping business--Where were we? Oh,
well, of course I knew we should have to take it--and I don't say I'm
not pleased with it. But two hundred!'

'Not a penny less,' said Eugenie--'and the apotheosis of my frock
alone is worth the money. Two hundred for that--and two-fifty for the
other?'

'Welby told me that actually was the price he had put on it! The young
man won't starve, my dear, for want of knowing his own value.'

'I shouldn't wonder if he had been rather near starving,' said
Eugenie, gravely.

'Nothing of the kind, Eugenie,' said her father, testily. 'You think
everybody as sensitive as yourself. I assure you, young men are tough,
and can stand a bit of hardship.'

'They seem to require butcher's meat, all the same,' said Eugenie.
'Do you know, papa, that I have been extremely uncomfortable about our
behaviour to Mr. Fenwick?'

'I entirely fail to see why,' said Lord Findon, absently. He was
holding his watch in his hand, and calculating seconds.

'We have let him paint my portrait without ever saying a word of
money--and you have always behaved as though you meant to buy the
"Genius Loci."'

'Well, so I do mean to buy it,' said Lord Findon, c