shall you see him?"

"To-night."

"Then I will give you the money to hand to him. Besides, I will give
him a note to Goupil, who will allow him to exhibit the other picture
in his store. That may secure its sale."

"Thank you, Mr. Preston. You will do him a great kindness."

Paul left the picture of which he had disposed, and, taking the other
under his arm, went back to the necktie stand. He felt an honest
pleasure in the thought of the happiness he was about to confer upon
the poor artist. "It will set him on his feet," he thought.

CHAPTER XXV.

MR. TALBOT'S RETURN.

"Jimmy," said Paul, on reaching home, "there is a gentleman coming to
see you this evening."

"A gentleman--to see me?" repeated the little boy, in surprise.

"Yes. Mr. Henderson."

"But I don't know him."

"You will know him very soon. He is an artist, and is going to give
you lessons."

"How good you are, Paul!" said Jimmy, joyfully; "but," he added,
considerately, "won't you have to pay him a good deal?"

"No; he is a poor man, and it is partly to help him that I have
engaged him to give you lessons. I expect him in an hour. So get out
your best drawings, so that he will see how far you are advanced."

"Does he paint pictures? I should like to see some of them."

"I have one with me."

"Oh, let me see it!"

Paul removed the paper from the painting he had brought with him, and
displayed it to his little brother.

"It is beautiful, Paul. I wonder if I can ever paint such a nice
picture."

"No doubt you can, if you study faithfully. I brought away another of
Mr. Henderson's pictures, which I like better than this, but I have
sold it to Mr. Preston."

"How much did you get for it?"

"Fifty dollars."

"Isn't that a large price?" asked Mrs. Hoffman.

"Not for a good picture. I dare say Jimmy will by and by be charging
as much as that for a picture."

"I hope so, Paul. I would like to earn some money."

"You are too young to earn money now, Jimmy. That will come in good
time."

Soon after the supper table was cleared Mr. Henderson called.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Henderson," said Paul, cordially. "This is
my mother, Mrs. Hoffman, and here is the young scholar I told you of."

Jimmy looked up shyly.

"He has seen your picture and likes it. By the way, I have sold one of
your pictures--the one introducing the children."

"Thank you for your kindness," said the artist, his face brightening.
"You have done what I