, and the screams from women were just what we expected; but
when we saw several overturned easels and an old man, half-nude, and
too scared to move, seated on a model throne, we did not advance into
the hall as we intended. That one yell we gave was all the noise we
made. We stood there in a bunch, just inside the door, sort of dazed
and uncertain. We did not know whether to retreat, or charge on
through the hall as we had intended. We just stood there like a lot of
driveling fools.

"Keep right at your work, my good people. Keep right at your work!"
called a pleasant voice. "I see we have some visitors."

And Gian Bellini came forward. His robe was still tucked up under the
blue sash, but he had laid aside his black cap, and his tumbled gray
hair looked like the aureole of a saint. "Keep right at your work," he
said again, and then came forward and bade us welcome and begged us to
have seats.

I dared not run away, so I sat down on one of the long seats that were
ranged around the wall. My companions did the same. There must have
been fifty easels, all ranged in a semicircle around the old man who
posed as a model. Several of the easels had been upset, and there was
much confusion when we entered.

"Just help us to arrange things--that is right, thank you," said Gian
to the stout man who was captain of our party. To my astonishment the
stout man was doing just as he was bid, and was pacifying the women
students and straightening up their easels and stools.

I was interested in watching Gian walking around, helping this one
with a stroke of his crayon, saying a word to that, smiling and
nodding to another. I just sat there and stared. These students were
not regular art students, I could see that plainly. Some were
children, ragged and barelegged, others were old men who worked in the
glass-factories, and surely with hands too old and stiff to ever paint
well. Still others were women and young girls of the town. I rubbed my
eyes and tried to make it out!

The music we heard I could still hear--it came from the wine-shop
across the way. I looked around and what do you believe? My companions
had all gone. They had sneaked out one by one and left me alone.

I watched my chance and when the Master's back was turned I tiptoed
out, too.

-------------------------------------

When I got down on the street I found I had left my cap, but I dared
not go back after it. I made my way down to the landing,