Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-29
The Romance of Pygmalion and
Galatea.

lou Will return in two hours time: that will
pc half.past twelve" said Miss vane, looking at
Yes, Miss said the man servant, touching
his hat
Miss vane stood watching her pretty ponies
until they, with the ph;eton, turned the corner
OF the Hlgh-street; then, with quick, vivacious
step, She ran up the cathedral steps, and entered
the building by the half-opened door,
Mrs Champ. the vergers wife, met her with
courtesy and smile. that presently gave place
70 a look OF concern, as she said: II don't know
nov now youli go on with your paintin' this morn
ing, Miss Nane, for that Mr.. ChipstOne, the
mason, have sent to repair Sir Godfrey monu-
ment, and there's nasty rude man a-ham-
merin' away at it now, and, as you know, Miss,
It's quite close TO where you Sit
A rude MANI"
Eyes, Miss Vane. When told him as didn't
know II lie would be convenient for him to do his
work to-day, as you was coming to paint close
by, he replied that it would be inconvenient, to
De sure, but he must try and put up with 1t,
which was as told him, piece Of sarcasm I'M
becoming person of his station.
Miss Nane laughed.
''If his rudeness consists only in obiecting TO
me shall not fear him In the least"
"Just so. Miss, and I'll be bound you will
give him as good as he SENDS | will bring
down your easel and paints and things at once
and II you like, Miss, will walk up and down
and"
"Oh, no, please do not; can take my own
part, quite Well But you may bring my
Miss Vane walked to her accustomed place in
the aisle, drawing off her gloves, and looked
with amused curiosity for ''the rude man." Her
step was light, and the mason intent upon his
work, took no notice of her. His back was to
Der, and she saw only tall figure, In white
loose blouse, and heard him humming softly as
he Clipped away the decayed marble BY the
time she had removed her hat and mantle, Mrs.
Champ came busting up. The mason, still
unconscious of Miss Nane'S proximity, perceived
Mrs Champs approach, and paused in his work
.:That's right mother, you've brought some
playthings to keep the young lady out OF mis-
chief"
Mother, indeed / should be very sorry to
be your mother. young man." retorted Mrs.
champ setting down the camp-stool with
thump.
The mason turned to reply, saw Miss vane,
and, without any appearance of confusion. took
OF his hat and bowed. Miss Vane received his
silent apology with calm Indifference and looked
at the man without moving muscle, until he
resumed his work.
Mrs. Champ, having ministered to all the
young lady'S wants, withdrew, passing close by
the mason to show him she had no fear. and
calculating: 'tMother, 1ndeed' In a tone OF
whitening contempt.
people, but Miss Vane was not moved to pardon
this man, though his appearance was strfkingly
good, and his manner free from that awkward
embarrassment which characteriZeS ill-bred
people in the presence of their SrlperiOrs His
face. was long and thin, with well-sunk eyes a
pronounced yet delicate nose. and Vandyke
beard. He was powdered with the white dust
from his work, which, making his skin appear
particular soft and fair, lent luStre and darkness
to his fine eyes. His simple gesture of apology
was more eloquent and appropriate than words
could have been in the circumstances, and
Showed that he had good taste as well as good
features; but his claims to an equality with her
self, asserted in his manner, made it impossible
for to feel that cold indifference to This affront
which she assumed. She was angry with her
self for being veNed by such tritie, and asked
herself what this man had done that could not
be forgotten as quickly as the gaucharie OF an
ordinary servant. He had called the parapher-
malta OF her art toys to amuse child-that was
all; but 1t compelled her to consider whether
the sting of the sarcasm lay not in its truth.
Laura Nane was not merely a beautiful girl;
she had desires beyond and higher than the
drawing-room conQueStS and picnic pleasures OF
her sex. Her face and figure were In natures
hands to mold as she would but the soul within
her was for herself to shape, and she sought
was neglectful OF her appearance or unsuscept-
1ble to admiration of her personal charms-in-
Coed, no. Her dress was uneNcept1onable; she
did not adopt the style of costume in which in
tellectual girls, poor plain thing! usually display
their eccentricftteS; she was not a dowdy; ON
the contrary, she was as taStefuly appareled
as though she had nothing better to think about.
But She gave the greater part OF her time to the
cultivation Of artistic tastes. She played and
sang, she worked tapestry, She modelled little,
and painted good deal. Admiration was be
slowed upon everything she did, and her judg
ment was appealed TO in all questions OF the
artistic kind which agitated the aesthetic circle
OF her friends. Happily for her she had too keen
a perception of merit to be quite convinced that
She deserved all the eulOgy she received. Among
her flatterers was not one who painted better
than she. and she noticed that the less the eulO-
giZer knew OF art, the more enthusiastic was his
praise. The Royal Academy OF Arts bad rejected
her pictures, and she could not believe sincerely
that her friends were right in aScr1bing the re-
lection to professional Jealousy on the part OF
the hanging committee. She had remarked that
the need OF praise lavfshed by gentlemen upon
young ladies was strictly In proportion with
their personal beauty; and with the knowledge
that she was herself beautiful came the un-
pleasant suggestion that she was praised for her
"a dpn{n 4
lovely Miss Armitage-a young lady whom she
cordially deteSted-for her execrable perform
ance on the either. And the suspicion had
once or twice presented itself to her mind that
In fact she was no artist at ALL but only a
scheduled, friend-deluded, dilettante dabbler
in art.
This self-doubting mood is common to every
artist, and is hopefully significant OF the power
10 improve; it Is the passing cloud In sunny
life. Internationally, the man had raised this
cloud, and over-SenSitive Miss Vane was quick
TO feel its shadow. She was angry with herself
in being Influenced by the words of a mere
mason and that made her angry with him; now
willingly enough she Endorsed Mrs. Champs
opinion that he was a rude man, and that his
presence was extremely inconvenient. She sat
down TO her. painting with distaste, and failed
entirely to derive her customary qualification In
the contemplation Of the work before her. She
felt inclined to remove her apparatus at once,
and walk home without waiting for her pony
carriage; but the reflection that this would
justify the idea that she was playing, and not
working, determined her to persevere, unpleas-
ant as the prospect seemed. She TOOK up her
palette, and proceeded to dress 1t. The constant,
chipping at her side irritated her. She paused
and. looking along the cold gray AISLE thought
OF the warm sunlight and cheerful corn-felds
that lay beside the hOmeward path; she knew
She could do no good work with this diSincnna-
ton TO study. After all. why should She regard
what was thought OF herself and her employ
ment by common maSons man? No. she
would not attempt wOrk-She would quietly re-
tire and send Mrs. Champ 10 remove her-'.play-
things." That word goaded her; and setting her
ard will 40 alvin of
her colors. Was it true that she was playing
with art? Was il not true? Did her painting
serve any other purpose than to occupy her idle
time, and procure fiattery for herself! Still tor
mentfng herself With these questions, she I'M
covered her picture Indeed there were good
points in the painting, and she looked with salts
faction at certain little bits OF careful study and
conscientious work.
Il must trouble you to cover your materials
for time; am going to move these boards.
and the dust will y,' said the mason, turning
about to face Miss Vane.
'Oh this is very provoking! exclaimed the
young lady, losing at once the little composure
gained but the moment before. Cannot YOU
shake your boards when / am gomez"
a. Certainly. If you will be good enough to go
now" replied the man, with the most annoying
suavity.
"But I cannot go now, and will not. have
come on purpose 10 paint"
'And have come on purpose to repair this
masonry. III is q question who can best afford