The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-07-30

cdhules,. re)olned Dora, as she turned
resolutely back to her work.
you are immensely kind to say such
pretty things Of my little attempt" said
Miss Methuen, to one after another of the
friends whom she had invited TO her
private view. 81 only hope you won't
make me unbearably conceited by 50
much battery. 1t is, perhaps, a good
thing that my cousin, Gilbert de Las
trim, IS not here TO supply a wholesome
corrective"
For NJ. de Lastrin's curiosity had APP
parently not survived until the end of
the week, and in Miss Methuen's heart of
hearts there was a hardly confessed sem
Satlon OF disappointment that none of her
acquaintance had been surprised by his
appearing on the scene, not to mention
the humiliation of feeling that he had ig-
nored her invitation. When every one
had gone she still fingered, scarcely adj
uniting to herself that she was allowing
him q few minutes grace, vet her heart
certainly beat quicker when the door
opened once more and the servant an
nounced IN. lie Marquis de Lastrin."
she turned toward him with a gracious
smile.
"A moment more" she said, land I
should have left the studio, carrying my
appointment that would have been for us
BOTH"
Il should have regretted it, :" he replied
looking not at her, but at her work, which
was hung in the most favorable light the
studio afforded.
Take care" cried Dora, gayly; you
must not say anything I can construe
into a compliment. have had too many
already, and / don't expect such things
from you"
He appeared not to hear her remark
ne certainly Youchsafed no answer TO it.
FOR some minutes he examined the me-
dalton in silence.
Your model is considered one of the
! beauties OF Brussels" he said somewhat
| lrreleyantly, when he spoke at last.
There was another pause.
You are pleased with it?" he began
again abruptly.
then?"
Then l congratulate you"
THAT is rather ambiguous. On what
do you congratulate me?''
ON having achieved what pleases
you" was his reply.
And supposing l am not pleased" re-
sumed Dora, ''how then?''
She hardly knew why she said it-why
she allowed his 1mpassability to make
her communicative.
DE Lastrln gave sharp glance into her
lace. IL that be the case,' he said, 81
congratulate you still more warmly.
congratulate you on being able to see, in
stead of for being blind"
Dora's eyes flashed for moment. 81
! hope L am clear-sighted enough, - she re-
joined, trying to steady a teII-tale tremor
| IN her voice, ito see without any help
that the thing is an utter failure. I hope
| am sincere enough to judge even my
own work fairly"
on form remarkable exception to
| the rest of your species if YOU aren he
pause; but" he continued, and there
was decided soitening in his tone, "you
! are wrong in calling it an utter failure
just as wrong as if you had fancied it a
complete success. You would have done
better liz he spoke slowly and hesitat-
known how to-"
He looked into her face, and she no
ticed that his large, gray eyes were
brighter than she had ever before seen
them. How he enjoys the part he is
| playing" was her mental comment.
Aloud she said:
''Of course, / wish you to be honest.
but may as well tell you that both nv
London master and NJ. Fusain consider
me quite capable of working from life.''
Which," rejoined her cousin, coouy,
is III certain sense true. Life is the
one and only school for the art student:
! but-to continue speaking honestly-tbe
y
| patient. Your masters, Fusain included.
have battered you. You have talent, it is
true; but II you want to run you must
/ first learn to walk. lou have apparently
not the least inzling of the long drudgery
which is necessary before your hand and
! eye have the technical skill necessary to
success in such an undertaking as this.
! \ our talent is absolutely helpless with
out that technical skill" De Lastrin
| spoke with unwonted animation
'Pedantlc creature" thought Dora. ST
suppose he picks up all these phrases for
the sake of sounding superior. I have
always done all that my masters have
suggested" she informed him in reply.
Il suppose l shall grow more skillful in
time.'
''My dear cousin" he rejoined in the
same tone, that IS just what you will not
do. you will-if you continue to work
on the lines you are now following-aI-
ways be conscious of lack in your pow
ers OF executions and in what you
achieve. This attempt and its result will
repeat itself ad infnitum. Perhaps you
will not care if it is so-perhaps you aim
no higher"
81 aim as high as 1 can get.u She said
! petulantly; land l do not understand the
vague things you say about the lines
! work on"
Her tone seemed lost on de Lastrin.
lie was once more looking intentIy at
| the medallion. Presently he spoke again
| slowly and cOnstrainedly.
e would be less vague some other time
| II you would allow me-" he said. 81
might look in some afternoon when you
| are at work here and explain myself 7
| 90 not think FuSain would object even if
l made few SUGGESTIONS
on are very kind,' reioined Dora.
With emily poIIteness. 'Of course, |
should be grateful for any suggestions of
| value"
Then de Lastrin looked at his watch
ana took hurried leave as if the time
he could never kill to his own satisfac-.
ton were Infinitely precious
Ii l had had grain of spirit" soiilo-
quized Miss Methuen as She drove home
ward, II should have told him not to
| come. How could | allow myself to be
patronized so detestably? And oh! what
vanity to set himself up as an authority
higher than such masters as [ have had!
W hat would Slmonne say if I told her
all about it2 She would laugh at me in
deed"
So it came about that Nine. Van der
Heyden heard but an outline of the scene
which had taken place. Even in that she
found food for merriment.
Going to help you with your draw
ing" she laughed. My dear Dora, 1
shouldn't have thought you wanted an
other master. And do remember that the
relation between master and pupil is
rather a dangerous one.1
My dear Simonne," replied Miss
Methuen, IF l never run any greater
danger than The. present one my peace OF
nilnd VIII be tolerably secure"
''Wait till the lessons are over my
dear. There Is an old proverb which
warns us not to shout before we are out
of the wood"
And Nine. Van der Heyden, looking
extremely wise. seated herself at the
n 70,