The evening times., 1898-12-31

for several minutes and then finally puts down
his palette and crosses over to the fireplace
lights pipe, and throws himself into opposite
chair.
Charming (pufing at pipe)-By Jove,
BalIy, you don't half appreciate this. I've
done my days work. and now comes the
rest. You haven't done anything. so
there's no contrast in your life Life
without contrast IS
Bally (drowsily)-Oh. stow that. cd
man,
Channing-It shows something lacking
in your composition. tBaily grins and
pours himself out more whisky BE
sides, Ii isn't fair TO YOU people. They
think you work. I'll be bound But you
gave up your studio ages ago and you
spend your time hanging arouna here tai
turn you out and then you 80 TO some
ether chaps place
Bally-Fred. you're a good fellow. and
like you. but you really have no sense
OF humor. You don't seem to realize that
I'm not built like you. But I'll tell you
what, you hit II on the nail when you
say my people think | work | swear /
mean to. I'm going 10 start al Julian
tomorrow bright. Here's q letter
from the mater now. IL came three days
ago takes 1T out of MS pocket, and
forget to open H. Tears letter open and
begins reading IL. during which Claiming
looks thoughtfuliy into the hre and
watches the curling rings of smoke from
his pipeJ (Suddenly and exeitedly) say.
Claiming. they're coming | say old
man,
Claiming (calmly)-Who?
Bally-My people-my mother and my
sister. Coming here tomorrow Hang IL
all. what shall | do? (Gets up and Faces
rapidly up and down the studio.J
Channing-Aren't you glad?
Bally lcrossly1-Of course. I'm glad in
one sense; but you don't understand. They
think I've been working.
Charming bursts out laughing)-GTeat
Scott, Ha. ha, ha,
Bally-It isn't as if can make a clean
breast of it, You don't know the mater
and Mary-Oh she's worse. They believe
in me.
Charming tstill laughingl-What are
they going to do?
Bally-I don't know. (Thinks) (Sud-
denly) Claiming, they'll only be here
three or four days, and they don't know
much about art
Channing-Well?
Bally thesitating, but cheerfuD -
thought, If you don't mind. that you might
-well--lend me
Claiming tstonily)-Whati you want me
to pretend that you did all my canvases
yourself?
Bally-That would be very simple way,
wouldn't il?
Charming (sarcasticaliy) sim
pie,
Bally-You'n save my life if you do this
for me, Fred
Charming tdubiously)-I don't know
Bally-Oh. | say, now, be a good chap
I'll do as much for you some time. lt
won't hurt you. Catches up his hat and
stick and goes out)
Charming docking after him crestfallen)
Well, of all the-ha, ha. ha,-but I'll be
jumped if l know whether it's right or
not besides, I'm the worst liar this side of
the Boul Mich, and Bally knows it. But
that girl-shes jolly sort of girl accord
ing 10 that picture Bally's got of her.
wish-but OF course shall make him tell
She has straight eyebrows-like a Greek
goddess. He will have to tell them before
the day is over.
The next day. Enter Bally. followed by Mrs and
Miss Balington. Bally smiles swteiIy at
Claiming. and waves his hand al her.
Bally-Oh, you're here, are you. Chan
ming? Mother. this is my friend. Mr.
Claiming. He's sharing my studio till his
is ready-and my sister. tMrs. Ballington
bows, with a sort of howkind- of YOU look
at Bally) Yes. Channings a rather lazy
sort of chap, you know. The fellows say
(modestly) that my influence on him has
been very good.
Claiming struggling with q laugh that
will not be struggled withl-Yes. BaIly's
influence has been very good on US all
ENDS with gurgle)
Mrs. Ballington tgravely)-I am very
glad to hear that. My dear boy, / am
afraid Mary and l have misjudged you a
little, haven't We, dear?
Mary (smiling)-Yes, I'm afraid so
(Turns and examines canvases turned
against the wall, easels artists materials.
etc.l
Mrs. Ballington-Now, Theo. show us all
your sketches.
(Bally turns two canvases from the
wall)
Baily-There are-Barbizon.
Mary coming up behind him)-BarbiZOn.
Thoo! They look exactly like the country
around The Hague.
Charming (sotto voce)-They are, you
unspeakable ass,
Bally (severely)-Mary I'm surprised at
you. You don't seem TO think that two
places can look alike. Here are two things
done in the studio. I'm rather proud OF
this one; it's what l got my mention" on.
Mrs. Ballington and Mary-You never
wrote us about that,
Bally-Oh, don't 1? Didn't attach much
Importance to it. Natural modesty, you
see.
Mrs. Ballington neutrality-suspicious. boy,
How hard you must have worked, We
have done you an injustice.
Bally-0h, they're well enough. but of
course they don't satisfy me. No artist
is satisfied with his work. | think they
are rather rocky.
Claiming (gaspng)-I don't know
Bally tcarelessly)-Yes, work of a stu
dent entirely Well have some tea You
come and make it, Maria mia. Moves
across room, with Mary following tesi-
tatingly.)
Mrs. Ballington Ito Channing)-I al
ways thought, Mr.. Claiming, when I sent
Theo to Paris / was doing the wrong
thing; but l was over-persuaded and I'm
glad ] did now. He's perfectly changed /
assure you. He used to be most dread
fully untidy at home The curious part
of it is that while this studio of his is so
neat and orderly, his other rooms are in
a terrible state. That may be because he
takes more interest in his working place
Charming with a desperate look at Bal
ly, who is talking high art to his sister
over the kettle, and smiles at him en-
couragingly)-It is very likely, Mrs Bal
lington. Anyway, he's the best -natured
fellow in the world. (Aside) Why the
deuce doesn't that idiot let me help make
tea. (Aloud) l say, Bally, let me help
your sister You can show your mother
MY meant your Japanese masks. over
there in the cabinet. I'm sure she'd like
them.
Bally-Yes, they're a collection
bought at an antique sIfop in the Rue
Vaugiraud. and they're supposed to be
done by-YumShati Su Chang aside tn