The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-26


dressing table. and the lamp was set up
on the inverted washing basin to get the
light in a more convgnient position. Some
candles they had brought with them were
| stuck about the room. 1t cost Edmund a
! great deal of trouble to fix his illumina-
! lions, and once or twice Veronica breathed
a iervent prayer, that the difficulties in
his way might be too much for him. Moth
| ing however, would deter him from his
purpose. He at length struck an atti-
! tude in the middle of the floor.
| Try this
of l can only please him." she thought
to herself cit will be all right
She did her best. to initiate the pose he
| had indicated. but Edmund shook his head
and tapped his fingers impatiently on the
| table.
| Get more of a swing on the figure.
| Left leg farther back-farther. Right hip
| a bit raised. Now look toward the middle
; of the window-the middle the middle.
Keep your chin in-I don't want it to be
| the most prominent thing in the picture.
! Now get your right leg little more to-
ward me-
| IT'S very uncomfortable, Edmund.
! don't think | shall be able to keep it up
! for long
| Then try againl Oh. no. that won't do
| at all; you're all out OF drawing" He start
! ed up with imminent danger to the lamp,
} and began to move her about as though
| she had been large doll. The hardness
Of his touch made her sore and angry. and
her efforts to conceal her emotions did not
| add lissomeness to her figure. Edmund
| stepped back and regarded her with a
I groan. Have your joints gone on strike
! Anyone would think that you were made
of wood,
: Il will be patient" said Veronica to her
! self; and it seemed to her as though no
one on earth had ever risen to such heights
| of endurance before. q will really man
I age it this time she said aloud and,
smiling bravely, she made another effort
only to succeed in looking like a marion
/ cite which had accidentally got twisted.
| Edmund sank hopelessly into his chair.
swearing beneath his breath. You're no
: use at all. If I only had that new model
at Julian's,"
! Veronica sat down on the edge of the
| bed and dug her nails into the counter
pane.
You used to say that my figure was
! lovely, and that l made an excellent
model"
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 daresay.
| You spoil everything by your want of self
| control. You're SO confoundedly emo
/ tional"
I "Emotional!" she answered. struggling
! with her tears. How can you say that
{ If You only knew how | control myself.
! If were emotional should half kill you
! "A really good model" went on Edmund
/ vindictively, would sit perfectly still If
( there were black beetles crawling over
! her" He became understanding in his
/ tone. We'll, perhaps l could do something
with your hands and arms for my 'Daugh-
I ter of HerOdias.' l want them to go like
{ that. What can you have for a charger?
/ Try the soap dish
Nearly five minutes were passed in a
decorative arrangement of Veronica's
hands round the edge of bowl At length
he began to work. Veronica's eyes fell on
| the unposted letters thrown upon the bed
Why" she said. you've been writing
to Barnstaple."
| Yes; I've asked him if he'd ike to join
us in our summer holiday"
| "Barnstaple? Oh, Edmund, how could
/ you, Why did you never ask me? You
know l dent like Barnstaple."
1T Will be a great advantage to me to
work with him. He's splendid draughts-
man"
But such hateful cad-a man who
puts his knife in his mouth. and who ran
away from his wife,
Marriage is no fetish in my eyes, We
ronica"
What do you mean by that?'
Il consider that Barnstaple had a right
to leave his wife IL he wanted. Indeed, I
! sometimes doubt whether an artist ought
to marry at all. His art demands so much
from him; he cannot afford sacrifices
What sacrifices?"
"Oh. the sacrifices you all want You're
| getting emotional again. Veronica Your
hands are all over the shop
The contemplation OF a summer holiday
| in the company of the odious Barnstaple
was almost more than Veronica could bear
| The muscles of her arms began to ache
with the strain Of keeping them in the
same position. She felt that she was get
ting pale, yet Edmund. usually SO tender
and considerate, took no notice. Why was
| he--so tragicaly altered? What had made
him think marriage a mistake. and that
men should leave their wives?
Edmund she asked with a sudden
rush, do you sometimes wish you were
not n2arried?"
What ridiculous question, Your left
little fingers waggling'"
There was a pause. during which the left
| little finger became rigid
What was Barnstaples wife like. that
he SHOULD leave herr"
ION. just the usual butterfly who want,
ed to Cad about. and had no interest o.
understanding of his work.
All" she remarked dspassionately: at
| seems foolish of men to marry. Why do
! they 90 it. Edmund?"
Generally because they are the victims
of some absurd Illusions
You ought really" went on Veronica,
still philosophically. ito marry models
| dummies who would sit perfectly still with
| black beetles crawling over them Or"
her voice was interrupted by a short rising
breath-"stand anything
"Corfound il all. Why won't you keep
your hands still? l used to think them a
decent shape. But the way you hold them
they're hideOus and out of all drawing
These last words broke the hard some
thing that rose at Veronica's throat She
sank upon the bed and burst into tears
Edmund. what has happened to you,
What are you hiding from me? Why are
you changed so utterly?'
He picked up the sketch on which he had
been working and tore it violently across.
Don't poster me. Veronica Don't torture
me. LIES intolerable enough as it isl
He threw himself forward. his head upon
his hands. Veronica dashed the tears
from her eyes and stood before him in a
pose Of which he missed the fineness.
But you must tell me why it is-what's
wrong with you. What has changed you
so?"
"Oh. this is into!erable. What a hell it
Is that ! am forced to endure this, Leave
me lone-Minerva-leave me alone
He had called her that hideOus name
that name which up to now he had re-
fused even to utter. The room seemed
stifing-like tiny cage. Veronica reach
ed fer her hat. I'm going" she said.
with a burst of violent grief. Don't be
afraid-Im going
He looked up and rose from his chair.
Put that hat down: don't be such a fool
such silly fool!"
She put the hat on her head and turned
toward the door. He made q movement
toward her as violent as it was clumsy.