Ihadhearditdarklywhisperedthathewassomethingofavagabond。Butthetermissolooselyapplied，anditseemssodifficult，afterall，todefinewhatavagabondis，ortostriketherightmoralbalancebetweenthevagabondworkwhichisboldlypublished，andthevagabondworkwhichisreservedforprivatecirculationonly，thatIdidnotfeeljustifiedinholdingalooffrommyformerfriend。Accordingly，Irenewedouracquaintance，andtoldhimmypresentdifficulty。Hewasasharpman，andheshowedmeawayoutofitdirectly。
\"Youhaveagoodeyeforalikeness，\"hesaid；\"andyouhavemadeitkeepyouhitherto。Verywell。Makeitkeepyoustill。Youcan\'tprofitablycaricaturepeople\'sfacesanylonger——nevermind!gototheotherextreme，andflatterthemnow。Turnportrait-painter。Youshallhavetheuseofthisstudythreedaysintheweek，fortenshillingsaweek——sleepingonthehearth-rugincluded，ifyoulike。Getyourpaints，rouseupyourfriends，settoworkatonce。Drawingisofnoconsequence；paintingisofnoconsequence；perspectiveisofnoconsequence；ideasareofnoconsequence。Everythingisofnoconsequence，exceptcatchingalikenessandflatteringyoursitter——andthatyouknowyoucando。”
IfeltthatIcould；andlefthimforthenearestcolorman\'s。
BeforeIgottotheshop，ImetMr。Batterburytakinghiswalkingexercise。Hestopped，shookhandswithmeaffectionately，andaskedwhereIwasgoing。Awonderfulideastruckme。Insteadofansweringhisquestion，IaskedafterLadyMalkinshaw。
\"Don\'tbealarmed，\"saidMr。Batterbury；\"herladyshiptumbleddownstairsyesterdaymorning。”
\"Mydearsir，allowmetocongratulateyou!\"
\"Mostfortunately，\"continuedMr。Batterbury，withastrongemphasisonthewords，andafixedstareatme；\"mostfortunately，theservanthadbeencarelessenoughtoleavealargebundleofclothesforthewashatthefootofthestairs，whileshewenttoanswerthedoor。Fallingheadlongfromthelanding，herladyshippitched(pardonmetheexpression)——pitchedintotheverymiddleofthebundle。Shewasalittleshakenatthetime，butisreportedtobegoingoncharminglythismorning。
Mostfortunate，wasitnot？Seenthepapers？AwfulnewsfromDemerara——theyellowfever——\"
\"IwishIwasatDemerara，\"Isaid，inahollowvoice。
\"You!Why？\"exclaimedMr。Batterbury，aghast。
\"Iamhomeless，friendless，penniless，\"Iwenton，gettingmorehollowateveryword。\"AllmyintellectualinstinctstellmethatIcouldretrievemypositionandliverespectablyintheworld，ifImightonlytrymyhandatportrait-painting——thethingofallothersthatIamnaturallyfittestfor。ButIhavenobodytostartme；nosittertogivemeafirstchance；nothinginmypocketbutthree-and-sixpence；andnothinginmymindbutadoubtwhetherIshallstruggleonalittlelonger，orenditimmediatelyintheThames。Don\'tletmedetainyoufromyourwalk，mydearsir。I\'mafraidLadyMalkinshawwilloutliveme，afterall!\"
\"Stop!\"criedMr。Batterbury；hismahoganyfaceactuallygettingwhitewithalarm。\"Stop!Don\'ttalkinthatdreadfullyunprincipledmanner——don\'t，Iimplore，Iinsist!Youhaveplentyoffriends——youhaveme，andyoursister。Taketoportrait-painting——thinkofyourfamily，andtaketoportrait-painting!\"
\"WhereamItogetasitter？\'Iinquired，withagloomyshakeofthehead。
\"Me，\"saidMr。Batterbury，withaneffort。\"I\'llbeyourfirstsitter。Asabeginner，andespeciallytoamemberofthefamily，Isupposeyourtermswillbemoderate。Smallbeginnings——youknowtheproverb？\"Herehestopped；andamiserlyleerpuckereduphismahoganycheeks。
\"I\'lldoyou，life-size，downtoyourwaistcoat，forfiftypounds，\"saidI。
Mr。Batterburywinced，andlookedabouthimtotherightandleft，asifhewantedtorunaway。Hehadfivethousandayear，buthecontrivedtotook，atthatmoment，asifhisutmostincomewasfivehundred。Iwalkedonafewsteps。
\"Surelythosetermsareratherhightobeginwith？\"hesaid，walkingafterme。\"Ishouldhavethoughtfive-and-thirty，orperhapsforty——\"
\"Agentleman，sir，cannotcondescendtobargain，\"saidI，withmournfuldignity。\"Farewell!\"Iwavedmyhand，andcrossedovertheway。
\"Don\'tdothat!\"criedMr。Batterbury。\"Iaccept。Givemeyouraddress。I\'llcometomorrow。Willitincludetheframe!There!
there!itdoesn\'tincludetheframe，ofcourse。Whereareyougoingnow？Tothecolorman？Hedoesn\'tliveintheStrand，I
hope——ornearoneofthebridges。ThinkofAnnabella，thinkofthefamily，thinkofthefiftypounds——anincome，ayear\'sincometoaprudentman。Pray，praybecareful，andcomposeyourmind:
promiseme，mydear，dearfellow——promiseme，onyourwordofhonor，tocomposeyourmind!\"
Ilefthimstillharpingonthatstring，andsuffering，I
believe，theonlyseriousattackofmentaldistressthathadeveraffectedhiminthewholecourseofhislife。
Beholdme，then，nowstartingafreshintheworld，inthecharacterofaportrait-painter；withthepaymentofmyremunerationfrommyfirstsitterdependingwhimsicallyonthelifeofmygrandmother。IfyoucaretoknowhowLadyMalkinshaw\'shealthgoton，andhowIsucceededinmynewprofession，youhaveonlytofollowthefurthercourseoftheseconfessions，inthenextchapter。
CHAPTERIV。
IGAVEmyorderstothecolorman，andsettledmatterswithmyfriendtheartistthatday。
Thenextmorning，beforethehouratwhichIexpectedmysitter，havingjustnowasmuchinterestinthelifeofLadyMalkinshawasMr。Batterburyhadinherdeath，Iwenttomakekindinquiriesafterherladyship\'shealth。Theanswerwasmostreassuring。LadyMalkinshawhadnopresentintentionofpermittingmetosurviveher。Shewas，atthatverymoment，meritoriouslyandheartilyengagedineatingherbreakfast。Myprospectsbeingnowofthebestpossiblekind，lfeltencouragedtowriteoncemoretomyfather，tellinghimofmyfreshstartinlife，andproposingarenewalofouracquaintance。Iregrettosaythathewassorudeasnottoanswermyletter。
Mr。Batterburywaspunctualtothemoment。Hegaveagaspofreliefwhenhebeheldme，fulloflife，withmypaletteonmythumb，gazingfondlyonmynewcanvas。
\"That\'sright!\"hesaid。\"Iliketoseeyouwithyourmindcomposed。Annabellawouldhavecomewithme；butshehasalittleheadachethismorning。Shesendsherloveandbestwishes。”
Iseizedmychalksandbeganwiththatconfidenceinmyselfwhichhasneverforsakenmeinanyemergency。Beingperfectlywellawareoftheabsolutedependenceoftheartofportrait-paintingontheartofflattery，Ideterminedtostartwithmakingthemereoutlineofmylikenessacomplimenttomysitter。
Itwasmucheasiertoresolveondoingthisthanreallytodoit。
Inthefirstplace，myhandwouldrelapseintoitswickedoldcaricaturinghabits。Inthesecondplace，mybrother-in-law\'sfacewassoinveteratelyandcompletelyuglyastoseteveryartificeofpictorialimprovementatflatdefiance。Whenamanhasanoseaninchlong，withthenostrilssetperpendicularly，itisimpossibletoflatterit——youmusteitherchangeitintoafancynose，orresignedlyacquiesceinit。Whenamanhasnoperceptibleeyelids，andwhenhiseyesglobularlyprojectsofaroutofhishead，thatyouexpecttohavetopickthemupforhimwheneveryouseehimleanforward，howaremortalfingersandbushestodiffusetherightcomplimentaryexpressionoverthem？
Youmusteitherdothemthemosthideousandcompletejustice，orgivethemupaltogether。ThelateSirThomasLawrence，P。R。A。，wasundoubtedlythemostartfulanduncompromisingflattererthateversmoothedoutallthenaturalcharacteristicblemishesfromasitter\'sface；buteventhataccomplishedparasitewouldhavefoundMr。Batterburytoomuchforhim，andwouldhavebeendriven，forthefirsttimeinhispracticeofart，totheuncustomaryanduncourtlyresourceofabsolutelypaintingagenuinelikeness。
Asforme，IputmytrustinLadyMalkinshaw\'spowerofliving，andportrayedthefaceofMr。Batterburyinallitsnativehorror。Atthesametime，Isensiblyguardedagainsteventhemostimprobableaccidents，bymakinghimpaymethefiftypoundsaswewenton，byinstallments。Wehadtensittings。EachoneofthembeganwithamessagefromMr。Batterbury，givingmeAnnabella\'sloveandapologiesfornotbeingabletocomeandseeme。EachoneofthemendedwithanargumentbetweenMr。
Batterburyandmerelativetothetransferoffivepoundsfromhispockettomine。Icameoffvictoriousoneveryoccasion——beingbackedbythenoblebehaviorofLadyMalkinshaw，whoabstainedfromtumblingdown，andwhoateanddrank，andsleptandgrewlusty，forthreeweekstogether。Venerablewoman!
Sheputfiftypoundsintomypocket。Ishallthinkofherwithgratitudeandrespecttotheendofmydays。
Onemorning，whileIwassittingbeforemycompletedportrait，inwardlyshudderingovertheuglinessofit，asuffocatingsmellofmuskwaswaftedintothestudio；itwasfollowedbyasoundofrustlinggarments；andthatagainwassucceededbythepersonalappearanceofmyaffectionatesister，withherhusbandatherheels。Annabellahadgottotheendofherstockofapologies，andhadcometoseeme。
Sheputherhandkerchieftohernosethemomentsheenteredtheroom。
\"Howdoyoudo，Frank？Don\'tkissme:yousmellofpaint，andI
can\'tbearit。”
Ifeltasimilarantipathytothesmellofmusk，andhadnottheslightestintentionofkissingher；butIwastoogallantamantosayso；andIonlybeggedhertofavormebylookingatherhusband\'sportrait。
Annabellaglancedallroundtheroom，withherhandkerchiefstillathernose，andgatheredhermagnificentsilkdresscloseabouthersuperbfigurewithherdisengagedhand。
\"Whatahorridplace!\"shesaidfaintlybehindherhandkerchief。
\"Can\'tyoutakesomeofthepaintaway？I\'msurethere\'soilonthefloor。HowamItogetpastthatnastytablewiththepaletteonit？Whycan\'tyoubringthepicturedowntothecarriage，Frank？\"
Advancingafewsteps，andlookingsuspiciouslyaboutherwhileshespoke，hereyesfellonthechimney-piece。Aneau-de-Colognebottlestooduponit，whichshetookupimmediatelywithalanguishingsigh。
Itcontainedturpentineforwashingbrushesin。BeforeIcouldwarnher，shehadsprinkledherselfabsentlywithhalfthecontentsofthebottle。Inspiteofallthemuskthatnowfilledtheroom，theturpentinebetrayeditselfalmostassoonasI
cried\"Stop!\"Annabella，withashriekofdisgust，flungthebottlefuriouslyintothefireplace。Fortunatelyitwassummer-time，orImighthavehadtoechotheshriekwithacryof\"Fire!\"
\"Youwretch!youbrute!youlow，mischievous，swindlingblackguard!\"criedmyamiablesister，shakingherskirtswithallhermight，\"youhavedonethisonpurpose!Don\'ttellme!Iknowyouhave。Whatdoyoumeanbypesteringmetocometothisdog-kennelofaplace？\"shecontinued，turningfiercelyuponthepartnerofherexistenceandlegitimatereceptacleofallhersuperfluouswrath。\"Whatdoyoumeanbybringingmehere，toseehowyouhavebeenswindled？Yes，sir，swindled!Hehasnomoreideaofpaintingthanyouhave。Hehascheatedyououtofyourmoney。IfhewasstarvingtomorrowhewouldbethelastmaninEnglandtomakeawaywithhimself——heistoogreatawretch——heistoovicious——heistoolosttoallsenseofrespectability——heistoomuchofadiscredittohisfamily。Takemeaway!Givemeyourarmdirectly!Itoldyounottogonearhimfromthefirst。
Thisiswhatcomesofyourhorridfondnessformoney。SupposeLadyMalkinshawdoesoutlivehim；supposeIdolosemylegacy。
Whatisthreethousandpoundstoyou？Mydressisruined。Myshawl\'sspoiled。_He_die!IftheoldwomanlivestotheageofMethuselah，hewon\'tdie。Givemeyourarm。No!Gotomyfather。
Iwantmedicaladvice。Mynervesaretorntopieces。Imgiddy，faint，sick——SICK，Mr。Batterbury!\"
Hereshebecamehysterical，andvanished，leavingamixedodorofmuskandturpentinebehindher，whichpreservedthememoryofhervisitfornearlyaweekafterward。
\"Anothersceneinthedramaofmylifeseemslikelytocloseinbeforelong，\"thoughtI。\"Nochancenowofgettingmyamiablesistertopatronizestrugglinggenius。DoIknowofanybodyelsewhowillsittome？No，notasoul。Havingthusnoportraitsofotherpeopletopaint，whatisitmyduty，asaneglectedartist，todonext？Clearlytotakeaportraitofmyself。”
Ididso，makingmyownlikenessquiteapleasantrelieftotheuglinessofmybrother-in-law\'s。ItwasmyintentiontosendbothportraitstotheRoyalAcademyExhibition，togetcustom，andshowthepublicgenerallywhatIcoulddo。IknewtheinstitutionwithwhichIhadtodeal，andcalledmyownlikeness，PortraitofaNobleman。
Thatdexterousappealtothetenderestfeelingsofmydistinguishedcountrymenverynearlysucceeded。TheportraitofMr。Batterbury(muchthemorecarefully-paintedpictureofthetwo)wassummarilyturnedout。ThePortraitofaNoblemanwaspolitelyreservedtobehungup，iftheRoyalAcademicianscouldpossiblyfindroomforit。Theycouldnot。Sothatpicturealsovanishedbackintotheobscurityoftheartist\'seasel。Weakandwell-meaningpeoplewouldhavedespondedunderthesecircumstances；butyourgenuineRogueisamanofelastictemperament，noteasilycompressibleunderanypressureofdisaster。IsenttheportraitofMr。Batterburytothehouseofthatdistinguishedpatron，andthePortraitofaNoblemantothePawnbroker\'s。AfterthisIhadplentyofelbow-roominthestudio，andcouldwalkupanddownbriskly，smokingmypipe，andthinkingaboutwhatIshoulddonext。
Ihadobservedthatthegenerousfriendandvagabondbrotherartist，whoselodgerInowwas，neverseemedtobeinabsolutewantofmoney；andyetthewallsofhisstudioinformedmethatnobodyboughthispictures。Therehungallhisgreatworks，rejectedbytheRoyalAcademy，andneglectedbythepatronsofArt；andthere，nevertheless，washe，blithelyplyingthebrush；
notrich，itistrue，butcertainlyneverwithoutmoneyenoughinhispocketforthesupplyofallhismodestwants。Wheredidhefindhisresources？Ideterminedtoaskhimthequestiontheverynexttimehecametothestudio。
\"Dick，\"Isaid(wecalledeachotherbyourChristiannames)，\"wheredoyougetyourmoney？\"
\"Frank，\"heanswered，\"whatmakesyouaskthatquestion？\"
\"Necessity，\"Iproceeded。\"Mystockofmoneyisdecreasing，andI
don\'tknowhowtoreplenishit。Mypictureshavebeenturnedoutoftheexhibition-rooms；nobodycomestosittome；Ican\'tmakeafarthing；andImusttryanotherlineintheArts，orleaveyourstudio。Weareoldfriendsnow。I\'vepaidyouhonestlyweekbyweek；andifyoucanobligeme，Ithinkyouought。Youearnmoneysomehow。Whycan\'tI？\"
\"Areyouatallparticular？\"askedDick。
\"Notintheleast，\"Ianswered。
Dicknodded，andlookedpleased；handedmemyhat，andputonhisown。
\"YouarejustthesortofmanIlike，\"heremarked，\"andIwouldsoonertrustyouthananyoneelseIknow。YouaskhowIcontrivetoearnmoney，seeingthatallmypicturesarestillinmyownpossession。Mydearfellow，whenevermypocketsareempty，andI
wantaten-poundnotetoputintothem，ImakeanOldMaster。”
Istaredhardathim，notatfirstquiteunderstandingwhathemeant。
\"TheOldMasterIcanmakebest，\"continuedDick，\"isClaudeLorraine，whomyoumayhaveheardofoccasionallyasafamouspainterofclassicallandscapes。Idon\'texactlyknow(hehasbeendeadsolong)howmanypicturesheturnedout，fromfirsttolast；butwewillsay，forthesakeofargument，fivehundred。
Notfiveoftheseareofferedforsale，perhaps，inthecourseoffiveyears。Enlightenedcollectorsofoldpicturespourintothemarketbyfifties，whilegenuinespecimensofClaude，orofanyotherOldMasteryouliketomention，onlydribbleinbyonesandtwos。Underthesecircumstances，whatistobedone？Areunoffendingownersofgalleriestobesubjectedtodisappointment？OraretheworksofClaude，andtheotherfellows，tobebenevolentlyincreasedinnumber，tosupplythewantsofpersonsoftasteandquality？Nomanofhumanitybutmustleantothelatteralternative。Thecollectors，observe，don\'tknowanythingaboutit——theybuyClaude(totakeaninstancefrommyownpractice)astheybuyalltheotherOldMasters，becauseofhisreputation，notbecauseofthepleasuretheygetfromhisworks。Givethemapicturewithagoodlargeruin，fancytrees，prancingnymphs，andawaterysky；dirtyitdowndexterouslytotherightpitch；putitinanoldframe；callitaClaude；andthesphereoftheOldMasterisenlarged，thecollectorisdelighted，thepicture-dealerisenriched，andtheneglectedmodernartistclapsajoyfulhandonawell-filledpocket。SomemenhaveaknackatmakingRembrandts，othershaveaturnforRaphaels，Titians，Cuyps，Watteaus，andtherestofthem。Anyhow，weareallmadehappy——allpleasedwitheachother——allbenefitedalike。Kindnessispropagatedandmoneyisdispersed。Comealong，myboy，andmakeanOldMaster!\"
CHAPTERV。
HEledthewayintothestreetashespoke。Ifelttheirresistibleforceofhislogic。Isympathizedwiththeardentphilanthropyofhismotives。IburnedwithanobleambitiontoextendthesphereoftheOldMasters。Inshort，Itookthetideattheflood，andfollowedDick。
Weplungedintosomeby-streets，struckoffsharpintoacourt，andenteredahousebyabackdoor。Alittleoldgentlemaninablackvelvetdressing-gownmetusinthepassage。Dickinstantlypresentedme:\"Mr。FrankSoftly——Mr。IshmaelPickup。”Thelittleoldgentlemanstaredatmedistrustfully。IbowedtohimwiththatinexorablepolitenesswhichIfirstlearnedundertheinstructivefistofGentlemanJones，andwhichnoforceofadversecircumstanceshaseveravailedtomitigateinafterlife。
Mr。IshmaelPickupfollowedmylead。Thereisnottheleastneedtodescribehim——hewasaJew。
\"Gointothefrontshow-room，andlookatthepictures，whileI
speaktoMr。Pickup，\"saidDick，familiarlythrowingopenadoor，andpushingmeintoakindofgallerybeyond。Ifoundmyselfquitealone，surroundedbymodern-antiquepicturesofallschoolsandsizes，ofalldegreesofdirtanddullness，withallthenamesofallthefamousOldMasters，fromTitiantoTeniers，inscribedontheirframes。A\"pearlylittlegem，\"byClaude，withaticketmarked\"Sold\"stuckintotheframe，particularlyattractedmyattention。ItwasDick\'slastten-poundjob；anditdidcredittotheyouthfulmaster\'sabilitiesasaworkman-likemakerofClaudes。
Ihavebeeninformedthat，sincethetimeofwhichIamwriting，thebusinessofgentlemenofMr。Pickup\'sclasshasratherfallenoff，andthattherearedealersinpictures，nowadays，whoareasjustandhonorablemenascanbefoundinanyprofessionorcalling，anywhereunderthesun。Thischange，whichIreportwithsincerityandreflectonwithamazement，is，asIsuspect，mainlytheresultofcertainwholesalemodernimprovementsinthepositionofcontemporaryArt，whichhavenecessitatedimprovementsandalterationsinthebusinessofpicture-dealing。
Inmytime，theencouragersofmodernpaintingwerelimitedinnumbertoafewnoblemenandgentlemenofancientlineage，who，inmattersoftaste，atleast，neverpresumedtothinkforthemselves。Theyeitherinheritedorboughtagallerymoreorlessfullofoldpictures。Itwasasmuchapartoftheireducationtoputtheirfaithintheseonhearsayevidence，astoputtheirfaithinKing，LordsandCommons。Itwasanarticleoftheircreedtobelievethatthedeadpainterswerethegreatmen，andthatthemorethelivingpaintersimitatedthedead，thebetterwastheirchanceofbecomingatsomefutureday，andinaminordegree，greatalso。Atcertaintimesandseasons，thesenoblemenandgentlemenself-distrustfullystrayedintothepainting-roomofamodernartist，self-distrustfullyallowedthemselvestoberatherattractedbyhispictures，self-distrustfullyboughtoneortwoofthematpriceswhichwouldappearsoincrediblylow，inthesedays，thatIreallycannotventuretoquotethem。Thepicturewassenthome；thenoblemanorgentleman(almostalwaysanamiableandahospitableman)wouldasktheartisttohishouseandintroducehimtothedistinguishedindividualswhofrequentedit；butwouldneveradmithispicture，ontermsofequality，intothesocietyevenofthesecond-rateOldMasters。Hisworkwashungupinanyout-of-the-waycornerofthegallerythatcouldbefound；ithadbeenboughtunderprotest；itwasadmittedbysufferance；itsfreshnessandbrightnessdamageditterriblybycontrastwiththedirtinessandthedinginessofitselderlypredecessors；anditsonlypointsselectedforpraisewerethoseinwhichitmostnearlyresembledthepeculiarmannerismofsomeOldMaster，notthoseinwhichitresembledthecharacteristicsoftheoldmistress——Nature。
Theunfortunateartisthadnocourtofappealthathecouldturnto。Nobodybeneaththenobleman，orthegentlemanofancientlineage，somuchasthoughtofbuyingamodernpicture。NobodydaredtowhisperthattheArtofpaintinghadinanywisebeenimprovedorworthilyenlargedinitsspherebyanymodernprofessors。Foronenoblemanwhowasreadytobuyonegenuinemodernpictureatasmallprice，thereweretwentynoblemenreadytobuytwentymorethandoubtfuloldpicturesatgreatprices。
Theconsequencewas，thatsomeofthemostfamousartistsoftheEnglishschool，whosepicturesarenowboughtatauctionsalesforfabuloussums，werethenhardlyabletomakeanincome。Theywereascrupulouslypatientandconscientiousbodyofmen，whowouldassoonhavethoughtofbreakingintoahouse，orequalizingthedistributionofwealth，onthehighway，bythesimplemachineryofahorseandpistol，asofmakingOldMasterstoorder。Theysatresignedlyintheirlonelystudios，surroundedbyunsoldpictureswhichhavesincebeencoveredagainandagainwithgoldandbank-notesbyeagerbuyersatauctionsandshow-rooms，whosemoneyhasgoneintootherthanthepainter\'spockets——whohaveneverdreamedthatthepainterhadthesmallestmoralrighttoafarthingofit。Yearafteryear，thesemartyrsofthebrushstood，paletteinhand，fightingtheoldbattleofindividualmeritagainstcontemporarydullness——fightingbravely，patiently，independently；andleavingtoMr。Pickupandhispupilsacompletemonopolyofalltheprofitwhichcouldbeextracted，intheirlineofbusiness，fromthefeebly-buttonedpocketofthepatron，andtheinexhaustiblecredulityoftheconnoisseur。
Nowallthisischanged。Tradersandmakersofallkindsofcommoditieshaveeffectedarevolutioninthepicture-world，neverdreamedofbythenoblemenandgentlemenofancientlineage，andconsistentlyprotestedagainsttothisdaybytheveryfewofthemwhostillremainalive。
Thedaringinnovatorsstartedwiththenewnotionofbuyingapicturewhichtheythemselvescouldadmireandappreciate，andforthegenuinenessofwhichtheartistwasstilllivingtovouch。Theseroughandreadycustomerswerenottobeledbyrulesorfrightenedbyprecedents；theywerenottobeeasilyimposedupon，forthearticletheywantedwasnottobeeasilycounterfeited。Sturdilyholdingtotheirownopinions，theythoughtincessantrepetitionsofSaints，Martyrs，andHolyFamilies，monotonousanduninteresting——andsaidso。TheythoughtlittlepicturesofuglyDutchwomenscouringpots，anddrunkenDutchmenplayingcards，dirtyanddearattheprice——andsaidso。
Theysawthattreesweregreeninnature，andbrownintheOldMasters，andtheythoughtthelattercolornotanimprovementontheformer——andsaidso。Theywantedinterestingsubjects；
variety，resemblancetonature；genuinenessofthearticle，andfreshpaint；theyhadnoancestorswhosefeelings，asfoundersofgalleries，itwasnecessarytoconsult；nocriticalgentlemenandwritersofvaluableworkstosnubthemwhentheywereinspirits；
nothingtoleadthembythenosebuttheirownshrewdness，theirowninterests，andtheirowntastes——sotheyturnedtheirbacksvaliantlyontheOldMasters，andmarchedoffinabodytothelivingmen。
Fromthattimegoodmodernpictureshaveriseninthescale。Evenasarticlesofcommerceandsafeinvestmentsformoney，theyhavenow(assomedisinterestedcollectorswhodineatcertainannualdinnersIknowof，cantestify)distancedtheoldpicturesintherace。Themodernpainterswhohavesurvivedthebruntofthebattle，havelivedtoseepicturesforwhichtheyonceaskedhundreds，sellingforthousands，andtheyounggenerationmakingincomesbythebrushinoneyear，whichitwouldhavecosttheoldheroesoftheeaseltentoaccumulate。TheposterityofMr。
Pickupstilldoatolerablestrokeofbusiness(makingbrightmodernmastersforthemarketwhichisgluttedwiththedingyoldmaterial)，andwill，probably，continuetothriveandmultiplyinthefuture:theonevenerableinstitutionofthisworldwhichwecansafelycountuponaslikelytolast，beingtheinstitutionofhumanfolly。Nevertheless，ifawisemanofthereformedtastewantsamodernpicture，thereareplacesforhimtogotonowwherehemaybesureofgettingitgenuine；where，iftheartistisnotalivetovouchforhiswork，thefactsatanyratehavenothadtimetodiewhichvouchforthedealerwhosellsit。Inmytimematterswereratherdifferent。Thepainters_we_throvebyhaddiedlongenoughagoforpedigreestogetconfused，andidentitiesdisputable；andifIhadbeendesirousofreallypurchasingagenuineOldMasterformyself——speakingasapracticalman——Idon\'tknowwhereIshouldhavegonetoaskforone，orwhosejudgmentIcouldhavesafelyreliedontoguardmefrombeingcheated，beforeIboughtit。
Wearestoppingalongtimeinthepicture-gallery，youwillsay。
Iamverysorry——butwemuststayalittlelonger，forthesakeofalivingpicture，thegemofthecollection。
IwasstilladmiringMr。Pickup\'sOldMasters，whenadirtylittleboyopenedthedoorofthegallery，andintroducedayounglady。
Myheart——fancymyhavingaheart!——gaveonegreatboundinme。I
recognizedthecharmingpersonwhomIhadfollowedinthestreet。
Herveilwasnotdownthistime。Allthebeautyofherlarge，soft，melancholy，browneyesbeamedonme。Herdelicatecomplexionbecamesuddenlysuffusedwithalovelyrosyflush。Hergloriousblackhair——no!Iwillmakeaneffort，Iwillsuppressmyecstasies。Letmeonlysaythatsheevidentlyrecognizedme。
Willyoubelieveit？——IfeltmyselfcoloringasIbowedtoher。I
neverblushedbeforeinmylife。Whataverycurioussensationitis!
Thehorridboyclaimedherattentionwithagrin。
\"Master\'sengaged，\"hesaid。\"Pleasetowaithere。”
\"Idon\'twishtodisturbMr。Pickup，\"sheanswered。
Whatavoice!No!Iamdriftingbackintoecstasies:hervoicewasworthyofher——Isaynomore。
\"Ifyouwillbesokindastoshowhimthis，\"sheproceeded；\"heknowswhatitis。Andpleasesay，myfatherisveryillandveryanxious。ItwillbequiteenoughifMr。Pickupwillonlysendmewordbyyou——YesorNo。”
Shegavetheboyanoblongslipofstampedpaper。Evidentlyapromissorynote。Anangelonearth，sentbyaninhumanfather，toaskaJewfordiscount!Monstrous!
Theboydisappearedwiththemessage。
Iseizedmyopportunityofspeakingtoher。Don\'taskmewhatI
said!Neverbefore(orsince)haveItalkedsuchutternonsense，withsuchintenseearnestnessofpurposeandsuchimmeasurabledepthoffeeling。Doprayrememberwhatyousaidyourself，thefirsttimeyouhadthechanceofopeningyourheartto_your_
younglady。TheboyreturnedbeforeIhadhalfdone，andgaveherbacktheodiousdocument。
\"Mr。Pickup\'sverysorry，miss。Theansweris，No。”
Shelostallherlovelycolor，andsighed，andturnedaway。Asshepulleddownherveil，Isawthetearsinhereyes。Didthatpiteousspectaclepartiallydeprivemeofmysenses？Iactuallyentreatedhertoletmebeofsomeuse——asifIhadbeenanoldfriend，withmoneyenoughinmypockettodiscountthenotemyself。Shebroughtmebacktomysenseswiththeutmostgentleness。
\"Iamafraidyouforget，sir，thatwearestrangers。
Good-morning。”
Ifollowedhertothedoor。Iaskedleavetocallonherfather，andsatisfyhimaboutmyselfandmyfamilyconnections。Sheonlyansweredthatherfatherwastooilltoseevisitors。Iwentoutwithherontothelanding。Sheturnedonmesharplyforthefirsttime。
\"Youcanseeforyourself，sir，thatIamingreatdistress。I
appealtoyou，asagentleman，tospareme。”
IfyoustilldoubtwhetherIwasreallyinlove，letthefactsspeakforthemselves。Ihungmyhead，andlethergo。
WhenIreturnedalonetothepicture-gallery——whenIrememberedthatIhadnotevenhadthewittoimprovemyopportunitybydiscoveringhernameandaddress——Ididreallyandseriouslyaskmyselfifthesewerethefirstsymptomsofsofteningofthebrain。Igotup，andsatdownagain。I，themostaudaciousmanofmyageinLondon，hadbehavedlikeabashfulboy!OncemoreIhadlosther——andthistime，also，Ihadnobodybutmyselftoblameforit。
Thesemelancholymeditationswereinterruptedbytheappearanceofmyfriend，theartist，inthepicture-gallery。Heapproachedmeconfidentially，andspokeinamysteriouswhisper。
\"Pickupissuspicious，\"hesaid；\"andIhavehadallthedifficultyintheworldtopaveyourwaysmoothlyforyouattheoutset。However，ifyoucancontrivetomakeasmallRembrandt，asaspecimen，youmayconsideryourselfemployedhereuntilfurthernotice。IamobligedtoparticularizeRembrandt，becauseheistheonlyOldMasterdisengagedatpresent。TheprofessionalgentlemanwhousedtodohimdiedtheotherdayintheFleet——hehadaturnforRembrandts，andcan\'tbeeasilyreplaced。Doyouthinkyoucouldstepintohisshoes？It\'sapeculiargift，likeanearformusic，oraturnformathematics。Ofcourseyouwillbeputuptothesimpleelementaryrules，andwillhavetheprofessionalgentleman\'slastRembrandtasaguide；therestdepends，mydearfriend，onyourpowersofimitation。Don\'tbediscouragedbyfailures，buttryagainandagain；andmindyouaredirtyanddarkenough。YouhaveheardagreatdealaboutthelightandshadeofRembrandt——Rememberalwaysthat，inyourcase，lightmeansduskyyellow，andshadedenseblack；rememberthat，and——\"
\"Nopay，\"saidthevoiceofMr。Pickupbehindme；\"nopay，mydear，unleshyourRembrandtishgoodenoughtotakemein——evenme，Ishmael，whodealshinpictershandknowshwhat\'shwhat。”
WhatdidIcareaboutRembrandtatthatmoment？Iwasthinkingofmylostyounglady；andIshouldprobablyhavetakennonoticeofMr。Pickup，ifithadnotoccurredtomethattheoldwretchmustknowherfather\'snameandaddress。Iatonceputthequestion。
TheJewgrinned，andshookhisgrislyhead。\"Herfather\'shindifficultiesh，andmum\'stheword，mydear。”Tothatanswerheadhered，inspiteofallthatIcouldsaytohim。
WithequalobstinacyIdetermined，soonerorlater，togetmyinformation。
ItookserviceunderMr。Pickup，purposingtomakemyselfessentialtohisprosperity，inacommercialsense——andthentothreatenhimwithofferingmyservicestoarivalmanufacturerofOldMasters，unlesshetrustedmewiththesecretofthenameandaddress。Myplanlookedpromisingenoughatthetime。But，assomewisepersonhassaid，Manisthesportofcircumstances。Mr。
PickupandIpartedcompanyunexpectedly，oncompulsion。And，ofallthepeopleintheworld，mygrandmother，LadyMalkinshaw，wastheunconsciousfirstcauseoftheeventswhichbroughtmeandthebelovedobjecttogetheragain，forthethirdtime!
CHAPTERVI。
ONthenextday，IwasintroducedtotheJew\'sworkshop，andtotheeminentgentlemenoccupyingit。MymodelRembrandtwasputbeforeme；thesimpleelementaryruleswereexplained；andmymaterialswereallplacedundermyhands。
RegardfortheloversoftheOldMasters，andforthemoralwell-beingofsociety，forbidsmetobeparticularaboutthenatureofmylabors，ortogointodangerousdetailonthesubjectofmyfirstfailuresandmysubsequentsuccess。Imay，however，harmlesslyadmitthatmyRembrandtwastobeofthesmallorcabinetsize，andthat，astherewasarunonBurgomastersjustthen，mysubjectwasnaturallytobeoftheBurgomastersort。Threepartsofmypictureconsistedentirelyofdifferentshadesofdirtybrownandblack；thefourthbeingcomposedofarayofyellowlightfallinguponthewrinkledfaceofatreacle-coloredoldman。Adimglimpseofahand，andafaintsuggestionofsomethinglikeabrasswashhandbasin，completedthejob，whichgavegreatsatisfactiontoMr。
Pickup，andwhichwasdescribedinthecatalogueas——
\"ABurgomasteratBreakfast。OriginallyinthecollectionofMynheerVanGrubb。Amsterdam。Arareexampleofthemaster。Notengraved。Thechiar\'oscurointhisextraordinaryworkisofatrulysublimecharacter。Price，TwoHundredGuineas。”
Igotfivepoundsforit。IsupposeMr。Pickupgotone-ninety-five。
Thiswasperhapsnotveryencouragingasabeginning，inapecuniarypointofview。ButIwastogetfivepoundsmore，ifmyRembrandtsoldwithinagiventime。Itsoldaweekafteritwasinafitstatetobetrustedintheshowroom。Igotmymoney，andbeganenthusiasticallyonanotherRembrandt——\"ABurgomaster\'sWifePokingtheFire。”Lasttime，thechiar\'oscuroofthemasterhadbeenyellowandblack，thistimeitwastoberedandblack。
IwasjustonthepointofforcingmywayintoMr。Pickup\'sconfidence，asIhadresolved，whenacatastrophehappened，whichshutuptheshopandabruptlyterminatedmyexperienceasamakerofOldMasters。
\"TheBurgomaster\'sBreakfast\"hadbeensoldtoanewcustomer，avenerableconnoisseur，blessedwithagreatfortuneandalargepicture-gallery。Theoldgentlemanwasinraptureswiththepicture——withitstone，withitsbreadth，withitsgrandfeelingforeffect，withitssimpletreatmentofdetail。Itwantednothing，inhisopinion，butalittlecleaning。Mr。Pickupknewtherawandticklishstateofthesurface，however，fartoowell，toallowofevenanattemptatperformingthisprocess，andsolemnlyasserted，thathewasacquaintedwithnocleansingpreparationwhichcouldbeusedontheRembrandtwithoutdangerof\"flayingoffthelastexquisiteglazingsoftheimmortalmaster\'sbrush。”TheoldgentlemanwasquitesatisfiedwiththisreasonfornotcleaningtheBurgomaster，andtookawayhispurchaseinhisowncarriageonthespot。
Forthreeweeksweheardnothingmoreofhim。Attheendofthattime，aHebrewfriendofMr。Pickup，employedinalawyer\'soffice，terrifiedusallbytheinformationthatagentlemanrelatedtoourvenerableconnoisseurhadseentheRembrandt，hadpronouncedittobeanimpudentcounterfeit，andhadengagedonhisownaccounttohavethepicturetestedinacourtoflaw，andtochargethesellerandmakerthereofwithconspiringtoobtainmoneyunderfalsepretenses。Mr。PickupandIlookedateachotherwithveryblankfacesonreceivingthisagreeablepieceofnews。Whatwastobedone？Irecoveredthefulluseofmyfacultiesfirst；andIwasthemanwhosolvedthatimportantanddifficultquestion，whiletherestwerestillutterlybewilderedbyit。\"WillyoupromisemefiveandtwentypoundsinthepresenceofthesegentlemenifIgetyououtofthisscrape？\"