ThecasewasworsewiththeMajor——nothingIcoulddowouldkeepHIM
down，sothathebecameusefulonlyfortherepresentationofbrawnygiants。Iadoredvarietyandrange，Icherishedhumanaccidents，theillustrativenote；Iwantedtocharacteriseclosely，andthethingintheworldImosthatedwasthedangerofbeingriddenbyatype。I
hadquarrelledwithsomeofmyfriendsaboutit——IhadpartedcompanywiththemformaintainingthatoneHADtobe，andthatifthetypewasbeautiful（witnessRaphaelandLeonardo），theservitudewasonlyagain。IwasneitherLeonardonorRaphael；Imightonlybeapresumptuousyoungmodernsearcher，butIheldthateverythingwastobesacrificedsoonerthancharacter。WhentheyaverredthatthehauntingtypeinquestioncouldeasilyBEcharacter，Iretorted，perhapssuperficially:\"Whose？\"Itcouldn’tbeeverybody’s——itmightendinbeingnobody’s。
AfterIhaddrawnMrs。MonarchadozentimesIperceivedmoreclearlythanbeforethatthevalueofsuchamodelasMissChurmresidedpreciselyinthefactthatshehadnopositivestamp，combinedofcoursewiththeotherfactthatwhatshedidhavewasacuriousandinexplicabletalentforimitation。Herusualappearancewaslikeacurtainwhichshecoulddrawupatrequestforacapitalperformance。
Thisperformancewassimplysuggestive；butitwasawordtothewise——itwasvividandpretty。Sometimes，even，Ithoughtit，thoughshewasplainherself，tooinsipidlypretty；Imadeitareproachtoherthatthefiguresdrawnfromherweremonotonously（betement，asweusedtosay）graceful。Nothingmadehermoreangry:itwassomuchherpridetofeelthatshecouldsitforcharactersthathadnothingincommonwitheachother。Shewouldaccusemeatsuchmomentsoftakingawayher\"reputytion。\"
Itsufferedacertainshrinkage，thisqueerquantity，fromtherepeatedvisitsofmynewfriends。MissChurmwasgreatlyindemand，neverinwantofemployment，soIhadnoscrupleinputtingheroffoccasionally，totrythemmoreatmyease。Itwascertainlyamusingatfirsttodotherealthing——itwasamusingtodoMajorMonarch’strousers。TheyWEREtherealthing，evenifhedidcomeoutcolossal。Itwasamusingtodohiswife’sbackhair（itwassomathematicallyneat，）andtheparticular\"smart\"tensionofhertightstays。Shelentherselfespeciallytopositionsinwhichthefacewassomewhatavertedorblurred；sheaboundedinlady—likebackviewsandprofilsperdus。Whenshestooderectshetooknaturallyoneoftheattitudesinwhichcourt—paintersrepresentqueensandprincesses；sothatIfoundmyselfwonderingwhether，todrawoutthisaccomplishment，Icouldn’tgettheeditoroftheCheapsidetopublishareallyroyalromance，\"ATaleofBuckinghamPalace。\"
Sometimes，however，therealthingandthemake—believecameintocontact；bywhichImeanthatMissChurm，keepinganappointmentorcomingtomakeoneondayswhenIhadmuchworkinhand，encounteredherinvidiousrivals。Theencounterwasnotontheirpart，fortheynoticedhernomorethanifshehadbeenthehousemaid；notfromintentionalloftiness，butsimplybecause，asyet，professionally，theydidn’tknowhowtofraternise，asIcouldguessthattheywouldhaveliked——oratleastthattheMajorwould。Theycouldn’ttalkabouttheomnibus——theyalwayswalked；andtheydidn’tknowwhatelsetotry——shewasn’tinterestedingoodtrainsorcheapclaret。
Besides，theymusthavefelt——intheair——thatshewasamusedatthem，secretlyderisiveoftheireverknowinghow。Shewasnotapersontoconcealherscepticismifshehadhadachancetoshowit。
OntheotherhandMrs。Monarchdidn’tthinkhertidy；forwhyelsedidshetakepainstosaytome（itwasgoingoutoftheway，forMrs。Monarch），thatshedidn’tlikedirtywomen？
Onedaywhenmyyoungladyhappenedtobepresentwithmyothersitters（sheevendroppedin，whenitwasconvenient，forachat），I
askedhertobesogoodastolendahandingettingtea——aservicewithwhichshewasfamiliarandwhichwasoneofaclassthat，livingasIdidinasmallway，withslenderdomesticresources，Ioftenappealedtomymodelstorender。Theylikedtolayhandsonmyproperty，tobreakthesitting，andsometimesthechina——ImadethemfeelBohemian。ThenexttimeIsawMissChurmafterthisincidentshesurprisedmegreatlybymakingasceneaboutit——sheaccusedmeofhavingwishedtohumiliateher。Shehadnotresentedtheoutrageatthetime，buthadseemedobligingandamused，enjoyingthecomedyofaskingMrs。Monarch，whosatvagueandsilent，whethershewouldhavecreamandsugar，andputtinganexaggeratedsimperintothequestion。Shehadtriedintonations——asifshetoowishedtopassfortherealthing；tillIwasafraidmyothervisitorswouldtakeoffence。
Oh，THEYweredeterminednottodothis；andtheirtouchingpatiencewasthemeasureoftheirgreatneed。Theywouldsitbythehour，uncomplaining，tillIwasreadytousethem；theywouldcomebackonthechanceofbeingwantedandwouldwalkawaycheerfullyiftheywerenot。Iusedtogotothedoorwiththemtoseeinwhatmagnificentordertheyretreated。Itriedtofindotheremploymentforthem——Iintroducedthemtoseveralartists。Buttheydidn’t\"take，\"forreasonsIcouldappreciate，andIbecameconscious，ratheranxiously，thataftersuchdisappointmentstheyfellbackuponmewithaheavierweight。TheydidmethehonourtothinkthatitwasIwhowasmostTHEIRform。Theywerenotpicturesqueenoughforthepainters，andinthosedaystherewerenotsomanyseriousworkersinblackandwhite。Besides，theyhadaneyetothegreatjobIhadmentionedtothem——theyhadsecretlysettheirheartsonsupplyingtherightessenceformypictorialvindicationofourfinenovelist。TheyknewthatforthisundertakingIshouldwantnocostume—effects，noneofthefripperyofpastages——thatitwasacaseinwhicheverythingwouldbecontemporaryandsatiricaland，presumably，genteel。IfIcouldworkthemintoittheirfuturewouldbeassured，forthelabourwouldofcoursebelongandtheoccupationsteady。
OnedayMrs。Monarchcamewithoutherhusband——sheexplainedhisabsencebyhishavinghadtogototheCity。Whileshesatthereinherusualanxiousstiffnesstherecame，atthedoor，aknockwhichI
immediatelyrecognisedasthesubduedappealofamodeloutofwork。
ItwasfollowedbytheentranceofayoungmanwhomIeasilyperceivedtobeaforeignerandwhoprovedinfactanItalianacquaintedwithnoEnglishwordbutmyname，whichheutteredinawaythatmadeitseemtoincludeallothers。Ihadnotthenvisitedhiscountry，norwasIproficientinhistongue；butashewasnotsomeanlyconstituted——whatItalianis？——astodependonlyonthatmemberforexpressionheconveyedtome，infamiliarbutgracefulmimicry，thathewasinsearchofexactlytheemploymentinwhichtheladybeforemewasengaged。Iwasnotstruckwithhimatfirst，andwhileIcontinuedtodrawIemittedroughsoundsofdiscouragementanddismissal。Hestoodhisground，however，notimportunately，butwithadumb，dog—likefidelityinhiseyeswhichamountedtoinnocentimpudence——themannerofadevotedservant（hemighthavebeeninthehouseforyears），unjustlysuspected。SuddenlyIsawthatthisveryattitudeandexpressionmadeapicture，whereuponItoldhimtositdownandwaittillIshouldbefree。Therewasanotherpictureinthewayheobeyedme，andIobservedasIworkedthattherewereothersstillinthewayhelookedwonderingly，withhisheadthrownback，aboutthehighstudio。HemighthavebeencrossinghimselfinSt。Peter’s。BeforeIfinishedIsaidtomyself:\"Thefellow’sabankruptorange—monger，buthe’satreasure。\"
WhenMrs。Monarchwithdrewhepassedacrosstheroomlikeaflashtoopenthedoorforher，standingtherewiththerapt，puregazeoftheyoungDantespellboundbytheyoungBeatrice。AsIneverinsisted，insuchsituations，ontheblanknessoftheBritishdomestic，I
reflectedthathehadthemakingofaservant（andIneededone，butcouldn’tpayhimtobeonlythat），aswellasofamodel；inshortI
madeupmymindtoadoptmybrightadventurerifhewouldagreetoofficiateinthedoublecapacity。Hejumpedatmyoffer，andintheeventmyrashness（forIhadknownnothingabouthim），wasnotbroughthometome。Heprovedasympatheticthoughadesultoryministrant，andhadinawonderfuldegreethesentimentdelapose。
Itwasuncultivated，instinctive；apartofthehappyinstinctwhichhadguidedhimtomydoorandhelpedhimtospelloutmynameonthecardnailedtoit。Hehadhadnootherintroductiontomethanaguess，fromtheshapeofmyhighnorthwindow，seenoutside，thatmyplacewasastudioandthatasastudioitwouldcontainanartist。
HehadwanderedtoEnglandinsearchoffortune，likeotheritinerants，andhadembarked，withapartnerandasmallgreenhandcart，onthesaleofpennyices。Theiceshadmeltedawayandthepartnerhaddissolvedintheirtrain。MyyoungmanworetightyellowtrouserswithreddishstripesandhisnamewasOronte。Hewassallowbutfair，andwhenIputhimintosomeoldclothesofmyownhelookedlikeanEnglishman。HewasasgoodasMissChurm，whocouldlook，whenrequired，likeanItalian。
CHAPTERIV。
IthoughtMrs。Monarch’sfaceslightlyconvulsedwhen，onhercomingbackwithherhusband，shefoundOronteinstalled。ItwasstrangetohavetorecogniseinascrapofalazzaroneacompetitortohermagnificentMajor。Itwasshewhoscenteddangerfirst，fortheMajorwasanecdoticallyunconscious。ButOrontegaveustea，withahundredeagerconfusions（hehadneverseensuchaqueerprocess），andIthinkshethoughtbetterofmeforhavingatlastan\"establishment。\"TheysawacoupleofdrawingsthatIhadmadeoftheestablishment，andMrs。Monarchhintedthatitneverwouldhavestruckherthathehadsatforthem。\"NowthedrawingsyoumakefromUS，theylookexactlylikeus，\"sheremindedme，smilingintriumph；
andIrecognisedthatthiswasindeedjusttheirdefect。WhenIdrewtheMonarchsIcouldn’t，somehow，getawayfromthem——getintothecharacterIwantedtorepresent；andIhadnottheleastdesiremymodelshouldbediscoverableinmypicture。MissChurmneverwas，andMrs。MonarchthoughtIhidher，veryproperly，becauseshewasvulgar；whereasifshewaslostitwasonlyasthedeadwhogotoheavenarelost——inthegainofanangelthemore。
BythistimeIhadgotacertainstartwith\"RutlandRamsay，\"thefirstnovelinthegreatprojectedseries；thatisIhadproducedadozendrawings，severalwiththehelpoftheMajorandhiswife，andIhadsenttheminforapproval。Myunderstandingwiththepublishers，asIhavealreadyhinted，hadbeenthatIwastobelefttodomywork，inthisparticularcase，asIliked，withthewholebookcommittedtome；butmyconnectionwiththerestoftheserieswasonlycontingent。Thereweremomentswhen，frankly，itWASacomforttohavetherealthingunderone’shand；fortherewerecharactersin\"RutlandRamsay\"thatwereverymuchlikeit。TherewerepeoplepresumablyasstraightastheMajorandwomenofasgoodafashionasMrs。Monarch。Therewasagreatdealofcountry—houselife——treated，itistrue，inafine，fanciful，ironical，generalisedway——andtherewasaconsiderableimplicationofknickerbockersandkilts。TherewerecertainthingsIhadtosettleattheoutset；suchthingsforinstanceastheexactappearanceofthehero，theparticularbloomoftheheroine。Theauthorofcoursegavemealead，buttherewasamarginforinterpretation。ItooktheMonarchsintomyconfidence，ItoldthemfranklywhatIwasabout，Imentionedmyembarrassmentsandalternatives。\"Oh，takeHIM！\"Mrs。Monarchmurmuredsweetly，lookingatherhusband；and\"Whatcouldyouwantbetterthanmywife？\"theMajorinquired，withthecomfortablecandourthatnowprevailedbetweenus。
Iwasnotobligedtoanswertheseremarks——Iwasonlyobligedtoplacemysitters。Iwasnoteasyinmind，andIpostponed，alittletimidlyperhaps，thesolutionofthequestion。Thebookwasalargecanvas，theotherfigureswerenumerous，andIworkedoffatfirstsomeoftheepisodesinwhichtheheroandtheheroinewerenotconcerned。WhenonceIhadsetTHEMupIshouldhavetosticktothem——Icouldn’tmakemyyoungmansevenfeethighinoneplaceandfivefeetnineinanother。Iinclinedonthewholetothelattermeasurement，thoughtheMajormorethanonceremindedmethatHE
lookedaboutasyoungasanyone。Itwasindeedquitepossibletoarrangehim，forthefigure，sothatitwouldhavebeendifficulttodetecthisage。AfterthespontaneousOrontehadbeenwithmeamonth，andafterIhadgivenhimtounderstandseveraldifferenttimesthathisnativeexuberancewouldpresentlyconstituteaninsurmountablebarriertoourfurtherintercourse，Iwakedtoasenseofhisheroiccapacity。Hewasonlyfivefeetseven，buttheremainingincheswerelatent。Itriedhimalmostsecretlyatfirst，forIwasreallyratherafraidofthejudgmentmyothermodelswouldpassonsuchachoice。IftheyregardedMissChurmaslittlebetterthanasnare，whatwouldtheythinkoftherepresentationbyapersonsolittletherealthingasanItalianstreet—vendorofaprotagonistformedbyapublicschool？
IfIwentalittleinfearofthemitwasnotbecausetheybulliedme，becausetheyhadgotanoppressivefoothold，butbecauseintheirreallypatheticdecorumandmysteriouslypermanentnewnesstheycountedonmesointensely。IwasthereforeverygladwhenJackHawleycamehome:hewasalwaysofsuchgoodcounsel。Hepaintedbadlyhimself，buttherewasnoonelikehimforputtinghisfingerontheplace。HehadbeenabsentfromEnglandforayear；hehadbeensomewhere——Idon’trememberwhere——togetafresheye。Iwasinagooddealofdreadofanysuchorgan，butwewereoldfriends；hehadbeenawayformonthsandasenseofemptinesswascreepingintomylife。Ihadn’tdodgedamissileforayear。
Hecamebackwithafresheye，butwiththesameoldblackvelvetblouse，andthefirsteveninghespentinmystudiowesmokedcigarettestillthesmallhours。Hehaddonenoworkhimself，hehadonlygottheeye；sothefieldwasclearfortheproductionofmylittlethings。HewantedtoseewhatIhaddonefortheCheapside，buthewasdisappointedintheexhibition。Thatatleastseemedthemeaningoftwoorthreecomprehensivegroanswhich，asheloungedonmybigdivan，onafoldedleg，lookingatmylatestdrawings，issuedfromhislipswiththesmokeofthecigarette。
\"What’sthematterwithyou？\"Iasked。
\"What’sthematterwithYOU？\"
\"NothingsavethatI’mmystified。\"
\"Youareindeed。You’requiteoffthehinge。What’sthemeaningofthisnewfad？\"Andhetossedme，withvisibleirreverence，adrawinginwhichIhappenedtohavedepictedbothmymajesticmodels。I
askedifhedidn’tthinkitgood，andherepliedthatitstruckhimasexecrable，giventhesortofthingIhadalwaysrepresentedmyselftohimaswishingtoarriveat；butIletthatpass，Iwassoanxioustoseeexactlywhathemeant。Thetwofiguresinthepicturelookedcolossal，butIsupposedthiswasNOTwhathemeant，inasmuchas，foraughtheknewtothecontrary，Imighthavebeentryingforthat。I
maintainedthatIwasworkingexactlyinthesamewayaswhenhelasthaddonemethehonourtocommendme。\"Well，there’sabigholesomewhere，\"heanswered；\"waitabitandI’lldiscoverit。\"I
dependeduponhimtodoso:whereelsewasthefresheye？Butheproducedatlastnothingmoreluminousthan\"Idon’tknow——Idon’tlikeyourtypes。\"Thiswaslame，foracriticwhohadneverconsentedtodiscusswithmeanythingbutthequestionofexecution，thedirectionofstrokesandthemysteryofvalues。
\"Inthedrawingsyou’vebeenlookingatIthinkmytypesareveryhandsome。\"
\"Oh，theywon’tdo！\"
\"I’vehadacoupleofnewmodels。\"
\"Iseeyouhave。THEYwon’tdo。\"
\"Areyouverysureofthat？\"
\"Absolutely——they’restupid。\"
\"Youmean_I_am——forIoughttogetroundthat。\"
\"YouCAN’T——withsuchpeople。Whoarethey？\"
Itoldhim，asfaraswasnecessary，andhedeclared，heartlessly:
\"Cesontdesgensqu’ilfautmettrealaporte。\"
\"You’veneverseenthem；they’reawfullygood，\"Icompassionatelyobjected。
\"Notseenthem？Why，allthisrecentworkofyoursdropstopieceswiththem。It’sallIwanttoseeofthem。\"
\"Nooneelsehassaidanythingagainstit——theCheapsidepeoplearepleased。\"
\"Everyoneelseisanass，andtheCheapsidepeoplethebiggestassesofall。Come，don’tpretend，atthistimeofday，tohaveprettyillusionsaboutthepublic，especiallyaboutpublishersandeditors。
It’snotforSUCHanimalsyouwork——it’sforthosewhoknow，colorochesanno；sokeepstraightforMEifyoucan’tkeepstraightforyourself。There’sacertainsortofthingyoutriedforfromthefirst——andaverygoodthingitis。Butthistwaddleisn’tINit。\"
WhenItalkedwithHawleylaterabout\"RutlandRamsay\"anditspossiblesuccessorshedeclaredthatImustgetbackintomyboatagainorIwouldgotothebottom。Hisvoiceinshortwasthevoiceofwarning。
Inotedthewarning，butIdidn’tturnmyfriendsoutofdoors。Theyboredmeagooddeal；buttheveryfactthattheyboredmeadmonishedmenottosacrificethem——iftherewasanythingtobedonewiththem—
—simplytoirritation。AsIlookbackatthisphasetheyseemtometohavepervadedmylifenotalittle。Ihaveavisionofthemasmostofthetimeinmystudio，seated，againstthewall，onanoldvelvetbenchtobeoutoftheway，andlookinglikeapairofpatientcourtiersinaroyalante—chamber。Iamconvincedthatduringthecoldestweeksofthewintertheyheldtheirgroundbecauseitsavedthemfire。Theirnewnesswaslosingitsgloss，anditwasimpossiblenottofeelthattheywereobjectsofcharity。WheneverMissChurmarrivedtheywentaway，andafterIwasfairlylaunchedin\"RutlandRamsay\"MissChurmarrivedprettyoften。TheymanagedtoexpresstometacitlythattheysupposedIwantedherforthelowlifeofthebook，andIletthemsupposeit，sincetheyhadattemptedtostudythework——itwaslyingaboutthestudio——withoutdiscoveringthatitdealtonlywiththehighestcircles。Theyhaddippedintothemostbrilliantofournovelistswithoutdecipheringmanypassages。I
stilltookanhourfromthem，nowandagain，inspiteofJackHawley’swarning:itwouldbetimeenoughtodismissthem，ifdismissalshouldbenecessary，whentherigouroftheseasonwasover。Hawleyhadmadetheiracquaintance——hehadmetthematmyfireside——andthoughtthemaridiculouspair。Learningthathewasapaintertheytriedtoapproachhim，toshowhimtoothattheyweretherealthing；buthelookedatthem，acrossthebigroom，asiftheyweremilesaway:theywereacompendiumofeverythingthathemostobjectedtointhesocialsystemofhiscountry。Suchpeopleasthat，allconventionandpatent—leather，withejaculationsthatstoppedconversation，hadnobusinessinastudio。Astudiowasaplacetolearntosee，andhowcouldyouseethroughapairoffeatherbeds？
ThemaininconvenienceIsufferedattheirhandswasthat，atfirst，Iwasshyoflettingthemdiscoverhowmyartfullittleservanthadbeguntosittomefor\"RutlandRamsay。\"TheyknewthatIhadbeenoddenough（theywerepreparedbythistimetoallowodditytoartists，）topickaforeignvagabondoutofthestreets，whenImighthavehadapersonwithwhiskersandcredentials；butitwassometimebeforetheylearnedhowhighIratedhisaccomplishments。Theyfoundhiminanattitudemorethanonce，buttheyneverdoubtedIwasdoinghimasanorgan—grinder。Therewereseveralthingstheyneverguessed，andoneofthemwasthatforastrikingsceneinthenovel，inwhichafootmanbrieflyfigured，itoccurredtometomakeuseofMajorMonarchasthemenial。Ikeptputtingthisoff，Ididn’tliketoaskhimtodonthelivery——besidesthedifficultyoffindingaliverytofithim。Atlast，onedaylateinthewinter，whenIwasatworkonthedespisedOronte（hecaughtone’sideainaninstant），andwasintheglowoffeelingthatIwasgoingverystraight，theycamein，theMajorandhiswife，withtheirsocietylaughaboutnothing（therewaslessandlesstolaughat），likecountry—callers——
theyalwaysremindedmeofthat——whohavewalkedacrosstheparkafterchurchandarepresentlypersuadedtostaytoluncheon。
Luncheonwasover，buttheycouldstaytotea——Iknewtheywantedit。
Thefitwasonme，however，andIcouldn’tletmyardourcoolandmyworkwait，withthefadingdaylight，whilemymodelpreparedit。SoIaskedMrs。Monarchifshewouldmindlayingitout——arequestwhich，foraninstant，broughtallthebloodtoherface。Hereyeswereonherhusband’sforasecond，andsomemutetelegraphypassedbetweenthem。Theirfollywasoverthenextinstant；hischeerfulshrewdnessputanendtoit。Sofarfrompityingtheirwoundedpride，Imustadd，IwasmovedtogiveitascompletealessonasI
could。Theybustledabouttogetherandgotoutthecupsandsaucersandmadethekettleboil。Iknowtheyfeltasiftheywerewaitingonmyservant，andwhentheteawaspreparedIsaid:\"He’llhaveacup，please——he’stired。\"Mrs。Monarchbroughthimonewherehestood，andhetookitfromherasifhehadbeenagentlemanataparty，squeezingacrush—hatwithanelbow。
Thenitcameovermethatshehadmadeagreateffortforme——madeitwithakindofnobleness——andthatIowedheracompensation。EachtimeIsawherafterthisIwonderedwhatthecompensationcouldbe。
Icouldn’tgoondoingthewrongthingtoobligethem。Oh，itWAS
thewrongthing，thestampoftheworkforwhichtheysat——Hawleywasnottheonlypersontosayitnow。IsentinalargenumberofthedrawingsIhadmadefor\"RutlandRamsay，\"andIreceivedawarningthatwasmoretothepointthanHawley’s。TheartisticadviserofthehouseforwhichIwasworkingwasofopinionthatmanyofmyillustrationswerenotwhathadbeenlookedfor。MostoftheseillustrationswerethesubjectsinwhichtheMonarchshadfigured。
WithoutgoingintothequestionofwhatHADbeenlookedfor，IsawatthisrateIshouldn’tgettheotherbookstodo。IhurledmyselfindespairuponMissChurm，Iputherthroughallherpaces。InotonlyadoptedOrontepubliclyasmyhero，butonemorningwhentheMajorlookedintoseeifIdidn’trequirehimtofinishafigurefortheCheapside，forwhichhehadbeguntosittheweekbefore，ItoldhimthatIhadchangedmymind——Iwoulddothedrawingfrommyman。Atthismyvisitorturnedpaleandstoodlookingatme。\"IsHEyourideaofanEnglishgentleman？\"heasked。
Iwasdisappointed，Iwasnervous，Iwantedtogetonwithmywork；
soIrepliedwithirritation:\"Oh，mydearMajor——Ican’tberuinedforYOU！\"
Hestoodanothermoment；then，withoutaword，hequittedthestudio。
Idrewalongbreathwhenhewasgone，forIsaidtomyselfthatI
shouldn’tseehimagain。IhadnottoldhimdefinitelythatIwasindangerofhavingmyworkrejected，butIwasvexedathisnothavingfeltthecatastropheintheair，readwithmethemoralofourfruitlesscollaboration，thelessonthat，inthedeceptiveatmosphereofart，eventhehighestrespectabilitymayfailofbeingplastic。
Ididn’towemyfriendsmoney，butIdidseethemagain。Theyre—
appearedtogether，threedayslater，andunderthecircumstancestherewassomethingtragicinthefact。Itwasaprooftomethattheycouldfindnothingelseinlifetodo。Theyhadthreshedthematteroutinadismalconference——theyhaddigestedthebadnewsthattheywerenotinfortheseries。IftheywerenotusefultomeevenfortheCheapsidetheirfunctionseemeddifficulttodetermine，andIcouldonlyjudgeatfirstthattheyhadcome，forgivingly，decorously，totakealastleave。ThismademerejoiceinsecretthatIhadlittleleisureforascene；forIhadplacedbothmyothermodelsinpositiontogetherandIwaspeggingawayatadrawingfromwhichIhopedtoderiveglory。IthadbeensuggestedbythepassageinwhichRutlandRamsay，drawingupachairtoArtemisia’spiano—
stool，saysextraordinarythingstoherwhilesheostensiblyfingersoutadifficultpieceofmusic。IhaddoneMissChurmatthepianobefore——itwasanattitudeinwhichsheknewhowtotakeonanabsolutelypoeticgrace。Iwishedthetwofiguresto\"compose\"
together，intensely，andmylittleItalianhadenteredperfectlyintomyconception。Thepairwerevividlybeforeme，thepianohadbeenpulledout；itwasacharmingpictureofblendedyouthandmurmuredlove，whichIhadonlytocatchandkeep。Myvisitorsstoodandlookedatit，andIwasfriendlytothemovermyshoulder。
Theymadenoresponse，butIwasusedtosilentcompanyandwentonwithmywork，onlyalittledisconcerted（eventhoughexhilaratedbythesensethatTHISwasatleasttheidealthing），atnothavinggotridofthemafterall。PresentlyIheardMrs。Monarch’ssweetvoicebeside，orratheraboveme:\"Iwishherhairwasalittlebetterdone。\"IlookedupandshewasstaringwithastrangefixednessatMissChurm，whosebackwasturnedtoher。\"Doyoumindmyjusttouchingit？\"shewenton——aquestionwhichmademespringupforaninstant，aswiththeinstinctivefearthatshemightdotheyoungladyaharm。ButshequietedmewithaglanceIshallneverforget——
IconfessIshouldliketohavebeenabletopaintTHAT——andwentforamomenttomymodel。Shespoketohersoftly，layingahanduponhershoulderandbendingoverher；andasthegirl，understanding，gratefullyassented，shedisposedherroughcurls，withafewquickpasses，insuchawayastomakeMissChurm’sheadtwiceascharming。
ItwasoneofthemostheroicpersonalservicesIhaveeverseenrendered。ThenMrs。Monarchturnedawaywithalowsighand，lookingaboutherasifforsomethingtodo，stoopedtothefloorwithanoblehumilityandpickedupadirtyragthathaddroppedoutofmypaint—box。
TheMajormeanwhilehadalsobeenlookingforsomethingtodoand，wanderingtotheotherendofthestudio，sawbeforehimmybreakfastthings，neglected，unremoved。\"Isay，can’tIbeusefulHERE？\"hecalledouttomewithanirrepressiblequaver。IassentedwithalaughthatIfearwasawkwardandforthenexttenminutes，whileI
worked，Iheardthelightclatterofchinaandthetinkleofspoonsandglass。Mrs。Monarchassistedherhusband——theywashedupmycrockery，theyputitaway。Theywanderedoffintomylittlescullery，andIafterwardsfoundthattheyhadcleanedmyknivesandthatmyslenderstockofplatehadanunprecedentedsurface。Whenitcameoverme，thelatenteloquenceofwhattheyweredoing，Iconfessthatmydrawingwasblurredforamoment——thepictureswam。Theyhadacceptedtheirfailure，buttheycouldn’taccepttheirfate。Theyhadbowedtheirheadsinbewildermenttotheperverseandcruellawinvirtueofwhichtherealthingcouldbesomuchlesspreciousthantheunreal；buttheydidn’twanttostarve。Ifmyservantsweremymodels，mymodelsmightbemyservants。Theywouldreversetheparts——theotherswouldsitfortheladiesandgentlemen，andTHEY
woulddothework。Theywouldstillbeinthestudio——itwasanintensedumbappealtomenottoturnthemout。\"Takeuson，\"theywantedtosay——\"we’lldoANYTHING。\"
Whenallthishungbeforemetheafflatusvanished——mypencildroppedfrommyhand。MysittingwasspoiledandIgotridofmysitters，whowerealsoevidentlyrathermystifiedandawestruck。Then，alonewiththeMajorandhiswife，Ihadamostuncomfortablemoment，Heputtheirprayerintoasinglesentence:\"Isay，youknow——justletUSdoforyou，can’tyou？\"Icouldn’t——itwasdreadfultoseethememptyingmyslops；butIpretendedIcould，toobligethem，foraboutaweek。ThenIgavethemasumofmoneytogoaway；andIneversawthemagain。Iobtainedtheremainingbooks，butmyfriendHawleyrepeatsthatMajorandMrs。Monarchdidmeapermanentharm，gotmeintoasecond—ratetrick。IfitbetrueIamcontenttohavepaidtheprice——forthememory。