he wanted. His impersonal way of treating her, his frank comments, some of them flattering, others the reverse, amused her immensely. But he was as unconscious of her amusement as of her personality or his own. She obeyed him without a protest, patiently held the pose he asked—held it full fifteen minutes. He had a way—the way of the man who knows what he is about—that inspired her with respect and made her feel she was at something[24] worth while. “That’ll do beautifully,” he said at last. “You must be tired.”

[24]

“I can stand it a while longer,” she assured him.

“Not a second. I’ve enough for to-day. And I don’t want to frighten you off. I mustn’t tempt you to leave me in the lurch—disappear—never show up again.”

“I’ve promised,” said she. “I’ll keep my word. Besides”—she flushed, with eyes sparkling; her smile was merry, but embarrassed—“I’m not doing this for nothing.”

“We haven’t talked business yet, have we?” said he, not a bit embarrassed. “You can have anything you like, within reason.”

She laughed at him. “I want more than money. I want your valuable time. In exchange for my services as model you must amuse me. I’m lonely and bored—and full of things I want to forget.”

“How much amusement per pose?” said he.

“Oh—I shan’t be hard. Say—an hour.”

“The bargain’s closed.”

She paddled ashore, seated herself on a log a short distance before him, and rested while he filled in his notes. He glanced at her after a few minutes, was about to speak; instead he gave a grunt of satisfaction, fell to sketching her face; for the thoughts that were[25] gilding her reverie gave her features precisely the expression of exalted, ethereal longing which he wished to put into the face in his picture. He worked feverishly, hoping she would not move and dissolve the spell until he had what he needed—enough to fix that expression.

[25]

A quarrel between two robins over a worthless twig which neither wanted startled her, drove the spiritual look from her features.

“But I got it,” said he. “Thank you.”

She looked at him questioningly.

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