dependedupon their unexpectedness, or on some merely subtle atmospheric charm.This second day they were stronger. The room seemed to be moredelightful, its simple grace more apparent; it improved withfamiliarity, as the best things improve. And for Miss Lascellesherself, there was a delicate sweet freshness about her, which he didnot attempt to analyse or put into words, only he was dimly consciousthat it gave him a dreamy pleasure, and that he liked to watch the deftmovements of her hand as she painted. He lost himself sufficiently intheir contemplation to forget fatigue, and to stand more steadily thanon the previous day; but there was something he had to say, and heseized the opportunity of the first rest.
"Signorina!"
She was softly singing to herself, and looked up with a start.
"I am too much engaged to come again. Mr Everitt says, will thesignorina kindly finish what is necessary, and he will send anothermodel in the same costume."
She did not immediately answer; when she did it was to ask--
"Is not the costume yours?"
"Signorina, yes."
"I did not know you lent your clothes to one another."
Everitt muttered something about not wanting that particular costumethis week, and she went on to inquire in what character he was sittingfor Mr Everitt, to which he had to reply that he did not know. Shefollowed this up by asking a good many questions about himself, to whichhe responded in a deprecatory manner, though he was conscious ofdangerously dropping the stupid vacancy behind which he had at firstentrenched himself. Everitt, indeed, who had gone through a successionof London seasons without a heartache, had fallen a helpless victim in afew hours. There was an extraordinary fascination for him in this girland her surroundings; he watched her furtively, called himself a foolfor being there, and would not have been anywhere else for the world.
Once she flung up the window and leaned out, resting on her finger-tips,to call to the children, who this time had Sandy with them in thegarden. She was greeted by a shout.
"Come out, Kitty! Leave that stupid old painting. It's lovelyout-of-doors."
She laughed and shook her head.
"Kitty, I want something out of your garden."
"What?"
"That pink flower."
"Oh, you robber! Well, you may have it, but move it _very_ carefully,and give it plenty of water. Where's mother?"
"Gone to the infirmary to see old Dickson. Kitty!" in a pleading voice.
"No; I can't spare any more. My poor garden will be bare."
"Only a clump of forget-me-nots. Yours are such beauties!"
She drew back laughing, and shut the window. For the first time Everittregretted the absence of Miss Aitcheson. Had she been here Kitty, mighthave gone on talking, and he thought her voice the prettiest that he hadever heard; but, after all, though he was unconscious of it, it was hersilent presence, and the opportunity for imagination which it affordedhim, which momentarily strengthened the spell. As for not seeing heragain, that idea had vanished for ever. See her he would, at whateverrisk; and even the waiting a few days--to which prudence, driven fromall her strongholds, fell back upon at the last--seemed a miserableconcession, to which it was more than doubtful if he would yield. Why,in those few days some other man might come to the front!
It will be seen that Everitt was very far gone indeed.
He was trying to forget the stiffness of his arm, and he had quitesucceeded in forgetting Miss Aitcheson when she came in.
"Oh, Bell!" reproachfully from Kitty.
"Yes, my dear, it's too tiresome! But father has taken this fancy forcoming with me, and he has kept me waiting for ages. I made Hugh walkwith me, after all, and it is too late for any painting, and I am _very_much disappointed."
"Yes," said Kitty regretfully, "it is too late. The time is up." ToEveritt--"You can go now, and please tell Mr Everitt that I am sorryyou cannot come again. Oh, and I will pay you."
Pay! Horrible humiliation, of which he had never thought, and yet whichhe dared not refuse! He murmured something about waiting, but Kitty hadalready her little purse in her hand, and was counting out theshillings. It seemed to him as if he hardly knew where he was, as hewent out of the room with reluctant feet, and down the oak staircaseinto the ground between the house and the Hospital, where the old menstood about or sat in the warmly sheltered corners.
CHAPTER FOUR.
DISCOVERY.
Kitty Lascelles watched her model out of the room with some intentness.When she turned away at last, she gave a little troubled sigh, andlooked at Bell, standing before her picture. Bell answered the look byan extremely brief question. "Well?"
"Bell," said the other girl, in a very low voice, "does it strike youthat there is anything odd about that--Italian?"
"Odd?" repeated Bell.
"I can't make him out," said Kitty, uneasily. "It must be fancy, ofcourse, but still I don't really think he is quite what he seems."
"In what way?"
"You'll laugh, Bell, but--do you think he looks like a common man? Hedoesn't talk like one, at any rate. I think it is just as well he isnot coming again. I--"
"Well," interrupted her friend, "what do you say to his hands?"
"Then, that struck you too?" exclaimed Kitty eagerly. "Why what is it?"
For Bell had flung herself into a chair in a sudden paroxysm oflaughter, so long and so unchecked that for a time she could not speak.
"So you suspect at last?" she cried. "Oh, Kitty, Kitty!"
"What do you mean?" cried the girl. "Bell, I shall shake you if you areso dreadfully silly. What do you mean? What do you know? Oh, Bell,don't be provoking!"
"But I want you to guess. I shan't tell you until you have had at leastsix guesses. Who do you suppose--only you never will suppose, that'sthe worst of it!--still, who, of all unlikely persons, has been yourmodel?"
Kitty drew herself up.
"I don't know; and if you knew and did not tell me, I am not sure that Ishall ever forgive you."
This terrible threat appeared in no way to disconcert her friend.
"Guess."
Kitty shook her head, and walked to the window.
"Come back, or I won't tell you."
Kitty hesitated; then marched back.
"Tell me directly."
"It was Mr Everitt himself."
"Bell!"
The hot colour surged up all over the girl's face and throat; after thatone word, she stood speechless. Her model Mr Everitt, the painter--thegreat painter, as she called him! It was impossible, impossible! ButBell's amusement was intense, "I don't know that I should have told youyet, if you had not suspected something in that innocent little way ofyours. Still, it was almost more than I could keep to myself; and oh,Kitty, imagine the situation when last night I met him at adinner-party!"
But Kitty did not laugh.
"Bell," she said gravely, "I can't believe it. I am sure you must bemaking some extraordinary mistake."
"My dear, I am quite, quite certain. Why, even my father, who only sawhim here yesterday, fidgeted all last night about some likeness. Ididn't say a word. It wouldn't do with papa."
"It will not do with any of us," said Kitty, with spirit.
"You won't tell your father?"
"I shall tell mother, and she can act as she likes."
"Take care," said Bell, more seriously. "You don't want a regular fussto grow out of a bit of absurdity. What has he done?"
"He has come here in a false position and under false pretences. Ithink it dreadful. What could make him behave so?"
"Shall I tell you what I believe? That it was laziness or good-nature.I dare say he forgot all about the model, and then was afraid you wouldbe awfully disappointed. Mrs Marchmont said so much about it. It isall over now, and remember, he did his utmost to get out of comingto-day."
"Mother must judge."
"Well, I think you are extremely hard on the poor man. You would nothave liked it at all if you had waited through yesterda
y morning and hadno model. I am sure he was very uncomfortable himself."
"And that was the reason he stood so badly!" cried Kitty. "I hope he_was_ uncomfortable."
"Kitty," said Bell earnestly, "if I were you I would say nothing aboutit. You don't know what mischief you may set going. It is over anddone with; he is not coming again, and if you appear to remain inignorance, you will be in a far more dignified position than if ourfathers bring a clatter about his ears. If he really took the characterin order to do you a kindly turn, it will be very ungrateful of you todamage his reputation."
"Then, you allow," said