An Engagement of Convenience

eliness he had so often been impelled to escape. But it was his own corner, and all he had. He would not light his lamp; he would lie there in the gloom ti

ndless streets; shivering a little in the autumn dusk as now and then a gust of wind arose.

ahead of him in the growing darkness. But he was not surprised at catching sight of Mr. Robinson, since it was the regular hour of the merchant's appearance after his homeward journey from the City. As usual, Mr. Robinson's hous

step so as not to have to pass him to get to his own door. But just outside the studio Mr. Robinson slip

hurt, I hope?

he rush-bag from his clenched fingers, and gathered up the umbrella from the gutter into whic

tly," assen

s philosophy." There was a good-natured gleam in his eye and a brave smile on his face. Wyndham found himself unexp

caught at his arm solicitously. "I am only a little bruised, an

t for a moment or two?" suggested Wyndh

t in the lock, and threw open the door. Then

s arm in Wyndham's. "My name is Robinson. I live just up the roa

et the particular circumstances," said Wyndham, as they

h of suave conviction. "No, not even if the accident were more s

he old man's personality. "You are very kind," he said with a smile. "I hop

n, whilst the old man rested, Wyndham trimmed his lamp; and presently the glooms vanished before a cosy illumination. Mr. Robinson at once began to scrutinise the studio on all sides with amusingly deep interest. The old Normandy presses, the model's throne, the giant easel, the well-worn Persian carpet, the hosts of canvasses of all sizes standing with their faces to the

e hazarded, his na?ve interes

tackled the dying fire. "It's

ce you've got here! It'

sort of world-when once yo

ain, I shouldn't at all dislike having a place like this, and making my home of it. Not that I mean I should ever have made a

s, and the years have a way of passing on." He struggled with the fire, making the sticks blaze, then piled up the coals unspari

rime of early manhood!" he exclaimed. "Really it is most extraordinary

devil of thirty-three, who has as much trouble in getting

a business or profession in the ordinary sense, and so long as a man has the gift, he ought not to get disheartened. In our business

e who came home every evening from the Cit

son added, before the younger man could find his

y a genius!" said

y gravely. "I have often thought what a clever fac

cuous figure in the road. I had no

y; "and neighbours naturally notice one another. Besides, if I may say so, you are quit

In what way do I d

rom your voice and manner of speech. And then there is something about your clothes even-I don

really an original character,

ication. "I more than return th

"I believe you're a wizard. I mu

n the present case it is very easy to see that yours is the face of a gentleman by birth. There is a certain composure in your

o rust out," said Wyndham

d characterised his intercourse with his kind in the past. He did not even consider it was strange that the person he should be baring himself to so fr

done an immense amount of work!" He waved his hand signific

time, I must admit." He had suddenly perceived that Mr. Robinson was largely discounting his ingenuous frankness, and was really ta

r amounts in the future." The old man smil

sured him. "I hope you h

ad altogether forgotten the little accid

ht," said Wyndham; "else I should show you so

" he exclaimed. "I'm sure it would give me a very good id

proteste

miration! He felt strangely rejuvenated-it was as if he had taken a dose of some wonderful elixir. He selected half a dozen of the smaller pictures, and brought

hness of his hopes, when he had worked with the passion of youth. Then, too, there was the silent drama that had played itself out in the depths of his own spirit. Looking back, it seemed to him that no man could ever have cherished a more hopeless love, or have encountered a mo

be his impression at the first glance? Would all its deficiencies and crudities stand out in relief, and make him turn away from it in sickness and loathing? Or wou

ted Mr. Robinson, as Wyndham

m. "I'm afraid I shall have to as

ce. "I don't know whether we shall be able to make head or tail of it," he s

ntings," Mr. Robinson warned him. "But I know what I like

d away at the little wheel at the back of the easel as he inclined the canvas

. For a moment everything before his eyes was blurred, and he could see nothing at all; but he stood his ground firml

n; and at that moment Wyndham received the picture full on his vision and felt a

at a variety of faces and characters! And the old fellow there in the corner-what powerful features full of despair! And the old woman with the red shawl-she hasn't had a morsel of food, poor creature, for twenty-four hours, I'll wager. Why don't you leave her alone, you old ruffian of a policeman!

miring ejaculations, Wyndham put in now and again a word of explanation, drawing attention to a point here and there, though this was at first rather by way of soliloquy than conversation. But, presently, as he moved the lamp to and fro, up and down, he warmed to the occasion; even enlar

anted with his own voice. It was splendid to feel himself speaking again after all this long suppression-he was realising the strength and infallibility of his own artistic convictions. Never before had he

tiality of a great and powerful structure that no Academy could dare refuse to recognise. He saw now that his long interval of hibernation had not been unfruitful.

in a flash. Effects he had vainly sought through maddening months stood at once revealed, flowi

ike you should be attracted to the choice of such a subject. I should hardly suppose that you have ever come into a

as not only the humanity of the scene that touched me, and inspired me to attempt to put it down finely and greatly; there was also the pure art part as it appealed to the trained vision-the

echoed Mr. R

turn," said Wyndham, "your sympath

asked Mr

m between capital and

e of it. In my own firm we share the profits with all the employees. So you see I'm rather partial to labour so long as it's decent and reasonable. When I think of my own struggles, I like to see every man get fair opportunities. When a

n't you made your fortune unaided? I confess that that seems to me the most difficul

hed. "Now you're

ng forward a smaller easel, in order to display the pictures he had

ften make money," Mr.

ulously. "Do you care much ab

green and fresh and airy, an

I lost the property and a modest fort

ll," he said. "I remember reading it over the breakfast-table to my wife a

l our family concern

ntimacy of the moment all the details of this financial catastrophe. He spoke freely of his relations in the country, and of his sister Mary, and th

tor was so pleasant to the artist that he could not help bringing forward two or three more

Wyndham restored the lamp to its usual place on the table. "You see I wa

really hurt. So all'

middle of salmon," he smiled. "I generally fetch something

ad a husband in the C

make up my mind to be off, else my wife and da

ng left alone now. The old man's coming had saved him for the time being from the clutch of a terrible despair

voice was breaking

quaintance if I suggested--" The old man hesitat

nything you lik

me home and dine with us-quite without ceremony. We're the simpl

said Wyndham. "I should not

lighted to see you as I am. Will you not come

ake myself presentable. I have just been across town, and in thi

the same plight myself

the old man again thanked him for th

g reminder, and Wyndham, promising faithfull