An Engagement of Convenience

ler easel, and everything was ready for an immediate start. Wyndham had been able to obtain on hire a most lovely Empire chair, with swans' heads for armrests, an

k, and the subtle cat's-eye, with its border of tiny pearls, showed deliciously against the long hand and fingers that emerged from the lace lying loosely about the wrist. Her left hand lay on her lap, and here the ancient green scarab and the aquamarine made important decorat

er had no easy task to maintain her immobility. And then the kind and condescending explanations with which he accompanied the many little changes and refinements in the arrangement from moment to moment were so clever and penetrating! It was really wonderful how points struck him, and what surprising improvements he accomplished with a wave of the hand and imperc

ppeal. "Alice looks lovely," she broke out. "You know so well ho

ssories that produce the

y they are there. But it's you I'm painting, Miss Robinson. You are

felt fatigued. And, indeed, he insisted on her resting frequently, though she struggled bravely to

charmingly. Miss Robinson, reassured and encouraged by his gracious suavity, soon felt at her ease, and spoke more freely than was her wont at any time. A shade of animation came into her features, and she was ready to break into a laugh at a jest, or to listen to a more serious little disquisiti

two hours, when he expressed himself delight

making it, Mr. Wyndham?" they aske

ined, and promptly disappeared inside it. They came peeping in gleefully, fascinated by the rough white-washed doll's interior with its miniature dresser, and they watched him fill his kettle and

inson, her face shining w

ngers among them-just the so

ust the sort you like,

put in the pot?" in

always careful to warm the pot first with a little of the hot water, and, in scaldi

ere as careful!" si

fragrance and delicacy to the skies, and in a trice he was called upon to renew the supply. They likewise declared the cakes delicious, and ate them with affected greed. Meanwhile he let them see some of his pictures; showing off his tall, handsome figure, and occasionally balancing his cup to a nicety, as he talked and manipulated the canvasses from his point of vantage. And when tea was over, he kept them some little time further, whilst he exhibited his overwhelming masterpiece,

Mrs. Robinson summoned her courage, and suggested that, if he hadn't any other engagement that evening, he might as well dine with them as dine alone. The argument struck him as forcibl

l, Mr. Wyndham. We know we are no

Robinson, as they shook hands. She smiled at him quite frankl

"I do believe Miss Robinson's half in love with me." But he checked himself abruptly. "Good heavens! what a caddish thing to say." For, with

ould fall in love with him! He recognised her worth as a human being, but instinctively he placed her beyond a certain pale. It was not with that kind of woman that one connected the idea of loving or falling in love; the true type had been fixed for

d not, and brusquely wielded his paintbrush. In any case, it was all in the day's work. Take his own case, for instance! Had he not suffered atrociously

y till he should be able to do some fresh sketches on the spot, and have a few at least of the models pose to him over again. But it w

after reading an hour or two, he dress

to him, it was just as well they should feel it the right thing to meet him on his own plane-as they understood it. Certainly it was not without its amusing side-the spectacle of a good h

on the former occasion. Then, his visit had been an uncertain and not over-willing experiment; now, he was acclimatised, his impression of everything was cooler. The greater self-possession of the family, too, made the evening disti

this piece of discernment and observation. He explained that he had had the house built for him twenty years before, and this solidity represented his dearest philosophy. He hated nothing so much as a superficial appearance which affected to be superior to the underlying reality. "Soundness and sincerity" had been his motto throughout his life, and on that principle his prosperity had been founded. Wyndham grew infected with this unmetaphysical philosophy. The ground he had trodden these last years seemed h

upporting the world. Wyndham's own existence seemed feeble by contrast, ready to go down before the merest puff of wind. He stretched himself luxuriously, half incredulous, as if to assure himself it was all no vain imagining; permitted Mr. Robinson to recharge

ou so endlessly that you could afford to gamble with it. But, when the years were racing by, you longed for a little peace, a little

p into him. Sadler was an older man, had gone through all these phases. "Safety!" No wonder his