Hide and Seek

ay be remembered, in the process of brushing up Bacchanalian Nymphs in the foreground of a Classic

and a furious ring is

Zack! I know his ring among a thousand; it's worse e

he waves his hand round and round rapidly above his head. This is the sign which means "Zack." The

the garden gate, there is a leisure moment to e

ow less intimate-so far, at least, as the new bride and Valentine were concerned. The rigid modern Puritan of Baregrove Square, and the eccentric votary of the Fine Arts, mutually disapproved of each other from the very first. Visits of ceremony were exchanged at long intervals; but even these were discontinued on Madonna's arrival under Valentine's roof: Mr. Thorpe being one of the first of the charitable friends of the family who suspected her to be the painter's natural child. An almost complete separation accordingly ensued for some years, un

back to the r

ng, and a great deal of suspicious giggling on the part of the housemaid, who had let him in. S

p, and let's celebrate my return to the painting-room with a bit of manly exercise in our old way. C

nd signalized his entry into the studio by the extraordinary process of giving it

step of a gentleman of fifty, cleared Zack in gallant style; fell over on the other side, all in a lump on his hands and feet; gave the return "back" conscientiously, at the othe

mnastics lately. We must have some more leap-frog in the garden; and I'll bring my boxing gloves next time,

is the dearest, prettiest, gentlest love in the world?" cried Zack, taking her hand, and kissing it with boisterous fondness. "Ah! she lets other old friends k

which had lain so still over her bosom when she was drawing, began to rise and fall gently now, when Zack was holding her hand. If young Thorpe had not been the most thoughtless of human beings-as much a boy still, in man

y thoughts flew off in a moment from the young lady to his cigar-case; and he walked

his stature. His boxing, rowing, and other athletic exercises had done wonders towards bringing his naturally vigorous, upright frame to the perfection of healthy muscular condition. Tall and strong as he was, there was nothing stiff or ungainly in his movements, He trod easily and lightly, with a certain youthful suppleness and hardy grace in all his actions, which set off his fine bodily formation to the best advantage. He had ke

smoke?" asked Zack, lighting his ciga

you wrote me word that your father ha

f, and I've got some splendid cigars. Try one, Blyth," said the young ge

elf!" exclaimed Mr. Bly

and I have two staring flannel shirts, which are only fit for a snob to wear. The junior clerk gives me the three dozen cigars, and I give the junior clerk the two staring flannel shirts. T

't like the way you're going on in at all. Your la

g, because he forces me to it. Why does he want to make me live in the same slow way that he does himself? There's some difference in our ages, I rather think! Why does he bully me about being always home by eleven o'clock? Why does he force me into a tea-merchant's office, when I want to be an artist, like you? I'm a perfect slave to commerce

What would your fathe

aving all your pocket-money stopped, if it was your case. I won't stand it-I have the patience of Job-but I won't stand it! My mind's made

is chair round directly, so as to face young Thorpe. "If you're really set on being an artist," he began enthusiastically, "I rather fancy, Master Zack, I'm the man to help you. First of all, you mus

gers, communicating them to Madonna through the medium of the deaf and dumb alphabet, which he had superficially mastered with extraordinary rapidity under Mr. and Mrs. Blyth's tuition. Whatever Zack's friends did Zack always admired with the wildest enthusiasm, and without an instant's previous consideration. Any know

ejoined impetuously by a fresh torrent of superlatives. She watched his face, for a moment, rather anxiously and inquiringly, then bent down quickly over her drawing. He walked back to Valentine. Her eyes followed him-then returned once more to the paper before her. The color began to rise again in her cheek; a thoughtful expressi

er whether he likes my drawing? Shall I try hard if I can't make it better worth pleasing him? I will! it shall be the best thing I

oy, how carefully that dear good girl there is working from the Antique! Only copy

y 'draw from the life,' there can't be the smallest doubt, of course, about what you mean-but, at

ught you up! 'Drawing from the life,' means drawing the living human figure from t

thing I long for most. Hullo!" exclaimed Zack, reading the memoranda, which it was Mr. Blyth's habit to scrawl, as they occurred to him, on the wall over

el, and so is her sister, Sophia. The worst of it is, they quarreled mortally a little while ago; and now, if an artist has Sophia, Amelia won't come t

quarrel about?"

new one. Sophia said it ought to be earthenware, like the last; Amelia contradicted her, and said it ought to be metal. Sophia said all the aristocracy used earthenware; Amelia said all the aristocracy used metal. Sophia said she was oldest, and knew best; Amelia said she was youngest, and knew better. Sophia said Amelia was an impudent jackanapes; Amelia s

with the air of a profound philosopher. "But tell me, Blyth, which is the prettiest, Amelia or Sophia? Metal or

here a serious question is concerned. Are you, or are you not, in ear

e, I'll be off as sure as fate! I have half a mind to cut the office from this moment. Lend me a s

get him to enter you at the Royal Academy, you must be prepared beforehand with a drawing that's fit to show. Now, if you promise to be a good boy, you shall come here, and learn the A B C of Art, every evening if you like. We'll have a regular little academy," continued Valentine, putting down his palette and brushes, and rub

and miles of drawing paper!" cried Zack, catching all Valentine's enthusiasm

yth. "What time ought you to be back in

I've got lots of time, yet-I

est manner. "Occupy them if you like, in going up stairs to Mrs. Blyth, a

n Valentine patted her shoulder approvingly, and made her a sign to leave off, she answered by a gesture of entreaty, which eloquently enough implored him to let her proceed a little longer with her employment. She had

his hand on his heart, which was the sign that had been adopted to indicate Mr

roached, rather shyly, to take it, he also laid his hand on his heart, and pointed up stairs. The ges

plan that ever was devised for keeping him steady. As long as he comes to me regularly, he can't break out at night, and get into mischief. Upon my word, t

the home-interests dearest to his heart were connected with his success in working the reformation of Zack-the smile which was now on his face would