The Magician

. The young women waited for him in the studio. The kettle was boiling on the stove; cups and petits fours stood in readiness on a model stand. Susie looked for

o had been her pupil, came, soon after this, to announce her intention of spending a couple of years in Paris to study art, Susie willingly agreed to accompany her. Since then she had worked industriously at Colarossi's Academy, by no means under the delusion that she had

re in Margaret's comeliness. It was almost with maternal pride that she watched each year add a new grace to that exceeding beauty. But her common sense was sound, and she took care by good-natured banter to temper the praises which extravagant admirers at the

f staying; and when he died, many years after his wife, Arthur found himself the girl's guardian and executor. He sent her to school; saw that she had everything she could possibly want; and when, at seventeen, she told him of her wish to go to Paris and learn drawing, he at once consented. But though he never sought to assume authority over her, he suggested that she shou

t?' she asked him. 'W

u under any obligation to me, and

She could

ng at all. I've done very little for you, and what

how I can ev

. 'It makes it so much harder

nd reddened. Her deep blue

d do anything in the wo

to me, because I was hoping-I mig

harmingly as she h

been wanting you to do th

Arthur pressed her not to change her plans. At first Margaret vowed it was impossib

he small allowance I've been making you. After all, I'm pretty well-to-do. My fa

I didn't know before. I though

married in two years, and we've known one another much too long to c

in fairness to her they could not marry till she was nineteen. She consulted Susie Boyd, w

t that you'll marry, I don't see why you shouldn't now. Besides, you've got nothing whatever to live on, and you're equally unf

dy as an old friend. She admired him for his talent and strength of character as much as for his loving tenderness to Mar

,' answered Margaret, 'b

e advantage of sounding well an

ed. To have half a dozen children was in her mind much more important than to paint pictures. Margaret's gift was by no means despica

ten minutes thought of her ugliness. You noticed then that her hair, though sprinkled with white, was pretty, and that her figure was exceedingly neat. She had good hands, very white and admirably formed, which she waved continually in the fervour of her gesticulation. Now that her means were adequate she took great pains with her dress, and her clothes, though they cost much more than she could afford, were always beautiful. Her taste was so great, her tact so sure, that she was able to make the most of herself. She was determin

ll-made corset, and to surround your body with bands of

is so hideous,'

all I know, it will be beautiful to wear a bonnet like a sitz-bath at the back of your head. Art has nothing to do with a smart frock, and whethe

ive with Margaret at all unless she l

four times a year, so that I can see after your clothes. You'll ne

, when Margaret, coming home from dinner wit

' he had said. 'I was rather afr

hat I insisted on buying every s

'I told him I had no taste at all, but t

t you could do,' a

. She knew quite well that few of her friends, though many took advantage of her matchless taste, wo

k at the door, a

ce,' said Margaret, bri

n order to thank you f

iled, taking the

anifestly absorbed. While Margaret busied herself with the preparations for tea, his eyes followed her movements with a doglike, touching devotion. They travelled from her smiling mouth to her deft hands. It seemed that he ha

t idiots,' cried Susie gai

ned. It struck Arthur that h

ches afterwards, Miss Boyd. Marg

he least necessary to show any in

aid Margaret. 'I'll bring you a horror of your

o spiteful,

laughed heartily at her burlesque account of their fellow-students at Colarossi's. Meanwhile Susie examined him. He was very tall and very thin. His frame had a Yorkshireman's solidity, and his bones were massive. He missed being ungainly only through the serenity of his self-reliance. He had high cheek-bones and a long, lean face. His nose and mouth were large, and his skin was sallow. But there were two characteristics which fascinated her, an imp

Arthur stood up t

rything you want, and I know exactly how much

ould not prevent the pang that wrung her heart; for she too was capable of love. There was in her a wealth of passionate affection that none had sought to find. None had ever whispered in her ears the charming nonsense that she read in books. She recognised that she had no beauty to help her, but once she had at least the charm of vivacious youth. That was gone now, and the fre

l I am!' th

ood-nature, and strength of character were unimportant in

wing late. If you want us to dine at the Chien Noir, yo

'I'll go back to my hotel and have a

ed the door on him, sh

you think?' she

definite opinion of a man whom

e!' said

itated fo

she said at last gravely. 'I've never seen a ma

cature which every new face suggested to her. She made a little sketch of Arthur, abnormally lanky, with a colossal nose, with the wings and the bow and arrow of the G

girl, smiling u

ieces of stuff were hung here and there, and photographs of well-known pictures. She had fallen unconsciously i

eek goddess in a Pa

garet, divining from the searching look

d up and w

ing all you'd told me of him, I was afraid. I knew he was much older than you. He was the first

k you need ha

at you'll make him happy. It's not y

r; she could not under

k you can conceive how desperately he might suffer. Be very careful, Margaret, and be very

thing to him. I'd do all I could to make him happy, even if I had to sacrifice myself.

ice broke. Susie, with a little laugh

now I can't bear people who weep, and if he