Innocent : her fancy and his fact

in proportion to the aloofness of the pursued animal,-and Innocent, who saw nothing remarkable in remaining somewhat secluded and apart from the ordinary routine of social life so feverishly followed

at and insistent was the public demand for anything from her pen that she could command her own terms from any publishing quarter. Her good fortune made very little effect upon her,-sometimes it seemed as if she hardly realised or cared to realise it. She had odd, almost child-like ways of spending some of her money in dainty "surprise" gifts to her friends-that is to say, such friends as had shown her kindness,-beautiful flowers and fruit for invalids-choice wines for those who needed yet could not afford them,-a new drawing-room carpet for Miss Leigh, which was, in the old lady's opinion, a most important and amazing affair!-costly furs, also for Miss Leigh,-and devices and adornments of all sorts for the pleasure, beauty or comfort of the house-but on herself personally she spent nothing save what was necessary for such dress and appearance as best accorded with her no

fer to, insensibly lost their charm,-she went reluctantly to her desk, and as reluctantly took up her pen,-what she had written already, appeared to her utterly worthless,-and what she attempted to write now was to her mind poor and unsatisfying. She was not moved by the knowledge, constantly pressed upon her, that she was steadily rising, despite herself, to the zenith of her career in such an incredibly swift and brilliant way as to be the envy of all her contemporaries,-she was hardly as grateful for her honours as weary of them and a little contemptuous. What did it all matter to her when half of her once busy working mornings were now often passed in the studio of Amadis de Jocelyn! He was painting a full-length portrait of her-a mere excuse to give her facilities for visiting him, and ensure his own privacy and convenience in receiving her-and every day she went to him, sometimes late in the afternoons as well as the mornings, slipping in and out familiarly and quite unnoticed, for he had given her a key to the private door of his studio, which was reached through a small, deeply shaded garden, abutting on an old-fashioned street near Holland Park. She could enter at any time, and thought it was the customary privilege accorded by an artist to his sitter, while it saved the time and trouble of the

whispered, kissing her soft warm neck-

ightedly, nestl

she said-"B

ose w

"-and she sighed as she spoke-

that?" he asked, pressing a kiss on the

tenderness-her white, ivory-smooth skin-her small caressing hands, and the fine bright tendrils of her waving hair

realised that it would probably be "the" picture of the Salon in the following year. As this conviction dawned upon him, he took greater pains, and worked more carefully and conscientiously with the happiest results, feeling a thrill of true artistic satisfaction as the picture began to live and smile in response to his masterly touch and treatment. Its composition was simple-he had drawn the girl as though she were slowly advancing towards the spectator, giving her figure all the aerial

o give you a happy expression-and yet your portrait is actually

r pretty eyes

d not look sad when I am wi

, palette

eproac

thing to reproach yo

and sat at her feet on the step

e folded her in his arms. "How often we rest in this way, don't we!" he murmured-"And so

at him qu

, my 'Sieur Amadis'?-or a

fect model it was-"I believe I am involving you in all sorts of trouble-and you, you absurd little child, don't see it! Suppo

d, simply-"There is no harm!-and I sho

quick thought, while he ma

tinued-"she has n

ht over you?" he

ughed,

!-excep

iently-"Leave me out of the questi

hurt at his sud

m alone in the world-I can do as I like." Then a smile brightened her

loosened her fr

althy old peer! What

asure of my company!" and she la

nt back to wor

lowly-"Are you going

s opene

ith benefits-he would surround me with luxuries-but I do not want these. I like to work for myse

e's a statesman,-very useful to his country,-he's very rich and has a splendid position. His wife's sudden death has left him very lonely as he has no children,-y

f pain,-all the pretty co

scribble books!" she said

lau

bird of love in my arms!-and to think that you actually write books that the world talks about!-the thing is so incongruous-so 'ou

pau

on," she s

d at her

seem to play at literature like a child playing at a game: of course you make money by it,-but-you know better than

d, with a faintly satirical inflection in her

ied, dabbing his brush busily on his canv

speare himself seemed to have had the one principal aim of making sufficient money enough to live comfortably in his native town, and he was 'popular' in his day-

uick eloquence, he

all women, you wander from the point. We were talking of Lord Blythe-and I say it would be far bett

to her eyes. He saw, and throwing down his brush came

nt-sweet little love! Forgive me if I have-what?"-

e hands wandered caressingly through his

ieur Amadis de Jocelin-the brother of your ancestor!-that I have been thinking all the time how I could best show you that I was worthy of his teaching. The world-or the publ

stung him at th

ther things to live for-you must not think of pleasing me on

ied-"We should not have had all the wonderful Madonnas a

would not have got on just as well without literature at all. There is always nature to study-sky, sea, l

plied-"He will be

she has sufficient intelligent perception to see through his web of subterfuge and break away clear of the entangling threads, standing free as a goddess on the height of her own independent attainment. Innocent's idea of love was the angelic dream of truth and everlastingness set forth by poets, whose sweet singing deludes themselves and others,-she was ready to devote all the unique powers of her mind and brain to the perfecting of herself for her lover's delight. She wished to be beautiful, brilliant, renowned and admired, simply that he might take joy in knowing that this beautiful, brilliant, renowned and admired creature was HIS, body and soul-existing solely for him and content to live only so long as he lived, to work only so long as he worked,-to be nothing apart f

ould not be otherwise. His tenderness was ardent,-his passion fiery and eager,-yet she wondered-timidly and with deep humiliation in herself for daring to think so far-why, if he loved her so much as he declared, did he not ask her to be his wife? She supposed he would do so,-though she had heard him

into an artist's studio-"and I almost think I could carry on the farm-Priscilla would help me,-and we know just h

nd of illegitimacy was upon her,-and whereas once she alone had known what she judged to be a shameful secret, now two others shared it with her-Miss Leigh and Lord Blythe. They wou

erce Armitage-and then-perhaps he would not marry me-he might change-ah no!-he could not!-he would not!-he loves me to

hless save himself, and all opinions unwarrantable and ill-founded unless he confirmed them. And, leading her away from the contemplation of high visions, he made her the blind worshipper of a very inadequate idol. She was happy in her faith, and yet not altogether sure of