“Then what do you paint his Maria for?  How do you know whether she is a fit subject for you?”

“Hush, sir!  You must not interrupt my work.”

“I suppose you have lots of fun here over your art studies, eh?”

“Who?”

“You, and all the other girls here.”

“Oh, I am sure I dont know any of them.”

“Quite right, too, your ladyship.  Dont make yourself cheap.  I hope none of the low beggars ever have the audacity to speak to you.”

“I dont know anything about them,” said Lady Constance, pettishly.  “All I mean is that they are strangers to me.”

“Most likely theyll remain so.  You all seem to stick to the little pictures tremendously.  Why dont you go in for high art?  There’s a big picture of Adam and Eve!  Why dont you paint that?”

“Will you soon be leaving town?” she replied, looking steadily at her work, and declining to discuss Adam and Eve, who were depicted naked.  Receiving no reply, she looked round, and saw Marmaduke leaving the room with the woman in the black silk dress.

“Who is that girl?” said Susanna, as they went out.

“That’s Lady Constance, whom I was to have married.”

“I guessed as much when I saw you talking to her.  She is a true English lady, heaven bless her!  I took the liberty of looking at her painting; and she stared at me as if I had bitten her.”

“She is a little fool.”

“She will not be such a little fool as to try to snub me again, I think.  Bob:  did you get my letter?”

“Of course I got it, or I shouldnt be here.”

“Well?”

“Well, I dont believe a word of it.”

“That’s plain speaking.”

“There is no use mincing matters.  You are just as likely to stop drinking as you are to stop breathing.”

“Perhaps I shall stop breathing before long.”

“Very likely, at your present rate.”

“That will be a relief to you.”

“It will be a relief to everybody, and a release for yourself.  You have made me miserable for a year past; and now you expect me to be frightened at the prospect of being rid of you.”

“I dont expect you to be frightened.  I expect you to do what all men do:  throw me aside as soon as I have served your turn.”

“Yes.  Of course, you are the aggrieved party.  Where’s Lucy?”

“I dont know, and I dont care.”

“Well, I want to know; and I do care.  Is she at home?”

“How do I know whether she is at home or not.  I left her there.  Very likely she is with her Aunt Marian, telling stories about her mother.”

“She is better there than with you.  What harm has she done you that you should talk about her in that way?”

“No harm.  I dont object to her being there.  She has very pleasant conversations with Mrs. Ned, which she retails to me at home.  ’Aunty Marian:  why do you never drink champagne?  Mamma is always drinking it.’  And then, ’Mamma:  why do you drink so much wine?  Aunty Marian never drinks any.’  Good heavens! the little devil told me this morning by way of consolation that she always takes care not to tell her Aunty that I get drunk.”