There are some gentle natures, with deep affections, but without much brain-power in whom an idea, a mental attitude, and especially a personal liking or disliking, is very easily implanted; yet, easily as it is introduced, once it has taken hold it can never be dislodged.  The intellect has not energy enough for reconstruction; it accepts too readily, and, once saturated, the stain is indelible, because there is no power of growth.

Behold, then, Barty, gentle and obstinate, timid and an enthusiast, loving, yet implacable, seated in Larry’s studio, regarding with submissive adoration the being compact of the antithesis of his qualities, and ready, for that being’s sake, to make any sacrifice save that of renouncing him.

The being in question, wholly and feverishly absorbed in his own affairs of the heart, while bound by his oath to say nothing about them, brought himself with difficulty to attend to the retrospect of financial operations, hitherto postponed, but now insisted upon, by his man of business.

“Oh, first-rate, old chap—­quite all right—­good business!—­” With these, and similar interjections, did the employer ratify and approve of his agent’s transactions.  Barty’s legal training abetted his conscientiousness, and in his mild and monotonous brogue he laid before Larry a statement of his money matters that was as unsparing in detail as it was accurate.

“So now you see,” he concluded, “I didn’t act without careful consideration, and I consulted me fawther, besides others of experience in such matters.  I believe there are people who are saying we sold too cheap to the tenants.  But, on the other hand, the money’s good and safe now; you have a certain and secure income, and you’re in a very favourable position in the eyes of the people.”

Larry pulled himself from reverie to ejaculate further general approval; then he rose from the table, upon which Barty’s books had been displayed, and drawing forward an easel on which was a framed canvas covered by some vivid oriental drapery, he arranged it carefully with regard to the light.  Then he caught away the drapery, stepping back, quickly, from the easel.

“What do you think of that, Barty?”

Barty, who was short-sighted, stood up and adjusted his eye-glasses, while he endeavoured to readjust his ideas, and to abandon the realms of business for those of art.

“But you know, Larry,” he apologised, “I know nothing about paintings.  You wouldn’t know what tomfoolery I mightn’t—­” The apology broke off abruptly.

“Oh, God!” he muttered, feeling, in the shock of meeting her eyes, as if a sudden wind had swept his mind bare of business, of Larry, of all things save Christian, “it’s herself!”

His sallow face had turned a dull red.  He moved back a step or two, and then went forward again.  The easel was low, and Barty was very tall; he went on his knees, and gazed, speechless.