ow with
meekness. But about the picture, you must let me have my own way this
once. There may come a time, and that before very long, when I shall be
able to buy it back from you just as we arranged, and then I am sure you
will let me have it. But for the present it must be with you, and if
anything should happen to me I should wish you to keep it altogether."

Westray had meant to insist on her retaining the picture; he would not
for a second time submit to be haunted with the gaudy flowers and the
green caterpillar. But while she spoke, there fell upon him one of
those gusty changes of purpose to which he was peculiarly liable. There
came into his mind that strange insistence with which Sharnall had
begged him at all hazards to retain possession of the picture. It
seemed as if there might be some mysterious influence which had brought
Miss Joliffe with it just now, and that he might be playing false to his
trust with Sharnall if he sent it back again. So he did not remain
obdurate, but said: "Well, if you really wish it, I will keep the
picture for a time, and whenever you want it you can take it back
again." While he was speaking there was a sound of stumbling on the
stairs outside, and a bang as if something heavy had been let drop.

"It is that stupid girl again," Miss Joliffe said; "she is always
tumbling about. I am sure she has broken more china in the six months
she has been with me than was broken before in six years."

They went to the door, and as Westray opened it great red-faced and
smiling Anne Janaway walked in, bearing the glorious picture of the
flowers and caterpillar.

"What have you been doing now?" her mistress asked sharply.

"Very sorry, mum," said the maid, mingling some indignation with her
apology, "this here gurt paint tripped I up. I'm sure I hope I haven't
hurt un"--and she planted the picture on the floor against the table.

Miss Joliffe scanned the picture with an eye which was trained to detect
the very flakiest chip on a saucer, the very faintest scratch upon a
teapot.

"Dear me, dear me!" she said, "the beautiful frame is ruined; the bottom
piece is broken almost clean off."

"Oh, come," Westray said in a pacifying tone, while he lifted the
picture and laid it flat on the table, "things are not so bad as all
that."

He saw that the piece which formed the bottom of the frame was indeed
detached at both corners and ready to fall away, but he pushed it back
into posit