it not dangerous for me to be noticed here to-
day. I see several people who would recognize me on the least
provocation.'

'Not a word,' said Dan. 'Don't you be afeard about that. I feel that I
baint upon my own ground to-day; and wouldn't do anything to cause an
upset, drown me if I would. Would you, Sol?'

In this temper they all pressed forward, and Ethelberta could not but be
gratified at the reception of Ladywell's picture, though it was accorded
by critics not very profound. It was an operation of some minutes to get
exactly opposite, and when side by side the three stood there they
overheard the immediate reason of the pressure. 'Farewell, thou art too
dear for my possessing' had been lengthily discoursed upon that morning
by the Coryphaeus of popular opinion; and the spirit having once been
poured out sons and daughters could prophesy. But, in truth, Ladywell's
work, if not emphatically original, was happily centred on a middle
stratum of taste, and apart from this adventitious help commanded, and
deserved to command, a wide area of appreciation.

While they were standing here in the very heart of the throng
Ethelberta's ears were arrested by two male voices behind her, whose
words formed a novel contrast to those of the other speakers around.

'Some men, you see, with extravagant expectations of themselves, coolly
get them gratified, while others hope rationally and are disappointed.
Luck, that's what it is. And the more easily a man takes life the more
persistently does luck follow him.'

'Of course; because, if he's industrious he does not want luck's
assistance. Natural laws will help him instead.'

'Well, if it is true that Ladywell has painted a good picture he has done
it by an exhaustive process. He has painted every possible bad one till
nothing more of that sort is left for him. You know what lady's face
served as the original to this, I suppose?'

'Mrs. Petherwin's, I hear.'

'Yes, Mrs. Alfred Neigh that's to be.'

'What, that elusive fellow caught at last?'

'So it appears; but she herself is hardly so well secured as yet, it
seems, though he takes the uncertainty as coolly as possible. I knew
nothing about it till he introduced the subject as we were standing here
on Monday, and said, in an off-hand way, "I mean to marry that lady." I
asked him how. "Easily," he said; "I will have her if there are a
hundred at her heels." You will understand that this was quite in
confide