. Dalrymple will understand all about that, I daresay,
before the picture is finished," said Mrs. Broughton.

It did not take much persuasion on the part of Conway Dalrymple to
get the consent of the younger lady to be painted, or of the elder to
allow the sitting to go on in her room. When the question of easels
and other apparatus came to be considered Mrs. Broughton was rather
flustered, and again declared with energy that the whole thing must
fall to the ground; but a few more words from the painter restored
her, and at last the arrangements were made. As Mrs. Dobbs Broughton's
dear friend, Madalina Demolines had said, Mrs. Dobbs Broughton liked
a fevered existence. "What will Dobbs say?" she exclaimed more than
once. And it was decided at last that Dobbs should know nothing about
it as long as it could be kept from him. "Of course he shall be told
at last," said his wife. "I wouldn't keep anything from the dear
fellow for all the world. But if he knew it at first it would be sure
to get through Musselboro to your mother."

"I certainly shall beg that Mr. Broughton may not be taken into
confidence if Mr. Musselboro is to follow," said Clara. "And it must
be understood that I must cease to sit immediately, whatever may be
the inconvenience, should mamma speak to me about it."

This stipulation was made and conceded, and then Miss Van Siever went
away, leaving the artist with Mrs. Dobbs Broughton. "And now, if you
please, Conway, you had better go too," said the lady, as soon as
there had been time for Miss Van Siever to get downstairs and out of
the hall-door.

"Of course you are in a hurry to get rid of me."

"Yes, I am."

"A little while ago I improperly said that some suggestion of yours
was nonsense and you rebuked me for my blunt incivility. Might not I
rebuke you now with equal justice?"

"Do so, if you will;--but leave me. I tell you, Conway, that in these
matters you must either be guided by me, or you and I must cease to
see each other. It does not do that you should remain here with me
longer than the time usually allowed for a morning call. Clara has
come and gone, and you also must go. I am sorry to disturb you, for
you seem to be so very comfortable in that chair."

"I am comfortable,--and I can look at you. Come;--there can be no
harm in saying that, if I say nothing else. Well;--there, now I am
gone." Whereupon he got up from his arm-chair.

"But you are not gone while you stand there."

"