it is very dull," put in Greta, with a pout.

"You are rude, Greta," said Miss Naylor in a little rage, pursing her
lips, and taking up her knitting.

"I think it seems always rude to speak the truth," said Greta. Miss
Naylor looked at her in that concentrated manner with which she was in
the habit of expressing displeasure.

But at this moment a servant came, and said that Mrs. Decie would be
glad to see Herr Harz. The painter made them a stiff bow, and followed
the servant to the house. Miss Naylor and the two girls watched his
progress with apprehensive eyes; it was clear that he had been offended.

Crossing the veranda, and passing through an open window hung with silk
curtains, Hart entered a cool dark room. This was Mrs. Decie's sanctum,
where she conducted correspondence, received her visitors, read the
latest literature, and sometimes, when she had bad headaches, lay for
hours on the sofa, with a fan, and her eyes closed. There was a scent of
sandalwood, a suggestion of the East, a kind of mystery, in here, as
if things like chairs and tables were not really what they seemed, but
something much less commonplace.

The visitor looked twice, to be quite sure of anything; there were many
plants, bead curtains, and a deal of silverwork and china.

Mrs. Decie came forward in the slightly rustling silk which--whether in
or out of fashion--always accompanied her. A tall woman, over fifty, she
moved as if she had been tied together at the knees. Her face was long,
with broad brows, from which her sandy-grey hair was severely waved
back; she had pale eyes, and a perpetual, pale, enigmatic smile.
Her complexion had been ruined by long residence in India, and might
unkindly have been called fawn-coloured. She came close to Harz, keeping
her eyes on his, with her head bent slightly forward.

"We are so pleased to know you," she said, speaking in a voice which had
lost all ring. "It is charming to find some one in these parts who
can help us to remember that there is such a thing as Art. We had Mr.
C---here last autumn, such a charming fellow. He was so interested in
the native customs and dresses. You are a subject painter, too, I think?
Won't you sit down?"

She went on for some time, introducing painters' names, asking
questions, skating round the edge of what was personal. And the young
man stood before her with a curious little smile fixed on his lips. 'She
wants to know whether I'm worth powder and shot,' he tho