for lack of pains.'
'E said things to that effect repeated.

"He was workin' at the picture the last day, before 'e went to 'is club.
'E kept the carriage waitin' near an hour while 'e put on a stroke an'
then drawed back for to look at it, an' then put on another, careful
like. After 'e 'ad 'is gloves on, 'e come back an' took away the brushes
I was startin' to clean, an' put in another touch or two. 'It's acomin',
Jymes,' 'e says, 'by gad if it ayn't.' An' with that 'e goes out. It was
cruel sudden, w'at come after.

"That night I was lookin' to 'is clothes at the 'ouse when they brought
'im 'ome. He was conscious, but w'en I ran downstairs for to 'elp lift
'im up, I knowed 'e was a finished man. After we got 'im into bed 'e
kept lookin' restless at me and then at Lydy Elling and ajerkin' of 'is
'and. Finally 'e quite raised it an' shot 'is thumb out toward the wall.
'He wants water; ring, Jymes,' says Lydy Elling, placid. But I knowed 'e
was pointin' to the shop.

"'Lydy Treffinger,' says I, bold, 'he's pointin' to the studio. He means
about the _Marriage_; 'e told me today as 'ow 'e never wanted it sold
unfinished. Is that it, Sir 'Ugh?'

"He smiled an' nodded slight an' closed 'is eyes. 'Thank you, Jymes,'
says Lydy Elling, placid. Then 'e opened 'is eyes an' looked long and
'ard at Lydy Elling.

"'Of course I'll try to do as you'd wish about the picture, 'Ugh, if
that's w'at's troublin' you,' she says quiet. With that 'e closed 'is
eyes and 'e never opened 'em. He died unconscious at four that mornin'.

"You see, sir, Lydy Elling was always cruel 'ard on the _Marriage_. From
the first it went wrong, an' Sir 'Ugh was out of temper pretty constant.
She came into the studio one day and looked at the picture an 'asked
'im why 'e didn't throw it up an' quit aworriting 'imself. He answered
sharp, an' with that she said as 'ow she didn't see w'at there was to
make such a row about, no'ow. She spoke 'er mind about that picture,
free; an' Sir 'Ugh swore 'ot an' let a 'andful of brushes fly at 'is
study, an' Lydy Elling picked up 'er skirts careful an' chill, an'
drifted out of the studio with 'er eyes calm and 'er chin 'igh. If there
was one thing Lydy Elling 'ad no comprehension of, it was the usefulness
of swearin'. So the _Marriage_ was a sore thing between 'em. She is
uncommon calm, but uncommon bitter, is Lydy Elling. She's never come
anear the studio since that day she went out 'oldin' up of 'er skirts.
W'en