face was singularly mobile, and although this was an
inferior consideration to the master, she never failed to represent the
expression appropriate to the character she assumed.

Her reputation was soon established among the artists who occasionally
dropped into Goude's studio, and her spare time was fully occupied, and
that at much higher rates of pay than those she earned with him. After
the first two or three months she came but twice a week there, as that
amply sufficed for the needs of the studio. On his telling her that he
should no longer require her to come three times a week, as his pupils
had other things to learn besides drawing the female figure, the master
said--

"I must pay you higher in future, Minette. I know that my friends are
paying you five francs an hour."

"A bargain is a bargain," she said. "You came to me first, and but for
you I should never have earned a penny. Now we have moved into a better
street and have comfortable lodgings. We have everything we want, and I
am laying by money fast. You have always treated me well, and I like you
though your temper is even worse than my father's. I shall keep to my
agreement as long as you keep to yours, and if you do not I shall not
come here at all."

With the students Minette was a great favorite. In the pause of five
minutes every half-hour to allow her to change her position, she chatted
and laughed with them with the frankest good temper, more than holding
her own in the sallies of chaff. When they occasionally made excursions
in a body into the country to sketch and paint, she was always of the
party, going in the capacity of comrade instead of that of a model,
contributing a full share to the lunch basket, but ready to pose as a
peasant girl with a fagot on her head, a gleaner, or a country-woman
with a baby on her lap, according to the scene and requirements. It was
a matter of course that Minette should be present at every supper party
or little fete among the students, always being placed in the seat of
honor at the head of the table, and joining in all the fun of those
merry reunions. For a time she treated all alike as comrades, and
accepted no compliments save those so extravagant as to provoke general
laughter. Gradually, however, it came to be understood among the
students that Minette made an exception in the case of Arnold Dampierre,
and that on occasions when they happened to break up in pairs he was
generally by her side.

"One n