do so, but you are cold and do not like a show of feeling. These
pictures will place you well in the second rank; in another year or two
you will climb into the first. They will be hung on the line, that goes
without saying. They are charming, they are admirable, and to think
that you are still at the school. I might paint all my life and I should
never turn out two such canvases; and it is a sin that one who can paint
like that should expose himself to be shot at by Prussians. Now, do you
sit down and let me look at them."

"Do so, Rene, and please remember that I want not praise, but honest
criticism; I know they have defects, but I want you to point them out to
me, for while I feel that they might be improved, I have my own ideas so
strongly in my head, that I cannot see where the faults are as you can.
Remember, you can't be too severe, and if possible to do so, without
entirely having to repaint them, I will try to carry out your
suggestions."

Rene produced a pipe, filled and lighted it, then placed a chair so that
he could sit across it and lean upon the back. He sat for upwards of a
quarter of an hour puffing out clouds of tobacco-smoke without speaking.

"You mean what you say, Cuthbert?" he said at last. "Very well, I will
take the bright one first. As to the figure I have nothing to say; the
effect of the light falling on her head and face is charming; the dress
is perhaps a little stiff, it would have been bettered if relieved by
some light lace or gauze, but we will let that pass; it is a portrait
and a good one. It is your pretty nurse at the Ambulance. Am I to
congratulate you there too?"

Cuthbert nodded.

"I thought so," Rene went on, without moving his gaze from the pictures,
"and will congratulate you presently. The background of the figure is
the one weak point of the picture, that, too, like the portrait, I doubt
not, was taken from reality, for with your artistic feeling you would
never have placed that bare wall behind the figure. You have tried by
the shadows from the vine above to soften it, and you have done all you
could in that way, but nothing could really avail. You want a vine to
cover that wall. It should be thrown into deep cool shadow, with a touch
of sunlight here and there, streaming upon it, but less than you now
have falling on the wall. As it is now, the cool gray of the dress is
not sufficiently thrown up, it, like the wall, is in shade except where
the sun touches the head a