a stage hero.

Presently Mr. Robinson raised the subject of Wyndham's fee for the
portrait, approaching the point apologetically.

"Of course, we could hardly discuss this side of the matter before my
wife and daughter," said the old man. "But I must insist on your
accepting a fair remuneration for the work--shall we say two hundred
guineas?"

"To be frank," said Wyndham, "if you had left it to me, I should hardly
have mentioned so large a sum."

"Naturally a gentleman of your disposition would think more of the
artistic pleasure of the work than of the money it brought. Still, in
this life money has to be considered. In all things, sublime or humble,
the labourer is worthy of his hire. I do not for a moment suggest that
the sum I have named in any way expresses our appreciation of the work,
even in anticipation, and certainly not in any way our sense of the
privilege and honour you are bestowing upon us."

"I shall endeavour to merit your kind words," said Wyndham, not to be
outdone in polished courtesy, though he conceded that, by force of
simple sincerity and good feeling, Mr. Robinson seemed a past master in
the delicate art. "At any rate," he pursued, "the work is developing in
my mind. The more I dwell upon it, the better and better I like the
scheme, and I shall work at it enthusiastically from start to finish."

It being thus assumed that two hundred guineas were to be the artist's
reward, Mr. Robinson seemed by no means loth to wander from a point
which he had approached with great hesitation and an immense sense of
its difficult delicacy. As yet Wyndham did not measure the radical
change in his personal situation; nor did he display any undue elation.
But his cool demeanour was no mere pose. Indeed, he was surprised
himself at the ease with which he was accepting the transaction, as if
it were commonplace in his experience. But he merely supposed that he
was meeting good fortune with the natural dignity of the artist--to whom
commissions are due as a matter of right, however long they may be
deferred.

They did not linger in the dining-room, but joined the ladies after
their first cigar; though not before Mr. Robinson had sedulously
inquired as to his liking for the particular brand, which, he assured
Wyndham, was not readily obtainable in London, and had made, him promise
to take a box away with him.

In the drawing-room Miss Robinson played to them, at first tremulously,
but gaining confidence wit