With Mrs. Lessingham he could not be entirely at his
ease; her eye was occasionally disturbing to a pretender who did not
lack discernment. But in walking about the museum with Mr. Bradshaw, he
was the most brilliant of ciceroni. Jacob was not wholly credulous, for
he had spoken of the young man with Mrs. Lessingham, but he found such
companionship entertaining enough from time to time, and Clifford's
knowledge of Italian was occasionally a help to him.

A day or two of moderate intimacy with any person whatsoever always led
Clifford to a revelation of his private circumstances; it was not long
before Mr. Bradshaw was informed not only of Mr. Hibbert's harshness,
but of the painful treatment to which Clifford was being subjected at
the hands of Mrs. Denyer and Madeline. The latter point was handled
with a good deal of tact, for Clifford had it in view' that through Mr.
Bradshaw his words would one way or other reach Mrs. Lessingham, and so
perchance come to Miss Doran's ears. He made no unworthy charges; he
spoke not in anger, but in sorrow; he was misunderstood, he was
depreciated, by those who should have devoted themselves to supporting
his courage under adversity. And as he talked, he became the embodiment
of calm magnanimity; the rhetoric which was meant to impress his
listener had an exalting effect upon himself--as usual.

"You mean to hold out, then?" asked the bluff Jacob, with a smile which
all but became a chuckle.

"I am an artist," was the noble reply. "I cannot abandon my life's
work."

"But how about bread and cheese? They are necessary to an artist, as
much as to other men, I'm afraid."

Clifford smiled calmly.

"I shall not be the first who has starved in such a cause."

Jacob roared as he related this conversation to his wife.

"I must keep an eye on the lad," he said. "When I hear he's given in,
I'll write him a letter of congratulation."

CHAPTER VIII

PROOF AGAINST ILLUSION

An interesting conversation took place one morning between Mrs. Spence
and Mrs. Lessingham with regard to Cecily. They were alone together at
the villa; Cecily and Miriam had gone for a drive with the Bradshaws.
After speaking of Reuben Elgar, Mrs. Lessingham passed rather abruptly
to what seemed a disconnected subject.

"I don't think it's time yet for Cecily to give up her set studies. I
should like to find some one to read with her regularly again before
long--say Latin and history; there would be no ha