ates, but when my thoughts
go out for pleasure, they choose Italy. I don't enjoy myself in the
Hebrides or in Norway, but what powers I have are all brought out
there. Hero I am not disposed to work. I want to live, and I feel that
life can be a satisfaction in itself without labour. I am naturally the
idlest of men. Work is always pain to me. I like to dream pictures; but
it's terrible to drag myself before the blank canvas."

Miriam gazed at the Tiber.

"Do these palaces," he asked, "ever make you wish you owned them? Did
you ever imagine yourself walking among the marbles and the pictures
with the sense of this being your home?"

"I have wondered what that must be. But I never wished it had fallen to
my lot."

"No? You are not ambitious?"

"Not in that way. To own a palace such as this would make one
insignificant."

"That is admirably true! I should give it away, to recover
self-respect. Shakespeare or Michael Angelo might live here and make it
subordinate to him; I should be nothing but the owner of the palace.
You like to feel your individuality?"

"Who does not?"

"In you, I think, it is strong."

Miriam smiled a little, as if she liked the compliment. Before either
spoke again, other visitors came to look at the view, and disturbed
them.

"I shan't ask you to come anywhere to-morrow," said Mallard, when they
had again talked for awhile of pictures. "And the next day Mrs. Elgar
will be here."

She looked at him.

"That wouldn't prevent me from going to a gallery--if you thought of
it."

"You will have much to talk of. And your stay in Rome won't be long
after that."

Miriam made no reply.

"I wish your brother had been coming," he went on. "I should have liked
to hear from him about the book he is writing."

"Shall you not be in London before long?" she asked, without show of
much interest.

"I think so, but I have absolutely no plans. Probably it is raining
hard in England, or even snowing. I must enjoy the sunshine a little
longer. I hope your health won't suffer from the change of climate."

"I hope not," she answered mechanically.

"Perhaps you will find you can't live there?"

"What does it matter? I have no ties."

"No, you are independent; that is a great blessing."

Chatting as if of indifferent things, they left the gallery.

CHAPTER VIII

STUMBLINGS

Rolled tightly together, and tied up with string, at the bottom of one
of Miriam's trunks lay the plans of tha