ement.

'Heard what?'

'Why, that your two pictures are _accepted_!--and will be admirably
hung--both on the line, and one in the big room.'

The colour rushed again into Fenwick's cheeks.

'Are you sure?' he stammered, looking from one to the other.

Lord Findon gave his authority, and then Eugenie held out her hand.

'We _are_ so glad!'

She had thrown back the gauze veil in which she had shrouded herself
during her drive with her father, and her charming face--still so
pale!--shone in sympathy.

Fenwick awkwardly accepted her congratulation, and shook the proffered
hand.

'I expect it's your doing,' he said, abruptly.

'Not in the least!' cried Lord Findon. His eye twinkled. 'My dear
fellow, what are you thinking of? These are the days of merit, and
publicity!--when every man comes to his own.' Fenwick grinned a
little. 'You've earned _your_ success anyway, and it'll be a thumper.
Now look here, where can we talk business?'

Fenwick put down his palette, and slipped his arms into his coat.
The model lit a lamp, and disappeared. Eugenie meanwhile withdrew
discreetly to the further end of the room, where she busied herself
with some wood-blocks on which Fenwick had been drawing. The two men
remained hidden behind the large canvas, and she heard nothing of
their conversation. She was aware, however, of the scratching of a
pen, and immediately after her father called to her.

'Eugenie, come!--we must get back for dinner.'

Fenwick, looking up, saw her emerging from the shadows of the further
room into the bright lamp-light, her grey veil floating cloudwise
round her. As she came towards him, he felt her once more the emblem
and angel of his good-fortune. All the inspiration she had been to
him, all that closer acquaintance, to which during the preceding weeks
she had admitted him, throbbed warm at his heart. His mind was full of
gratitude--full also of repentance!--towards Phoebe and towards her.
That very night would he write his confession to her, at last!--tell
all his story, beg her to excuse his foolish lack of frankness and
presence of mind to Lord Findon, and ask her kindness for Phoebe and
the child. He already saw little Carrie on her knee, and the _aegis_
of her protecting sweetness spread over them all.

Meanwhile the impression upon her was that he had taken the news of
his success with admirable self-restraint, that he was growing and
shaping as a human being, no less than as an artist, tha