of me."

"Oh how can you say?" And she got up as if a sense of oppression, of
vague discomfort, had come over her. Her visitor troubled such peace as
she had lately arrived at.

"You wouldn't be ashamed to go round with me?"

"Round where?"

"Well, anywhere: just to have one more walk. The very last." George
Flack had got up too and stood there looking at her with his bright
eyes, his hands in the pockets of his overcoat. As she hesitated he
continued: "Then I'm not such a friend after all."

She rested her eyes a moment on the carpet; then raising them: "Where
would you like to go?"

"You could render me a service--a real service--without any
inconvenience probably to yourself. Isn't your portrait finished?"

"Yes, but he won't give it up."

"Who won't give it up?"

"Why Mr. Waterlow. He wants to keep it near him to look at it in case he
should take a fancy to change it. But I hope he won't change it--it's so
lovely as it is!" Francie made a mild joke of saying.

"I hear it's magnificent and I want to see it," said George Flack.

"Then why don't you go?"

"I'll go if you'll take me; that's the service you can render me."

"Why I thought you went everywhere--into the palaces of kings!" Francie
cried.

"I go where I'm welcome, not where I ain't. I don't want to push into
that studio alone; he doesn't want me round. Oh you needn't protest,"
the young man went on; "if a fellow's made sensitive he has got to stay
so. I feel those things in the shade of a tone of voice. He doesn't like
newspaper-men. Some people don't, you know. I ought to tell you that
frankly."

Francie considered again, but looking this time at her visitor. "Why if
it hadn't been for you "--I'm afraid she said "hadn't have been"--"I'd
never have sat to him."

Mr. Flack smiled at her in silence for a little. "If it hadn't been for
me I think you'd never have met your future husband."

"Perhaps not," said Francie; and suddenly she blushed red, rather to her
companion's surprise.

"I only say that to remind you that after all I've a right to ask you to
show me this one little favour. Let me drive with you to-morrow, or next
day or any day, to the Avenue de Villiers, and I shall regard myself as
amply repaid. With you I shan't be afraid to go in, for you've a right
to take any one you like to see your picture. That's the rule here."

"Oh the day you're afraid, Mr. Flack--!" Francie laughed without fear.
She had been much struck by his