t I did to his sister, and she'll tell him. Oh, Bertram, such a
time as I had over those notes," went on Billy, with a chuckle. Her
eyes were dancing, and she was seeming more like her usual self, Bertram
thought. "You see there were such a lot of things I wanted to say, about
what a dear you were, and how much I--I liked you, and that you had such
lovely eyes, and a nose--"

"Billy!" This time it was Bertram who was sitting erect in pale horror.

Billy threw him a roguish glance.

"Goosey! You are as bad as Aunt Hannah! I said that was what I _wanted_
to say. What I really said was--quite another matter," she finished with
a saucy uptilting of her chin.

Bertram relaxed with a laugh.

"You witch!" His admiring eyes still lingered on her face. "Billy, I'm
going to paint you sometime in just that pose. You're adorable!"

"Pooh! Just another face of a girl," teased the adorable one.

Bertram gave a sudden exclamation.

"There! And I haven't told you, yet. Guess what my next commission is."

"To paint a portrait?"

"Yes."

"Can't. Who is it?"

"J. G. Winthrop's daughter."

"Not _the_ J. G. Winthrop?"

"The same."

"Oh, Bertram, how splendid!"

"Isn't it? And then the girl herself! Have you seen her? But you
haven't, I know, unless you met her abroad. She hasn't been in Boston
for years until now."

"No, I haven't seen her. Is she so _very_ beautiful?" Billy spoke a
little soberly.

"Yes--and no." The artist lifted his head alertly. What Billy called
his "painting look" came to his face. "It isn't that her features are so
regular--though her mouth and chin are perfect. But her face has so much
character, and there's an elusive something about her eyes--Jove! If
I can only catch it, it'll be the best thing yet that I've ever done,
Billy."

"Will it? I'm so glad--and you'll get it, I know you will," claimed
Billy, clearing her throat a little nervously.

"I wish I felt so sure," sighed Bertram. "But it'll be a great thing if
I do get it--J. G. Winthrop's daughter, you know, besides the merit of
the likeness itself."

"Yes; yes, indeed!" Billy cleared her throat again. "You've seen her, of
course, lately?"

"Oh, yes. I was there half the morning discussing the details--sittings
and costume, and deciding on the pose."

"Did you find one--to suit?"

"Find one!" The artist made a despairing gesture. "I found a dozen that
I wanted. The trouble was to tell which I wanted the most."

Billy gave a n