ably recognizable
as a good photograph, but with all the subtle human charm and
individuality of expression delicately emphasized in a way that no
photograph has ever achieved yet.

And this he could always do in a minute from sheer memory and
unconscious observation; and in another few minutes he would add on
the body, in movement or repose, and of a resemblance so wonderful
and a grace so enchanting, or a humor so happily, naively droll,
that one forgot to criticise the technique, which was quite that of
an amateur; indeed, with all the success he achieved as an artist,
he remained an amateur all his life. Yet his greatest admirers were
among the most consummate and finished artists of their day, both
here and abroad.

It was with his art as with his singing: both were all wrong, yet
both gave extraordinary pleasure; one almost feared that regular
training would mar the gift of God, so much of the charm we all so
keenly felt lay in the very imperfections themselves--just as one
loved him personally as much for his faults as for his virtues.

"Il a les qualites de ses defauts, le beau Josselin," said M. Taine
one day.

"Mon cher," said M. Renan, "ses defauts sont ses meilleures
qualites."

So he spent a tranquil happy winter, and wrote of his happiness and
his tranquillity to Lady Caroline and Daphne and Ida and me; and
before he knew where he was, or we, the almond-trees blossomed
again, and then the lilacs and limes and horse-chestnuts and
syringas; and the fireflies flew in and out of his bedroom at night,
and the many nightingales made such music in the Hof gardens that he
could scarcely sleep for them; and other nightingales came to make
music for him too--most memorable music! Stockhausen, Jenny Ney,
Joachim, Madame Schumann; for the triennial Musik festival was held
in Duesseldorf that year (a month later than usual); and musical
festivals are things they manage uncommonly well in Germany. Barty,
unseen and unheard, as becomes a chorus-singer, sang in the choruses
of Gluck's _Iphigenia_, and heard and saw everything for nothing.

But, before this, Captain Reece came back to Riffrath, and,
according to appointment, Admiral Royce and Lady Jane, and Julia,
lovelier than ever; and all the sweetness she was so full of rose in
her heart and gathered in her eyes as they once more looked on Barty
Josselin.

He steeled and stiffened himself like a man who knew that the divine
Julias of this world were for his