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In the east； mountain peaksfingers of snowglittered above the
mist。 A grave simplicity lay on that scene； on the roofs and spires；
the valleys and the dreamy hillsides； with their yellow scars and
purple bloom； and white cascades； like tails of grey horses swishing
in the wind。
Herr Paul held out his hand： 〃What can we do for you？〃 he said。
〃I have to beg a favour；〃 replied Harz。 〃I wish to paint your
daughters。 I will bring the canvas herethey shall have no trouble。
I would paint them in the garden when they have nothing else to do。〃
Herr Paul looked at him dubiouslyever since the previous day he had
been thinking： 'Queer bird； that painterthinks himself the devil of
a swell！ Looks a determined fellow too！' Nowstaring in the
painter's faceit seemed to him； on the whole； best if some one else
refused this permission。
〃With all the pleasure； my dear sir；〃 he said。 〃Come； let us ask
these two young ladies！〃 and putting down his hose； he led the way
towards the arbour； thinking： 'You'll be disappointed； my young
conqueror； or I'm mistaken。'
Miss Naylor and the girls were sitting in the shade； reading La
Fontaine's fables。 Greta； with one eye on her governess； was
stealthily cutting a pig out of orange peel。
〃Ah！ my dear dears！〃 began Herr Paul； who in the presence of Miss
Naylor always paraded his English。 〃Here is our friend； who has a
very flattering request to make； he would paint you； yesboth
together； alfresco； in the air； in the sunshine； with the birds； the
little birds！〃
Greta； gazing at Harz； gushed deep pink； and furtively showed him her
pig。
Christian said： 〃Paint us？ Oh no！〃
She saw Harz looking at her； and added； slowly： 〃If you really wish
it； I suppose we could！〃 then dropped her eyes。
〃Ah！〃 said Herr Paul raising his brows till his glasses fell from his
nose： 〃And what says Gretchen？ Does she want to be handed up to
posterities a little peacock along with the other little birds？〃
Greta； who had continued staring at the painter； said： 〃Ofcourse
Iwanttobe。〃
〃Prrt！〃 said Herr Paul； looking at Miss Naylor。 The little lady
indeed opened her mouth wide； but all that came forth was a tiny
squeak； as sometimes happens when one is anxious to say something；
and has not arranged beforehand what it shall be。
The affair seemed ended； Harz heaved a sigh of satisfaction。 But
Herr Paul had still a card to play。
〃There is your Aunt；〃 he said； 〃there are things to be considered
one must certainly inquireso； we shall see。〃 Kissing Greta loudly
on both cheeks； he went towards the house。
〃What makes you want to paint us？〃 Christian asked； as soon as he was
gone。
〃I think it very wrong；〃 Miss Naylor blurted out。
〃Why？〃 said Harz； frowning。
〃Greta is so youngthere are lessonsit is such a waste of time！〃
His eyebrows twitched： 〃Ah！ You think so！〃
〃I don't see why it is a waste of time；〃 said Christian quietly；
〃there are lots of hours when we sit here and do nothing。〃
〃And it is very dull；〃 put in Greta； with a pout。
〃You are rude； Greta；〃 said Miss Naylor in a little rage； pursing her
lips； and taking up her knitting。
〃I think it seems always rude to speak the truth；〃 said Greta。 Miss
Naylor looked at her in that concentrated manner with which she was
in the habit of expressing displeasure。
But at this moment a servant came； and said that Mrs。 Decie would be
glad to see Herr Harz。 The painter made them a stiff bow； and
followed the servant to the house。 Miss Naylor and the two girls
watched his progress with apprehensive eyes； it was clear that he had
been offended。
Crossing the veranda； and passing through an open window hung with
silk curtains； Hart entered a cool dark room。 This was Mrs。 Decie's
sanctum； where she conducted correspondence； received her visitors；
read the latest literature； and sometimes； when she had bad
headaches； lay for hours on the sofa； with a fan； and her eyes
closed。 There was a scent of sandalwood； a suggestion of the East； a
kind of mystery； in here； as if things like chairs and tables were
not really what they seemed； but something much less commonplace。
The visitor looked twice； to be quite sure of anything； there were
many plants； bead curtains； and a deal of silverwork and china。
Mrs。 Decie came forward in the slightly rustling silk whichwhether
in or out of fashionalways accompanied her。 A tall woman； over
fifty； she moved as if she had been tied together at the knees。 Her
face was long； with broad brows； from which her sandy…grey hair was
severely waved back； she had pale eyes； and a perpetual； pale；
enigmatic smile。 Her complexion had been ruined by long residence in
India； and might unkindly have been called fawn…coloured。 She came
close to Harz； keeping her eyes on his； with her head bent slightly
forward。
〃We are so pleased to know you；〃 she said； speaking in a voice which
had lost all ring。 〃It is charming to find some one in these parts
who can help us to remember that there is such a thing as Art。 We
had Mr。 C… here last autumn； such a charming fellow。 He was so
interested in the native customs and dresses。 You are a subject
painter； too； I think？ Won't you sit down？〃
She went on for some time； introducing painters' names； asking
questions； skating round the edge of what was personal。 And the
young man stood before her with a curious little smile fixed on his
lips。 'She wants to know whether I'm worth powder and shot；' he
thought。
〃You wish to paint my nieces？〃 Mrs。 Decie said at last； leaning back
on her settee。
〃I wish to have that honour；〃 Harz answered with a bow。
〃And what sort of picture did you think of？〃
〃That；〃 said Harz； 〃is in the future。 I couldn't tell you。〃 And he
thought： 'Will she ask me if I get my tints in Paris； like the woman
Tramper told me of？'
The perpetual pale smile on Mrs。 Decie's face seemed to invite his
confidence； yet to warn him that his words would be sucked in
somewhere behind those broad fine brows； and carefully sorted。 Mrs。
Decie； indeed； was thinking： 'Interesting young man； regular
Bohemianno harm in that at his age； something Napoleonic in his
face； probably has no dress clothes。 Yes； should like to see more of
him！' She had a fine eye for points of celebrity； his name was
unfamiliar； would probably have been scouted by that famous artist
Mr。 C…； but she felt her instinct urging her on to know him。 She
was； to do her justice； one of those 〃lion〃 finders who seek the
animal for pleasure； not for the glory it brings them； she had the
courage of her instinctslion…entities were indispensable to her；
but she trusted to divination to secure them； nobody could foist a
〃lion〃 on her。
〃It will be very nice。 You will stay and have some lunch？ The
arrangements here are rather odd。 Such a mixed householdbut there
is always lunch at two o'clock for