Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/61

48 nonsense. Are you aware that modern French landscape is entirely founded on our Constable and Bonington? As to portraiture, what man have they had within the last hundred and fifty years to compare with Sir Joshua or Gainsborough?"

"I dare say none. That does not prevent their school-training from being, as I am told, superior to ours."

He did not argue further on this head, but said suddenly and swiftly—

"When shall you go to Paris?"

"Oh! I have not thought about it yet. I go on at present working like a mole, in the dark, at whatever I can find."

"Will you let me see to-morrow what you are doing?"

"I don't think I can. I am very much dissatisfied. It is a head of Colonel Wybrowe, but it is horrid."

"Artists themselves are the worst judges. Sir Thomas Lawrence began my grandfather, and left it half finished, dissatisfied. It is one of the cleverest things he ever painted." Then, with another of the rapid changes which were characteristic of his talk, "Do you care about politics? Do you ever come and listen to the debates?"

"I have never been to London for more than a day. And if I were there, I should not go to hear the debates. I know nothing of politics."

"That is a pity. Do you read much? Are you fond of history?"

"Yes; but I care more for past than present history. When time has mellowed events, I prefer them to looking at them in all their horrid crudeness."