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56 morning, that any one could come to the studio who liked, provided he or she did not attempt to look at the portrait. But the invitation had been given with little cordiality, and Mrs. Shaw had declared, in so many words, that it was much better to leave them undisturbed.

As a matter of fact. Lord Robert came once, by himself; but he was called away from Farley on parliamentary business most unexpectedly, and to his infinite disgust, the second day after his arrival. His only tête-à-tête with Elizabeth was when he visited her studio. He stood with folded arms opposite Wybrowe's portrait, and said—

"You don't mean to tell me you did that alone? It is wonderfully good for—a young lady! Flattered, of course—very much flattered. You have got rid of that villainous left eye."

"This is the right side of the face—in profile."

"Yes. Clever of you to have done that."

"I think the slight blemish of no importance whatever; but no two profiles are exactly alike, and I preferred this one."

"Exactly. You have looked at the 'Splendid Shilling' the right side up. You must now go to the South Kensington or Slade School. Paris all nonsense. Are you still obdurate about coming to Colesover on the 20th?"

"I cannot, thank you, this summer."

"Then your uncle must bring you to London. I shall tell him so."

"I believe it is decided we are not to go."

"I shall make old Twisden—you know him?—your family solicitor as well as ours—I shall make him invent