Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/270

 and when people must have been so happy to get such a portrait of a person dear to them."

"That hasn't occurred to me before," Stephensen said. "It's more natural to me to think of the art value, but there is much in what you have just said."

"Quite true," I remarked. "It is the way of getting a likeness which always has existed, and it has not only the aristocracy of many ancestors, but is also free from the tiresome democratic point, that Jack and Tom have the same picture which is precious to us."

"Oh dear me, yes!" Mrs. Jagemann exclaimed. "The world has been progressing since I was young! Photography is indeed a wonderful invention, and it produces better likenesses than anything else."

Minna smiled at her mother, who had no notion that her remark was so little in harmony with the reflection to which it was supposed to give support.

"Yes, you are quite right in that," Stephensen admitted with his flexible readiness to smooth over a difficulty, "only there is something in the art of photography which is called re-touching and which indeed can produce strange results."

"Have you never tried to draw yourself?" Minna asked him.

"Not yet. Strangely enough I have not so far received any summons from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence to contribute to its unique collection of self-portraits."

"Suppose I ask you to do so now?"

"Then I will try during these lonely evenings, if the hotel mirror does not make me too crooked.… But I must now make use of the time and draw you."

"Am I really to pose? I don't know anything worse."

"At all events it's a long time since I troubled you,"