Page:Stanwood Pier--The ancient grudge.djvu/306

Rh first-hand information on the subject," he said, rather bitterly.

"You will know more some day," she assured him.

"The thought will recur—you are pretty positive," he replied.

"It comes," she repeated, "from finding that I am always right. Good-by; I must say a word to Lydia and be off."

She left him; and he found himself thinking that her air of perfect confidence was not so jarring after all, but rather pleasant. It occurred to him that although when he was with her she usually did or said something that jarred on him, she always left him, when they separated, feeling rather pleasant.

Stewart reaped the fruits of inexperience the next morning; he had invited the representatives of the three principal Avalon newspapers to his exhibition, but he had not provided them with an abstract of what they were to say. Therefore he was annoyed beyond measure to read in two newspapers criticisms which were indeed extremely laudatory, but which took the point of view of Colonel Halket and were strangely reminiscent of his words. It made Stewart sick at heart to think that the serious purpose which had animated his painting should be so stupidly misinterpreted and perverted, and a false account of it given to the world. He could take no pleasure in praise that was coupled with such unintelligent misunderstanding. It sickened him still more to find that each review concluded in this manner: "Among those present were noticed Colonel Robert Halket, Mr. and Mrs. George Dunbar," etc. ("Among those present we noticed," said the Eagle; its reviewer had a less impersonal, more chatty and engaging style.)

There was still one chance remaining; possibly the critic of the third newspaper, the Evening Telegram, might show himself—or herself, for Stewart remembered that she had been a woman—more perceptive and truly appreciative