Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/192

 "If I don't make her from life," Roderick replied with energy, "I'll make her from memory, and if the thing's to be done you had better have it done as well as possible."

"Mamma hesitates," Miss Light explained, "because she does n't know whether you mean she shall pay you for the bust or you 'll pay me for the sitting. She 's capable of thinking of that, mamma. I can assure you at least that she won't pay you a sou."

"My daughter, you forget yourself," said the poor lady with an attempt at a high tone. "Of course," she added in a moment with a change of note, "the bust would be my own property."

"Of course!" cried Roderick impatiently.

"Dearest mother," the girl interposed, "how can you carry another stone image about the world with you? Is n't it enough to drag the poor original?"

"My dear, you 're talking great nonsense," Mrs. Light curtly pronounced.

"You can always get something for it," the girl pursued with the same practised innocence. "You always get something for everything. I dare say that with patience you 'll still get something even for me."

Mrs. Light turned to Rowland, who was sorry for her, flushed and irritated. "She 's as wicked to-day as she knows how to be, and that 's saying a good deal!"

The Cavaliere grinned in silence and walked away on tiptoe with his hat to his lips, as if to leave the field clear for action. Rowland, on the contrary, wished to mediate. "You had better not refuse," he said to Miss Light, "until you 've seen Mr. Hudson's 158