Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 1 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/53

 foundry at Chicopee; I believe it 's a beautiful piece of bronze. He begged me, in the most natural way in the world, to accept."

"He has, upon my word, a grand conception of the natural!" With which Rowland fell to admiring the statue again.

"Really then," said Cecilia, "it 's a very remarkable thing?"

"Why, my dear cousin," Rowland answered, "Mr. Hudson of Virginia is an extraordinary—" Then suddenly stopping, "Is he a great friend of yours?" he asked.

"A great friend?" Cecilia hesitated. "I regard him practically as a child."

"Well," said Rowland, "he's a very precocious child! Tell me something about him. I should like to see him."

Cecilia was obliged to go to her daughter's music-lesson, but she assured Rowland that she would arrange for him a meeting with the young sculptor. He was a frequent visitor, and as he had not called for some days it was quite possible he would come that evening. Rowland, left alone, examined the statuette at his leisure, and returned more than once during the day to take another look at it. He discovered its weak points, but its charm was of finest essence. It had taken form under the breath of genius. Rowland envied the happy youth who, in a New England village, without aid or encouragement, without models or examples, had found it so easy to produce a lovely work. 19