Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/45

 vagueness. "Hang me if I should ever have thought of it! I seemed to feel it too far off. But you've brought it quite near, and if you could catch on at all to our grand language—that of Shakespeare and Milton and Holy Writ—why should n't I catch on to yours?" His frank, friendly laugh drew the sting from the jest. "Only, if we're going to converse, you know, you must think of something cheerful to converse about."

"You're very good, sir; I'm overcome!" And M. Nioche threw up his hands. "But you've cheerfulness and happiness for two!"

"Oh no," said Newman more seriously. "You must be bright and lively; that's part of the bargain."

M. Nioche bowed with his hand on his heart. "Very well, sir; you've struck up a tune I could almost dance to!"

"Come and bring me my picture then; I'll pay you for it, and we'll talk about that. That will be a cheerful subject!"

Mademoiselle Noémie had collected her accessories and she gave the precious Madonna in charge to her father, who retreated backwards, out of sight, holding it at arm's length and reiterating his obeisances. The young lady gathered her mantle about her like a perfect Parisienne, and it was with the "Au revoir, monsieur!" of a perfect Parisienne that she took leave of her patron.