'That's all very well; but if you don't say it, Kendal will look it; and
I don't know which is the most damping.'

'Mrs. Stuart, you shall be the judge of our behaviour,' said Kendal,
smiling--he and Forbes were excellent friends. 'Forbes is not in a
judicial frame of mind, but we will trust you to be fair. I suppose,
Forbes, we may be allowed a grumble or two at Hawes if you shut our
mouths on the subject of Miss Bretherton.'

'Hawes does his best,' said Forbes, with a touch of obstinacy. 'He looks
well, he strides well, he is a fine figure of a man with a big bullying
voice; I don't know what more you want in a German prince. It is this
everlasting hypercriticism which spoils all one's pleasure and frightens
all the character out of the artists!'

At which Mrs. Stuart laughed, and, woman-like, observed that she supposed
it was only people who, like Forbes, had succeeded in disarming the
critics, who could afford to scoff at them,--a remark which drew a funny
little bow, half-petulant, half-pleased, out of the artist, in whom one
of the strongest notes of character was his susceptibility to the
attentions of women.

'You've seen her already, I believe,' said Wallace to Forbes. 'I think
Miss Bretherton told me you were at the _Calliope_ on Monday.'

'Yes, I was. Well, as I tell you, I don't care to be critical. I don't
want to whittle away the few pleasures that this dull life can provide me
with by this perpetual discontent with what's set before one. Why can't
you eat and be thankful? To _look_ at that girl is a liberal education;
she has a fine voice too, and her beauty, her freshness, the energy of