"How much for the lot?"

"Four millions," said Whistler.

"What?"

"My posthumous prices! Good morning!"

* * * * *

Dante Gabriel Rossetti once showed Whistler a sketch and asked his
opinion of its merits.

"It has good points, Rossetti," said Whistler. "Go ahead with it by
all means."

Later he inquired how it was getting along. "All right," answered
Rossetti, cheerfully. "I've ordered a stunning frame for it."

In due time the canvas appeared at Rossetti's house in Cheyne Walk,
beautifully framed.

"You've done nothing to it since I saw it, have you?" said Whistler.

"No-o," replied Rossetti, "but I've written a sonnet on the subject,
if you'd like to hear it."

He recited some lines of peculiar tenderness.

"Rossetti," said Whistler, as the recitation ended, "take out the