into her daughter's arm, looked up at him with clear, surprised eyes;
she was a charming old woman. Her eyes were very pretty, and on either
side of them, above a pair of fine dark brows, was a band of silvery
hair, rather coquettishly arranged.

"It is my portrait," said her daughter, as Longueville drew near. "This
gentleman has been sketching me."

"Sketching you, dearest?" murmured her mother. "Was n't it rather
sudden?"

"Very sudden--very abrupt!" exclaimed the young girl with a laugh.

"Considering all that, it 's very good," said Longueville, offering his
picture to the elder lady, who took it and began to examine it. "I can't
tell you how much I thank you," he said to his model.

"It 's very well for you to thank me now," she replied. "You really had
no right to begin."

"The temptation was so great."

"We should resist temptation. And you should have asked my leave."

"I was afraid you would refuse it; and you stood there, just in my line
of vision."

"You should have asked me to get out of it."

"I should have been very sorry. Besides, it would have been extremely