had finished her copy of Etty's 'Bather.' Cissy told how the old
gentleman in charge of the gallery had read her a lecture on the
subject. He did not like to see such pictures copied, especially by
young women. Copies of such pictures attracted visitors. But Cissy had
insisted, and he had put her and the picture into a little room off
the main gallery, where she could pursue her nefarious work
unperceived.

The girls laughed heartily. Elsie asked for whom Cissy was making the
copy.

'For a friend of Freddy's--a very rich fellow. Herbert is going to get
him to give me a commission for a set of nude figures. Freddy has just
come back from Monte Carlo. He has lost all his money.... He says he's
"stony" and doesn't know how he'll pull through.'

'Was he here this morning?'

'He ran in for a moment to see me.... I'm dining with him to-night.'

You're not at home, then?'

'No, I forgot to tell you, I'm staying with you, so be careful not to
give me away if you should meet mother. Freddy will be back this
afternoon. I'll get him to ask you if you'll come.'

'I promised to go out with Walter to-night.'

'You can put him off. Say that you've some work to finish--some black
and white.'