filled with jet ornaments, fancy glass, bon-bons, boxes, and fans.
Cissy thought of a present for Hopwood--that case of liqueur glasses.
Mildred examined a jet brooch which she thought would suit Mrs.
Fargus. Elsie wished that Walter would present her with a fan; and
then they went up a flight of wooden stairs and pushed open a swing
door. In a small room furnished with a divan, a desk, and a couple of
cane chairs, they met M. Daveau. He wore a short jacket and a brown-
black beard. He shook hands with Elsie and Cissy, and was introduced
to Mildred. Elsie said:

'You speak better than we do. Tell him you've come here to study.'

'I've come to Paris to study painting,' said Mildred. 'But I don't
know which I shall join, the ladies' studio or the men's studio. Miss
Laurence and Miss Clive advised me to work here, in the men's studio.'

'I know Miss Laurence and Miss Clive very well.' There was charm in
his voice, and Mildred was already interested in him. Cissy and Elsie
had drawn a curtain at the end of the room and were peeping into the
studio. 'Miss Laurence and Miss Clive,' he said, 'worked here for more
than a year. They made a great deal of progress--a great deal. They
worked also in the ladies' studio, opposite.'

'Ah, that is what I wanted to speak to you about. Would you advise me
to work in the men's studio? Do you think it would be advisable? Do
you think there would be any advantages?'

'We have some very clever pupils here--very clever; of course it is of
great advantage to work with clever pupils.'