who had come to her easel.




VII.


Mildred worked hard in the studio. She was always one of the first to
arrive, and she did not leave till the model had finished sitting, and
during the eight hours, interrupted only by an hour in the middle of
the day for lunch, she applied herself to her drawing, eschewing
conversation with the students, whether French or English. She did not
leave her easel when the model rested; she waited patiently sharpening
her pencils or reading--she never came to the studio unprovided with a
book. And she made a pretty picture sitting on her high stool, and the
students often sketched her during the rests. Although quietly, she
was always beautifully dressed. Simple though they appeared to be, her
black _crepe de chine_ skirts told of large sums of money spent in
fashionable millinery establishments, and her large hats profusely
trimmed with ostrich feathers, which suited her so well, contrasted
strangely with the poor head-gear of the other girls; and when the
weather grew warmer she appeared in a charming shot silk grey and
pink, and a black straw hat lightly trimmed with red flowers. In
answer to Elsie, who had said that she looked as if she were going to
a garden-party, Mildred said:

'I don't see why, because you're an artist, you should be a slattern.
I don't feel comfortable in a dirty dress. It makes me feel quite
ill.'