VANCE.--"So that's settled; good-by to you."




CHAPTER XIII.

Inspiring effect of the Fine Arts: the vulgar are moved by their
exhibition into generous impulses and flights of fancy, checked by
the ungracious severities of their superiors, as exemplified in the
instance of Cobbler Merle and his servant of-all-work.

The next day, perhaps with the idea of removing all scruple from Sophy's
mind, Waife had already gone after his investment when the friends
arrived. Sophy at first was dull and dispirited, but by degrees she
brightened up; and when, the sitting over and the picture done (save such
final touches as Vance reserved for solitary study), she was permitted to
gaze at her own effigy, she burst into exclamations of frank delight.
"Am I like that! is it possible? Oh, how beautiful! Mr. Merle, Mr.
Merle, Mr. Merle!" and running out of the room before Vance could stop
her, she returned with the Cobbler, followed, too, by a thin gaunt girl,
whom he pompously called his housekeeper, but who in sober truth was
servant-of-all-work. Wife he had none: his horoscope, he said, having
Saturn in square to the Seventh House, forbade him to venture upon
matrimony. All gathered round the picture; all admired, and with
justice: it was a chef-d'oeuvre. Vance in his maturest day never painted
more charmingly. The three pounds proved to be the best outlay of
capital he had ever made. Pleased with his work, he was pleased even
with that unsophisticated applause.