'Oh, for this I get two thousand!'

'Pounds?'

'Guineas. Painters, poets, and physicians always get guineas.'

'Well, I think the model should have a percentage,' cried Hughie,
laughing; 'they work quite as hard as you do.'

'Nonsense, nonsense! Why, look at the trouble of laying on the
paint alone, and standing all day long at one's easel! It's all
very well, Hughie, for you to talk, but I assure you that there are
moments when Art almost attains to the dignity of manual labour.
But you mustn't chatter; I'm very busy. Smoke a cigarette, and keep
quiet.'

After some time the servant came in, and told Trevor that the
framemaker wanted to speak to him.

'Don't run away, Hughie,' he said, as he went out, 'I will be back
in a moment.'

The old beggar-man took advantage of Trevor's absence to rest for a
moment on a wooden bench that was behind him. He looked so forlorn
and wretched that Hughie could not help pitying him, and felt in his
pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a sovereign
and some coppers. 'Poor old fellow,' he thought to himself, 'he
wants it more than I do, but it means no hansoms for a fortnight';
and he walked across the studio and slipped the sovereign into the
beggar's hand.