"If I have failed," continued he, "if your heart does not see itself
reflected in your own portrait, if you have no secret cause to trust my
delineation of the other, it is not yet too late to alter them. I might
change the action of these figures too. But would it influence the
event?"

He directed her notice to the sketch. A thrill ran through Elinor's
frame; a shriek was upon her lips; but she stifled it, with the self-
command that becomes habitual to all, who hide thoughts of fear and
anguish within their bosoms. Turning from the table, she perceived that
Walter had advanced near enough to have seen the sketch, though she could
not determine whether it had caught his eye.

"We will not have the pictures altered," said she, hastily. "If mine is
sad, I shall but look the gayer for the contrast."

"Be it so," answered the painter, bowing. "May your griefs be such
fanciful ones, that only your picture may mourn for them! For your
joys,--may they be true and deep, and paint themselves upon this lovely
face till it quite belie my art!"

After the marriage of Walter and Elinor, the pictures formed the two most
splendid ornaments of their abode. They hung side by side, separated by
a narrow panel, appearing to eye each other constantly, yet always
returning the gaze of the spectator. Travelled gentlemen, who professed
a knowledge of such subjects, reckoned these among the most admirable
specimens of modern portraiture; while common observers compared them
with the originals, feature by feature, and were rapturous in praise of
the likeness. But it was on a third class--neither travelled