At last he broached the question of painting the Colonel: it was now very late in the season--there would be little time before the general dispersal. He said they must make the most of it; the great thing was to begin; then in the autumn, with the resumption of their London life, they could go forward. Mrs. Capadose objected to this that she really could not consent to accept another present of such value. Lyon had given her the portrait of herself of old, and he had seen what they had had the indelicacy to do with it. Now he had offered her this beautiful memorial of the child--beautiful it would evidently be when it was finished, if he could ever satisfy himself; a precious possession which they would cherish for ever. But his generosity must stop there--they couldn't be so tremendously 'beholden' to him. They couldn't order the picture--of course he would understand that, without her explaining: it was a luxury beyond their reach, for they knew the great prices he received. Besides, what had they ever done--what above all had _she_ ever done, that he should overload them with benefits? No, he was too dreadfully good; it was really impossible that Clement should sit. Lyon listened to her without protest, without interruption, while he bent forward at his work, and at last he said: 'Well, if you won't take it why not let him sit for me for my own pleasure and profit? Let it be a favour, a service I ask of him. It will do me a lot of good to paint him and the picture will remain in my hands.' 'How will it do you a lot of good?' Mrs. Capadose asked. 'Why, he's such a rare model--such an interesting subject. He has such an expressive face. It will teach me no end of things.' 'Expressive of what?' said Mrs. Capadose. 'Why, of his nature.' 'And do you want to paint his nature?' 'Of course I do. That's what a great portrait gives you, and I shall make the Colonel's a great one. It will put me up high. So you see my request is eminently interested.' 'How can you be higher than you are?' 'Oh, I'm insatiable! Do consent,' said Lyon. 'Well, his nature is very noble,' Mrs. Capadose remarked. 'Ah, trust me, I shall bring it out!' Lyon exclaimed, feeling a little ashamed of himself. Mrs. Capadose said before she went away that her husband would probably comply with his invitation, but she added, 'Nothing would induce me to let you pry into _me_ that way!' 'Oh, you,' Lyon laughed--'I could do you in the dark!'