'Behold me! I am at work. See my picture--all there is of it.' Armorel looked at it long and carefully. Then she murmured unintelligibly, 'Yes, of course. But there never could have been any doubt.' She turned to the artist a face full of encouragement. 'What did I prophesy for you, Roland? That you should be a great painter? Well, my prophecy will come true.' 'I hope, but I fear. I am beginning the world again.' 'Not quite. Because you have never ceased to work. Your hand is firmer and your eye is truer now than it was four years ago, when you--ceased to exhibit. But you have never ceased to work. So that you go back to the world with better things.' 'They refused to buy my things before.' 'They will not refuse now. Nay, I am certain. Don't think of money, my old friend: you must not--you shall not think of money. Think of nothing but your work--and your name. What ought to be done to a man who should forget his name? He deserves to be deprived of his genius, and to be cast out among the stupid. But you, Roland, you were always keen for distinction--were you not?' He made no reply. 'How well I know the place,' she said, standing before the picture. 'It is the narrow channel between Round Island and Camber Rock. Oh! the dear, terrible place. When you and I were there, you remember, Roland, the water was smooth and the sea-birds were flying quietly. I have seen them driven by the wind off the island and beating up against it like a sailing ship. But in September there are no puffins. And I have seen the water racing and roaring through the channel, dashing up the black sides of the rocks--while we lay off, afraid to venture near. It was low tide when you made your sketch. I remember the long, yellow fringing sea-weed hanging from the rock six feet deep. And there is your girl sitting in the boat. Oh! I remember her very well. What a happy time she had while you were with her, Roland! You were the very first person to show her something of the outer world. It seemed, when you were gone, as if you had taken that girl and planted her on a high rock so that she could see right across the water to the world of men and Art. You always keep this girl in your pictures?' 'Always in these pictures of coast and rock.' 'Roland, I want you to make a change. Do not paint the girl of sixteen in this picture. Let me be your model instead. Put me into the picture. It is my fancy. Will you let me sit for you again?' 'Surely, Armorel, if I may. It will be--oh, but you cannot--you must not come to this den of a place.' 'Indeed, I think it is not a nice place at all. But I shall stipulate that you take another and a more decent studio immediately. Will you do this?' 'I will do anything--anything--that you command.' 'You know what I want. The return of my old friend. He is on his way back already.'