The visitor was eager to get one or more of the pictures. After considerable pressure, he said: “I think they ought to be worth six hundred guineas each; don’t you?” “And the large one?” said the visitor. “Oh, the same. That is no more important than the small.” “Very well. May I have all four?” “Dear me! You don’t want them all?” “If you will let me have them.” “But--” and then the struggle began, “I must look them over; they are not quite finished.” “But, surely, these two are finished.” “Yes, I might let those go by-and-bye, but not now.” “Will you send them to me?” “Yes, certainly, after I have gone over them again.” “I will leave a check.” “God bless me, no! You must not do that. It will be time enough to send a check after you receive the little pictures.” Needless to say, the pictures were never received. They had just been finished, and he could not bring himself to part with them. It was not a matter of money at all,--likely as not he sold them later for less,--but it was always next to impossible to get him to part with recent work. If he happened to have on hand a picture five or ten years old, possibly that could be bought and taken away, but anything in which he was interested at the time he would not let go. * * * * * In 1894 he exhibited three small marines, which he had painted off-shore while the boatman steadied [Illustration] his boat. They were fresh and crisp,--so good that a great painter of marines said of them in the exhibition, “They over-topped everything about them.” Two were sold, and he showed the third to an American who came to the studio. The caller said at once he would be only too glad to take it at the price named; the matter was apparently closed, and the buyer sailed for home, leaving a friend to get the picture. A day or two after, Whistler stood looking long and earnestly at the little marine, saying half to himself: “It is good, isn’t it?” Then he took the canvas out of the frame, and said: “I think it needs touching up a little.” Another pause, then: “Do you know, I believe I won’t let this go just yet. I want to go over it once more. You know, I can send your friend something else next winter,--something that he may like better. And if he doesn’t like it, why, he can return it.” “But, Mr. Whistler, he wants this little marine. There is not much to do upon it, is there?” “No--o; but, then, you see----” “Well, why not give it the last touches now, and let him have it. If you do not send him this, I am afraid he will never have one of your pictures.” “Oh, yes, he will; next winter----” “But next winter others will come in when we are not here, and buy from you whatever you have.” “Well, we will see.”