Roderick stood looking at him for a moment with concentrated rancor, and then strode to the statue and twitched off the cover. Mr. Leavenworth settled himself into his chair with an air of flattered proprietorship, and scanned the unfinished image. “I can conscientiously express myself as gratified with the general conception,” he said. “The figure has considerable majesty, and the countenance wears a fine, open expression. The forehead, however, strikes me as not sufficiently intellectual. In a statue of Culture, you know, that should be the great point. The eye should instinctively seek the forehead. Could n’t you heighten it up a little?” Roderick, for all answer, tossed the sheet back over the statue. “Oblige me, sir,” he said, “oblige me! Never mention that thing again.” “Never mention it? Why my dear sir”-- “Never mention it. It ‘s an abomination!” “An abomination! My Culture!” “Yours indeed!” cried Roderick. “It ‘s none of mine. I disown it.” “Disown it, if you please,” said Mr. Leavenworth sternly, “but finish it first!” “I ‘d rather smash it!” cried Roderick. “This is folly, sir. You must keep your engagements.” “I made no engagement. A sculptor is n’t a tailor. Did you ever hear of inspiration? Mine is dead! And it ‘s no laughing matter. You yourself killed it.” “I--I--killed your inspiration?” cried Mr. Leavenworth, with the accent of righteous wrath. “You ‘re a very ungrateful boy! If ever I encouraged and cheered and sustained any one, I ‘m sure I have done so to you.” “I appreciate your good intentions, and I don’t wish to be uncivil. But your encouragement is--superfluous. I can’t work for you!” “I call this ill-humor, young man!” said Mr. Leavenworth, as if he had found the damning word. “Oh, I ‘m in an infernal humor!” Roderick answered. “Pray, sir, is it my infelicitous allusion to Miss Light’s marriage?” “It ‘s your infelicitous everything! I don’t say that to offend you; I beg your pardon if it does. I say it by way of making our rupture complete, irretrievable!” Rowland had stood by in silence, but he now interfered. “Listen to me,” he said, laying his hand on Roderick’s arm. “You are standing on the edge of a gulf. If you suffer anything that has passed to interrupt your work on that figure, you take your plunge. It ‘s no matter that you don’t like it; you will do the wisest thing you ever did if you make that effort of will necessary for finishing it. Destroy the statue then, if you like, but make the effort. I speak the truth!” Roderick looked at him with eyes that still inexorableness made almost tender. “You too!” he simply said.