"Nobody exactly. I overheard two men talking at an 'at home.'" "Were they neglected geniuses?" "I don't know. I asked dad what they did, and he said he believed that one composed poetry and that the other wrote tragedies." "Wouldn't you like Frank to see Sir James's painting of you?" interposed the voice of Mrs. Vandeleur. The girl sprang to her feet. "Fancy my forgetting! It's finished at last. It's in the dining-room at present. Come along. But don't expect much. It's not a bit nice; it's really ugly." And indeed, on beholding the celebrated portrait-painter's production, Frank's loud exclamations of surprise and disdain were as profuse as the most disappointed of sitters could desire. "Isn't your dad annoyed?" he demanded at length. "Indeed, he's really vexed. He is paying so highly for it too. You remember the one of my mother that hangs in his study? That was done when she was seventeen, and he thought it would be so nice to have a companion one of his only kiddie at the same age. He wouldn't have minded the big price in the least if the picture had been satisfactory. This has been altered ever so many times, and now Sir James has got tired, and swears it is exactly like me; but it isn't, is it?" "The old boy must be getting in his dotage. Now, I could paint you just beautifully, I'm sure. You would be such a jolly subject. I say!" "What?" Pallister glanced round to make sure that Mrs. Vandeleur was safely out of earshot. "Don't you think your dad would consent to our engagement without any delay if I made a perfectly lovely picture of you? He would have to believe there was something in me then, wouldn't he?" "Oh, Frankie, what a perfectly fine idea. I dare say he would. Let's ask him." But the originator of the idea, with a frown of thought upon his brow, shook his head. "To really have the proper effect it ought to be sprung upon him as a complete surprise--quite finished. 'Splendid! magnificent! superb!' he will exclaim, when he sees it--at least, I hope that's what he will say! Then he will go on: 'Only tell me what artist has produced this masterpiece.'" "And then you'll answer----?" "Nothing. I shan't speak a word--not a word! I shall just quietly and modestly point to my name in the corner. Oh, isn't it just a ripping plan?" "Lovely! Perfectly delightful!" "But you'll have to come sometimes to Geoff Danvers's studio and give me sittings, won't you?" "Then auntie is to be in the secret?" "It wouldn't be a secret for long if she knew. No, you must come alone. Do! It will be quite all right--really it will. Jack is always there, and we almost always have a woman model, so there would be a sort of a chaperone. You'll come? Remember what depends on it." "It is awfully venturesome, but I'll do it," promised the girl after a moment's hesitation. At this point Mrs. Vandeleur approached, and the remaining details of the conspiracy had to be hastily whispered at parting. "You'll come as often as you can, duckie?"