"Oh, do show them to me," exclaimed Helen, in delight. "I am so curious to see what they are like. Did you say it was past twelve o'clock? I began my sitting at nine, and it does not seem to me more than half-an-hour that I have been here." And I have no doubt she spoke the truth. Happy moments are short. Alas! how rapidly time glides away in youth, and how provokingly long it appears when we have most reason to wish it should pass quickly. As Helen was engaged in admiring the studies and sketches of McGuilp our host knocked at the door to ask if his daughter could be spared, as her mother wanted her aid in the affairs of the house. "Oh, certainly," said McGuilp; "but I must have another good sitting to-morrow." "Very well, sir. May I be permitted to look at the portrait?" asked the landlord. "You may look," replied our artist; "but I warn you the likeness is not striking at present." "Gramercy, sir!" exclaimed the landlord, in ecstasy; "if it is not my girl herself already!" "Ah! my good host, wait until I have had some half dozen sittings or so, and then look again," said McGuilp. Our landlord then looked approvingly over our artist's portfolio, and said, "Ah, sir, it is a noble art." Helen was delighted with her portrait, of course, and equally so with the contents of the portfolio. McGuilp complimented her upon her sitting, and Helen disappeared for the present. At one o'clock Helen reappeared with the lunch, and those members of the club who remained at home met again over their frugal meal. They whiled away the time until the evening with politics and a rubber at whist. At length the village clock struck the dinner hour, and all guests were present. The dinner passed off merrily, and all awaited the story anxiously. Our host and his daughter were invited to hear it, so having filled their pipes and stirred the fire, Mr. Crucible, finding himself loudly called upon, took a sip at his port and began his story. [Illustration] CHAPTER IX. THE SPIRIT LEG.--THE ANALYTICAL CHEMIST'S STORY. Being left an orphan at an early age, I was consigned to the care of a bachelor uncle, one Admiral Broadside, who instructed me almost entirely himself until I reached the age of twelve. I was then sent to school, where I went through a routine of learning taught to boys at that time, and though I was backward in many things when I first entered the school, I was a persevering scholar, and soon left behind me many boys who had the start of me. I thus made enemies, and being of a retiring disposition, owing to my previous education, I made but few friends.