"Oh yes. I got an agent, and looked at thirty places the very first day. I speak Italian a little, so I can manage the house-keeping; I began to study it as soon as we thought of coming, and I studied hard. But all this is of secondary importance; the real thing is to get to work. Will you look at my paintings now?" she said, rising as if to go for them. "Thanks; I fear I have hardly time to-day," said Noel. He was thinking whether it would be better to decline clearly and in so many words the office she had thrust upon him, or trust to time to effect the same without an open refusal. He decided upon the latter course; it seemed the easier, and also the kinder to her. "Well, another day, then," said Miss Macks, cheerfully, taking her seat again. "But about a teacher?" "I hardly know--" "Oh, Mr. Noel! you _must_ know." And, in truth, he did know. It came into his mind to give her the name of a good teacher, and then put all further responsibilities upon him. Miss Macks wrote down the name in a clear, ornamental handwriting. "I am glad it isn't a foreigner," she said. "I don't believe I should get on with a foreigner." "But it is a foreigner." "Why, it's an English name, isn't it?--Jackson." "Yes, he is an Englishman. But isn't an Englishman a foreigner in Rome?" "Oh, you take that view? Now, to me, America and--well, yes, perhaps England, too, are the nations. Everything else is foreign." "The English would be very much obliged to you," said Noel, laughing. "Yes, I know I am more liberal than most Americans; I really like the English," said Miss Macks, calmly. "But we keep getting off the track. Let me see--Oh yes. As I shall go to see this Mr. Jackson this afternoon, and as it is not likely that he will be ready to begin to-morrow, will you come then and look at my pictures? Or would you rather commence with a visit to one of the galleries?"