“We must be very careful not to drop the shavings. The curator would make a terrible row about it. Now that we seem to be alone, with a knife in our possession, we might cut this portrait out of its frame and you could take it home to study at your leisure. Rolled up, you could carry it right out of the front door, and the newspapers would have a seven days’ wonder, the stolen Sargent! There! Not a bad job if I do say it myself.” He handed her the pencil and took from her the paper with its shavings and lead dust. “Now, it’s only fair that I should have your sketch for my trouble! I shall keep it as a slight souvenir--of the beginning--of our acquaintance----” He was folding it carefully to hold the litter, and he glanced up to find that she had flushed angrily. “Give it to me, please.” “But really----” “Give it to me!” “I beg your pardon.” She held out her hand and he placed the little packet in her palm. It was, he saw, a hand that had known labour. It was a long hand and a hand of strength, and as he was mindful of such matters, it impressed itself upon his memory. “Thank you,” she said, and turned away. “I am sorry I made you angry. I did not mean to do that. I come here quite often. I hope I shall see you again. Some day you will catch the trick of the lady’s hand. I’m sure of that.” His tone was kind, his manner ingratiating; the meeting was altogether to his liking--from such a beginning he had often gone far. This girl bore the marks of cultivation; it was in her voice, her manner, the poise of her splendid head. She was poor--that was evident--but this was no barrier; her poverty presented, in fact, an avenue of access. It had been his experience that the bold approach was the surest. She was already moving away, carrying her head high, the anger still in her face, and he followed her. “Please don’t be too hard on me,” he begged; and she stopped and looked at him, looked at him with frank curiosity that turned, as their eyes met, to a scorn not less frank. “I don’t care for your acquaintance, Mr. Wayne Craighill,” she said with all composure, and walked hurriedly from the room.