‘Some are mine, and some are my father’s,’ answered Roma. ‘I have been finishing, as best I can, those that were left incomplete when—when he lost his sight. You know that he has become blind?’ ‘Signor Mattei told me so much. I was grieved to learn it. It must be a sad affliction to one who loved art so well. I can have a great sympathy for him, for my eyes have suffered from a too close attention to etching, for which work I have a great passion. Even now I cannot use them quite as I would, and a strong light tires them.’ And as he spoke he adjusted his _pince-nez_, the glasses of which were slightly tinged with blue. ‘I am sorry,’ said Roma. ‘But it is nothing—a mere trifle. I am better already, and a little travelling will set me quite to rights. With the Signor Meredith, unfortunately, it is not so.’ Then seeing a look of pain on Roma’s face, he added quickly, rising at the same time, ‘Is this bust the Signorina’s work? It is very charming. May I ask if it is the work of imagination, or a portrait?’ ‘It is an attempt to model a friend of mine,’ Roma answered, smiling. ‘I’m afraid it is not very successful. It is not half pretty enough. If you stay any time in this part of the world, Signor, you will be sure to see Miss Debenham of Ladywell Manor. You will then see how much more charming is the original.’ ‘What name did you say, Signorina?’ ‘Miss Debenham—Maud Debenham,’ answered Roma. ‘Perhaps you know her?’ He shook his head. ‘No; but I think I know her brother. I knew a Mr. Debenham once—a Mr. Philip Debenham, who was travelling with his friend, a Mr.—Mr.— What was the name?’ ‘Torwood,’ suggested Roma. ‘Ah yes—that was the name—Mr. Torwood. I met them in Rome and Naples once. I knew Mr. Debenham well, but his friend not much. That accounts for the likeness—I have been puzzling over that face as I sat here, wondering of whom it reminded me. I see it all now. It is like my friend Filippo. So his sister is a neighbour of yours, is she, Signorina? Then I may hear news of my friend.’ ‘Yes, Maud is here certainly,’ answered Roma, in a half-puzzled way; ‘but she is not a bit like her brother—not in the very least. Philip Debenham is here too. He came into some property not long since, and has been here about six or eight weeks, I think, taking possession. You will be sure to see him, if you stay; but he must have changed very much since you knew him, for he is not at all like Maud now.’ Signor Pagliadini smiled with a kind of polite incredulity. ‘I do not think a man can change so much as you would represent in a few years; but then likenesses appeal so differently to different persons. What appears to one a very striking similarity, another will not even see. There, no doubt, lies the whole matter.’ ‘Perhaps,’ answered Roma dubiously; ‘but I cannot think anyone would see any great likeness between Philip and Maud Debenham; for brother and sister, they are strikingly dissimilar—at least most people think so.’