What Will He Do with It? — Volume 01Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
General
What Will He Do with It? — Volume 01
Lytton, Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron
English fiction -- 19th century
and was contemplating aspect and position with a painter's meditative
eye-started up, to his great discomposure, and rushed to the window. She
returned to her seat with her mind much relieved. Waife was walking in
an opposite direction to that which led towards the whilolm quarters of
the Norfolk Giant and the Two-headed Calf.
"Come, come," said Vance, impatiently, "you have broken an idea in half.
I beg you will not stir till I have placed you; and then, if all else of
you be still, you may exercise your tongue. I give you leave to talk."
SOPHY (penitentially).--"I am so sorry--I beg pardon. Will that do,
sir?"
VANCE.--"Head a little more to the right,--so, Titania watching Bottom
asleep. Will you lie on the floor, Lionel, and do Bottom?"
LIONEL (indignantly).--"Bottom! Have I an ass's head?"
VANCE.--"Immaterial! I can easily imagine that you have one. I want
merely an outline of figure,--something sprawling and ungainly."
LIONEL (sulkily).--"Much obliged to you; imagine that too."
VANCE.--"Don't be so disobliging. It is necessary that she should look
fondly at something,--expression in the eye." Lionel at once reclined
himself incumbent in a position as little sprawling and ungainly as he
could well contrive.
VANCE.--"Fancy, Miss Sophy, that this young gentleman is very dear to
you. Have you got a brother?"
SOPHY.--"Ah, no, sir."
VANCE.--"Hum. But you have, or have had, a doll?"
SOPHY.--"Oh, yes; Grandfather gave me one."
VANCE.--"And you were fond of that doll?"
SOPHY.--"Very."
VANCE.--"Fancy that young gentleman is your doll grown big, that it is
asleep, and you are watching that no one hurts it; Mr. Rugge, for
instance. Throw your whole soul into that thought,--love for doll,
apprehension of Rugge. Lionel, keep still, and shut your eyes; do."
LIONEL (grumbling).--"I did not come here to be made a doll of."
VANCE.--"Coax him to be quiet, Miss Sophy, and sleep peaceably, or I
shall do him a mischief. I can be a Rugge, too, if I am put out."
SOPHY (in the softest tones).--"Do try and sleep, sir: shall I get you a
pillow?"
LIONEL.--"No, thank you: I'm very comfortable now," settling his head
upon his arm; and after one upward glance towards Sophy, the lids closed
reluctantly over his softened eyes. A ray of sunshine came aslant
through the half-shut window, and played along the boy's clustering hair
and smooth pale cheek. Sophy's gaze rested on him most benignly.
"Just so," said Vance; "and now be silent till I have got the attitude
and fixed the look."
The artist sketched away rapidly with a bold practised hand, and all was
silent for about half-an-hour, when he said, "You May get up, Lionel; I
have done with you for the present."
SOPHY.--"And me too--may I see?"
VANCE.--"No, but you may talk now. So you had a doll? What has become
of it?"
SOPHY.--"I left it behind, sir. Grandfather thought it would distract me
from attending to his lessons and learning my part."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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