“Not a second. I’ve enough for to-day. And I don’t want to frighten you off. I mustn’t tempt you to leave me in the lurch--disappear--never show up again.” “I’ve promised,” said she. “I’ll keep my word. Besides”--she flushed, with eyes sparkling; her smile was merry, but embarrassed--“I’m not doing this for nothing.” “We haven’t talked business yet, have we?” said he, not a bit embarrassed. “You can have anything you like, within reason.” She laughed at him. “I want more than money. I want your valuable time. In exchange for my services as model you must amuse me. I’m lonely and bored--and full of things I want to forget.” “How much amusement per pose?” said he. “Oh--I shan’t be hard. Say--an hour.” “The bargain’s closed.” She paddled ashore, seated herself on a log a short distance before him, and rested while he filled in his notes. He glanced at her after a few minutes, was about to speak; instead he gave a grunt of satisfaction, fell to sketching her face; for the thoughts that were gilding her reverie gave her features precisely the expression of exalted, ethereal longing which he wished to put into the face in his picture. He worked feverishly, hoping she would not move and dissolve the spell until he had what he needed--enough to fix that expression. A quarrel between two robins over a worthless twig which neither wanted startled her, drove the spiritual look from her features. “But I got it,” said he. “Thank you.” She looked at him questioningly. “You’ve given me a second sitting--much better, because you didn’t realize it.” “May I see?” His sudden alarm revealed the profoundly modest man, uneasy about the merits of his unfinished work. “Not yet,” said he positively. “Wait till there’s something to look at.” “Very well,” she acquiesced. A certain note in her voice made him laugh. “You don’t care in the least about the picture--do you?” “Yes, indeed,” protested she. But the attempt to conceal his having hit upon the truth was far from successful. She realized it herself. “I care only about the pay,” confessed she. “We can talk while I work, now.” She protested. “No, that isn’t honest. I gave you my whole attention. You must pay in the same way. You must do your best to amuse me.” “Well?” “Come here, and sit on this log.” He obeyed. “You deserve better pay,” said he. “I never had a professional model who behaved so well.” “Do you know, I never did anything so obediently in my whole life,” declared she. “I don’t understand myself.” There was seriousness behind the mirth in the glance she flung at him. “I’m a little afraid of you. I half believe you hypnotize me. You--seem to--to put to sleep my ordinary, every-day self and to wake up one that’s usually asleep--one I’ve only known--until--until recently--as a--a sort of troublesome ghost that haunts me from time to time.” He, thinking of his picture, was only half attending to her. “But you’ll marry the man with the money, all right,” said he absently.