"You must let us look at it, Charles," said Miss Agnes; "we have been waiting, you know, quite impatiently for the last week."
"If we must go up to your STUDIO for it, we'll rest awhile first," said Mr. Wyllys taking a seat.
"You mortify me, sir," said Charlie, "by using such great words about my little doings, even in pleasantry. I am half afraid to show my work; but I will bring it down."
"I hope we shall find some improvement--that is all we can expect at present, my boy. We don't look for a Claude yet."
{"Claude" = Claude Lorrain (1600-1662), French painter famous for his landscapes, who was an important influence on the American Hudson River School}
Charlie blushed, in the excess of his modesty.
"Pray, bring all your sketches, too," said Elinor. "Mary wrote me you were drawing all winter; you must have a great deal that we have not seen."
"They are certainly not worth looking at; but such as they are, you shall see them."
"And don't forget the Arithmetic, too," said Mr. Wyllys, smiling; "we had better look a little into Compound Interest, of course."
Charlie looked as if that were rather a sore subject, as he left the room.
While he was gone, a carriage stopped at the little gate. It proved to be the Taylors; and Mr. Taylor, with his wife, and a couple of children, walked in. After a general salutation had been exchanged, and two additional chairs had been brought from a bed-room, to accommodate such an unusual number of visiters, Mr. Taylor turned to Miss Patsey, and observed, in a jocular way:
"It is not etiquette, I believe, to call twice in the same day; but I hope you will excuse us; for on this occasion, Mrs. Taylor has come to transact a little business."
"As you seem to be engaged, Miss Hubbard, we will put it off until another time," said Mrs. Taylor.
"
"Just as you please," replied Miss Patsey. "I am always glad to see my friends."
Mr. Taylor, however, liked quick measures, and never postponed business if he could help it.
"We came to see you, this afternoon, about our two youngest children; if you can conveniently take them into your school, it would suit us very well."
Charlie, at that moment, returned with his picture in one hand, and a portfolio in the other. He was rather sorry to find the Taylors there, for he was far from admiring the gentleman. Mr. Wyllys was really anxious to see the piece, and asked to look at it at once. The canvass was placed near a window, in the proper light, and the covering removed. The Wyllyses were immediately struck with Charlie's rapid improvement; there was indeed, no comparison between the young man's first attempts at the art, and this last piece. His friends all congratulated him on his success, and Charlie was delighted.
"This settles the question, I think, Miss Patsey," said Mr. Wyllys.
"I suppose so," said Miss Patsey, with a shake of the head, and a smile. "I think I can see myself that this picture looks more natural than the first."
"Quite a tasty painting," said Mr. Taylor, stepping up with a decided air towards the canvass. "I should conclude, however, that you would find portraits a more advantageous business."
"I like landscapes best, sir," replied the youth; and turning to Mr. Wyllys, he added: "Mr. S----- advised me to please myself as to the subjects I worked upon."
"Certainly," answered Mr. Wyllys; "and you seem to prefer my mill-pond, Charlie, to the human face divine."
"But, here are sketches of faces," said Elinor, looking over the portfolio; "very good, too;--this is excellent--grandpapa, do you know yourself? and Miss Patsey--very good--Aunt Agnes, too! Why, Charles, you must have drawn all these from memory."
The sketches Elinor was looking at, were roughly done in ink or lead-pencil; but were generally good likenesses. Mr. Wyllys took up one, that had not yet been observed by the rest of the party; he smiled, and passed it to his granddaughter. Elinor coloured, and her heart beat as she looked at it, for it was a sketch of Harry. Mr. Taylor was standing behind her, and recognised it immediately.
"That is Mr. Hazlehurst, if I am not mistaken; and a very good likeness, Miss Wyllys."
"I suppose, your son and Harry have met, in Paris, Mr. Taylor," said Miss Agnes, by way of turning his attention from Elinor.
"Yes, madam, Thomas mentions having had some intercourse with Mr. Hazlehurst, and observes, that he sees him, almost every day, in the TULLYREES; which, Thomas says, is the RENDY-VUSS of the fashionable world, in Paris."
"Will your son return home soon?"
"Why, no; I think not. He went for six months; but he calculates, now, to stay some time longer. I am told, Mr. Hazlehurst will not return until next year;--they might make the European TOWER together. But Thomas seems to like the CAFFIES and the BULLY-VARDS of Paris, too much to move from that city."
Elinor was going to take another sketch from the table, when Charlie quickly passed his hand between Mr. Taylor and herself, and drew the paper away.
"I beg your pardon--but it is a wretched thing; I did not know it was there," said the youth, hastily.
"Pray, let me look at it," said Elinor, "for, I thought, I recognised a friend."
"You must not see it, indeed, Miss Elinor; I dare say, you took it for anybody but the right person;" said Charlie, a good deal embarrassed, and hurriedly handing Elinor something else to look at.
She was surprised at his nervous manner, but said nothing more.
"I honestly think, Charlie," said Mr. Wyllys, who had been examining the landscape, that Mr. C-----, and Mr. I-----, will tell you to persevere, after this. There is something about the water, in your picture, that strikes me as unusually good."
"I am very glad to hear you say so; for there is nothing I like to paint so much as water. I took great pains with that part of my piece; but it does not satisfy me yet."
"Do you intend to make use of water-colours altogether, in your paintings?" asked Mr. Taylor.
Charlie looked puzzled, and the merchant repeated his question.
