VI

A handsome Phyllis, in cap and apron, opened the door, and Wyndham

stepped into a broad corridor, carpeted in red, and hung with popular

engravings that he had seen in the windows of all the carvers and

gilders in London. Next, he was ushered under a crimson door-hanging

into a resplendent drawing-room, lighted by a dazzling crystal

chandelier, and sensuously warmed by a great red-hot fire. There was

nobody to receive him yet, and he was left to amuse himself with the

show-books on the tables--padded photograph albums full of old-fashioned

naive people posing against rococo backgrounds, collections of views of

the Valley of the Thames and of the Lake District, and richly bound

volumes of Tennyson and Sir Walter Scott.

The interest of these treasures was soon exhausted, and Wyndham, sinking

into a remarkably soft arm-chair, impatiently beat with his foot at a

cluster of roses on the brand-new "Aubusson" carpet. The room was almost

triangular, a large bow window commanding the vista of the main road,

and pairs of other windows, straight and tall, overlooking the streets

that branched on either hand. And all these windows were elaborately

draped in a would-be Renaissance style, with many loops and festoons,

and with big gilt cornices above. And between each pair of them stood a

gilded consol table surmounted by a mirror that reached to the ceiling.

Oval mirrors with lighted candles in sconces glittered from several

points of vantage, and crimson couches and the immense piano completed

the tale of splendours.

At length the door opened softly, and Mr. Robinson entered. Wyndham

rose, not displeased to observe that his host was likewise in evening

clothes; as he had been already regretting the self-assertion to which

he had yielded.

"Ah, you are in good time," said the old man, coming forward in his

quiet, gentle way, and shaking hands again. "I am sorry to say that my

wife and daughter are not down yet."

His tone was apologetic, and Wyndham smiled, readily understanding that

the announcement of a guest to arrive had scared the ladies to a more

elaborate toilette than usual.

"They were enchanted when I told them you were coming," Mr. Robinson

continued. "As for commiseration over my fall--not a word!"

The two men had conversed for some few minutes before the hostess and

her daughter came sweeping into the room; and, as he had half expected,

Wyndham found he knew them more or less vaguely by sight. Mrs. Robinson

was a tall dame, fully sixty, with gray hair, and a most amiable

expression; stately, even handsome, in her black silk dress with its

tasteful lace at the throat and wrists. The daughter who followed rather

shyly behind her gave Wyndham the impression that he was beholding the

most simple, homely person he had ever met; and this despite the

complexity of her costume, which seemed to be built up almost entirely

of old lace that lay over itself in thick folds and rich creamy masses.

Timidity of temperament and modesty to the verge of self-distrust were

at once suggested by the almost awkward constraint of her bearing and

the quiet, half-averted glance of her dark eyes. He could see that she

hardly dared look at him. He gallantly supposed that she was a year or

two younger than himself, and as he met her desperately friendly smile

(intended for him but hardly bestowed in his direction) with his

choicest bow, he received a further impression that was distinctly more

favourable than the first of unrelieved plainness. For, once his eye had

taken in her features, the artist in him was ready to do justice to her

throat and arms, which were really good: and her dark hair, her greatest

glory, lay in a superb coil, which, with a surprising touch of

coquetry, was set off by a velvet band and some lilies of the valley. It

was curious that the figure of Lady Betty should swim up before him just

then, as if to emphasise his real ideal of woman's beauty, and to make

him feel once for all how impossible it was ever to step down from that

standard. But he could not help smiling covertly at the thought that the

family were making such a serious business of so casual an

invitation--these toilettes were really so very much more elaborate than

anything he might conceivably have looked for; though at any rate it

reassured his pride in the fullest degree--evidently, his frank

admissions to Mr. Robinson notwithstanding, they were not taking him as

a poor devil of an artist, but were looking up to him with a perfect

appreciation of the respect that was his due.

Wyndham's presentation to the ladies over, there followed an instant of

general embarrassment. Mrs. Robinson smiled again, and quickly tried to

make conversation.

"How pleasant to become acquainted at last, after being neighbours so

many years!" she murmured. "And so unexpectedly, too."

"When the unexpected does happen," said Wyndham, "it generally is

delightful. I suppose that's because most of us in this hard life get

into the habit of expecting only the opposite sort of thing."

Miss Robinson laughed shyly, whilst her mother seemed somewhat puzzled.

"They say that the unexpected always happens," ventured the younger

woman tremulously. "I'm sure the proverb must be wrong, because nice

things happen so seldom." Her voice was soft, vibrating with gracious

amiability.

"I disagree with Mr. Wyndham," said her father. "I was not at all

expecting to slip down. When the unexpected happened, I am bound to say

I did not find it delightful."

They all laughed; and then Mrs. Robinson resumed the interrupted tenour

of her discreet, agreeable way. She herself had often thought how

pleasant it would be to know him; but in London one could live for ever

so many years and yet know absolutely nothing of one's next-door

neighbour. In the country, of course, things were different: there

etiquette was more human, and people called of their own accord. Was Mr.

Wyndham exhibiting anything just now? They had seen pictures of his in

the Academy in past years, and were great admirers of his. Wyndham was

by now too faint and exhausted to do more than hold his own in a

smiling, conventional way: the splendours of the room, too, dazzled him

to the verge of confusion. He was thankful when Phyllis appeared with

the announcement that dinner was served; and Mr. Robinson, giving his

arm to his daughter, led the way across the hall, under another crimson

door-hanging, and into a long dining-room, wherein was set out a great

table with flowers and fruit and silver. The covers were laid at one

end, which gave the dinner an air of informality and family intimacy.

A glass of sherry at the start revived Wyndham considerably, and soon he

fell to conversing at his ease. Presently he found he was somehow taking

the lead, and their evident respect and admiration for his lightest word

made him clearly perceive that he was an important and brilliant figure

for them. Such grains of resentment as he still cherished at having

entered on the acquaintanceship were dying away. Meanwhile the seductive

prevision of material joys that had risen before him at the studio at

that moment of physical weakness was being literally realised, almost

comically so. There on the immense mahogany sideboard stood bottles and

decanters galore, and now up came the middle of salmon with a piquant

sauce accompanying it! God! how delicious it tasted, after all these

months of bread and cheese! Wine gave him inspiration, and food the

strength to live up to the role they were allotting to him. He was

good-looking and knew it; his voice, his bearing, his choice of words,

were alike distinguished; his experiences were of worlds that were to

them far-seeming and romantic. He was the sort of hero they had read

about in novels--a handsome guardsman nonchalantly looking in at a Park

Lane dance at midnight, or a brilliant attache to an embassy in touch

with wonderful horizons.

Meanwhile the supply of dainty food continued; a leg of lamb, spinach,

fat, luscious asparagus, a melon from a Southern clime, a chicken, and

the juiciest of French lettuces. The hock was of the most delicate, the

champagne subtle and sparkling. Even so he felt himself sparkling in the

eyes of the others. He was the lion to whom all this homage was his

rightful due, holding them fascinated with his wide knowledge of men and

cities, of social life in European capitals. He drew upon his wanderings

in by-ways known only of artists; fascinated them with sketches of the

art life of Rome and Paris. Reminiscences bubbled up of his student

days, and with them were mingled deft touches of Eton and Oxford, and

charming cameos of county life; this last developing insensibly into

discussions of Anglo-Saxon character, its comparison with the Latin,

relative estimations of intelligence, industry, ambition. Mr. Robinson

here had many shrewd observations to offer, for they had now wandered

into the domain of affairs. Wyndham was genuinely interested in his

host's experiences, in his accounts of unusual men of business from

strange, even barbarous parts of the world, with whom he had had

personal relations. They even touched upon financial operations; and

Wyndham felt perfectly at ease amid complications in which millions were

bandied about like tennis-balls, and the credit of banks and States was

pawned as simply and swiftly as he might pawn his own watch. At last,

over the dessert, there was a perceptible slackening. Wyndham, who so

far had taken care not to let his eye rest on the many heavy-framed "oil

paintings" that hung on the walls, for fear some discussion of them

might thence arise, was now incautious enough to fix his gaze markedly

on some sheep pasturing just opposite him. But Mr. Robinson seemed to

welcome the opportunity thus afforded.

"Oh, of course I know you won't find any of _those_ things worth

glancing at," he threw out with a laugh; and the others chimed in,

highly amused at the thought of the impression "the things" must be

making on their guest.

"Oh, some aren't at all half bad," conceded Wyndham politely, his eye

now promenading freely. "The girl with the mandoline is laid in with

rather a charming touch, and the fruit-and-flower piece is really

decorative."

"We always considered those two the best," declared Mr. Robinson. "I

bought them at an auction in the City, many years ago now--more, in

fact, than I care to remember."

Wyndham still affected to be examining the collection.

"Now, of course," resumed Mr. Robinson, "that Highland scene is the

merest pot-boiler--a stream in the middle, a mountain on one side, and a

cow on the other. I've seen hundreds of them for sale. But it's not

likely I shall ever be taken in again that way, especially after

examining the work I saw at your studio, Mr. Wyndham."

Wyndham inclined his head smilingly, and Mr. Robinson duly proceeded to

describe to the others the great masterpiece which that afternoon he had

had the privilege of inspecting. His memory of the details proved to be

extraordinarily minute, and his face glowed all over again with the

wonder and enthusiasm he had displayed at the studio. "The figures, the

faces," he wound up, "were simply marvellous. I can't give you the

faintest idea of how magnificent it all is. I could spend hours looking

at it."

Wyndham could do no less than suggest that the ladies should come and

see the picture for themselves, though just then a whiff of unpleasant

thoughts urged on him again the imprudence of such further social

developments.

"We shall be only too delighted; it will be a great pleasure," exclaimed

Mrs. Robinson, and Miss Robinson's eyes shone with unmistakable

excitement.

"We must really take down that Highland scene, my dear," proceeded Mrs.

Robinson, addressing her husband. "It is altogether too bad. We ought

to have something better in its place."

It passed through Wyndham's mind that one of his projected panels would

do excellently, but of course it was far too below the dignity of the

brilliant lion to appear to snatch at the opportunity of turning a few

honest guineas through the grace of his humble entertainers.

"Let us have the Highland scene down by all means," said Mr. Robinson.

"And I've an idea! If we can induce Mr. Wyndham to paint our Alice's

portrait, why, then we should have something first-rate to hang in its

place."

Miss Robinson turned fiery red; the quick glance she flashed at her

father was the more conspicuous. "How splendid!" she exclaimed

breathlessly. Her bosom heaved. Wyndham was almost painfully aware of

the thumping of her heart.

But he himself was caught quite unprepared. True that the unexpected had

happened again, but that very quality of the event was in this instance

disconcerting. No doubt they observed his slight hesitation.

"Of course it would be a great privilege for us," interposed Mrs.

Robinson; "but it seems to me we are counting without Mr. Wyndham's

authority."

Wyndham inclined his head graciously with a smile; swiftly master of the

situation again, and improving the occasion with a compliment.

"Oh! I shall be most delighted." He gave his proposed subject the

professional glance that the occasion authorised. "Miss Robinson will

afford me the opportunity of a most distinguished piece of portraiture."

Miss Robinson gazed at her plate, nervously peeling a banana. She had

not spoken much during the dinner, but she had hung on Wyndham's words

with a naive, unconscious admiration, which, from a prettier and more

brilliant woman, he would scarcely have passed with so little a sense of

appreciation.

"Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Wyndham," she said simply. "I am

afraid the distinction will be due more to your work than to your

sitter."

"No, indeed, Miss Robinson," he protested, with a suave gravity that

made his polished assurance the more impressive and charming. "I did not

intend any compliment--I spoke only as the artist." He was rather

surprised that a woman should display so little vanity. And, in a subtle

way, it did not enhance his estimation of her.

Miss Robinson's banana occupied her more earnestly than ever; but her

mother came to the rescue by raising the important question of costume.

Wyndham, after further professional consideration of his client,

preferred to paint Miss Robinson as he saw her now. And with a ready

sense of detail he saw, too, that certain rings she wore, though he had

not observed them closely at first, would make excellent spots in a

scheme of decoration. These rings were unusually chosen, and were more

artistic than extravagant. The one on her right hand was a small, subtle

cat's-eye surrounded by fine pearls. On her left hand were an

aquamarine, and a scarab that shone like the patina of an ancient

bronze. Almost without a pause he dashed at once at a scheme, which he

elucidated there and then, much to their overwhelming. He would pose her

on an Empire chair. In a blue and white Oriental vase on a high stand at

the side should be arranged three tall arum lilies amid some vivid

carnation blossoms. Why, the Nankin bowl on the mantelpiece was the very

thing! The background of the picture should be vague and of an

olive-grey tone, laid in with free brushwork, against which the masses

of creamy lace would show deliciously decorative. The great surmounting

coil of hair would give character to the whole scheme, and the lilies of

the valley in the velvet band afford a final contrast of lightness and

graciousness against the intense note of the coiffure.

The parents were radiant with pleasure, though poor Miss Robinson looked

more and more scared each instant. In her trepidation she could only

echo stammeringly the elder people's wonder at his great skill and

cleverness. The scheme unfolded itself before them richly beautiful--not

one of your dull black portraits, but a canvas glowing with exquisite

light and colour.

"There, Alice, you ought to be proud of yourself," said her father,

rallying her good-naturedly as a parting shot, when the women rose to

retire; and Wyndham attended their exit under the crimson hanging with

his most engaging air.

Left alone, the men drew their chairs to the fire, and Mr. Robinson

brought forward boxes of fragrant-smelling cigars, large and rotund. The

atmosphere of comfort enveloped Wyndham soothingly: the sense of

unlimited abundance seemed a miracle after his long privation.

Fortunately he had not been tempted to have his glass filled too often:

he had appreciated all these good and luscious things with commendable

moderation, and had been stimulated to brilliancy without losing cool

command of himself. He lighted his cigar at the little silver smoker's

lamp that just then came in with the coffee, and, as he puffed, a

splendid warm feeling of well-being took possession of him. He helped

himself to cream and sugar with the masterful calm and something of the

gesture of a stage hero.

Presently Mr. Robinson raised the subject of Wyndham's fee for the

portrait, approaching the point apologetically.

"Of course, we could hardly discuss this side of the matter before my

wife and daughter," said the old man. "But I must insist on your

accepting a fair remuneration for the work--shall we say two hundred

guineas?"

"To be frank," said Wyndham, "if you had left it to me, I should hardly

have mentioned so large a sum."

"Naturally a gentleman of your disposition would think more of the

artistic pleasure of the work than of the money it brought. Still, in

this life money has to be considered. In all things, sublime or humble,

the labourer is worthy of his hire. I do not for a moment suggest that

the sum I have named in any way expresses our appreciation of the work,

even in anticipation, and certainly not in any way our sense of the

privilege and honour you are bestowing upon us."

"I shall endeavour to merit your kind words," said Wyndham, not to be

outdone in polished courtesy, though he conceded that, by force of

simple sincerity and good feeling, Mr. Robinson seemed a past master in

the delicate art. "At any rate," he pursued, "the work is developing in

my mind. The more I dwell upon it, the better and better I like the

scheme, and I shall work at it enthusiastically from start to finish."

It being thus assumed that two hundred guineas were to be the artist's

reward, Mr. Robinson seemed by no means loth to wander from a point

which he had approached with great hesitation and an immense sense of

its difficult delicacy. As yet Wyndham did not measure the radical

change in his personal situation; nor did he display any undue elation.

But his cool demeanour was no mere pose. Indeed, he was surprised

himself at the ease with which he was accepting the transaction, as if

it were commonplace in his experience. But he merely supposed that he

was meeting good fortune with the natural dignity of the artist--to whom

commissions are due as a matter of right, however long they may be

deferred.

They did not linger in the dining-room, but joined the ladies after

their first cigar; though not before Mr. Robinson had sedulously

inquired as to his liking for the particular brand, which, he assured

Wyndham, was not readily obtainable in London, and had made, him promise

to take a box away with him.

In the drawing-room Miss Robinson played to them, at first tremulously,

but gaining confidence with the experience. She displayed a degree of

trained taste and a certain individual choice, favouring the tenderer

and gentler works of Mendelssohn and Mozart. She sang also one or two of

Heine's love songs in the German with a touch of passion and regret,

whilst Wyndham accompanied her; and he himself wound up the evening in

more jovial mood with a rousing student's song from his old Munich days.

Their parting with him had almost a touch of affection; and the final

understanding was that he was to plan out the arrangements for the

sittings, and to communicate with them in the morning.

He was forgetting his box of cigars at the end, but Mr. Robinson

carefully caught it up from the hall table, and brought it after him

just as the servant was opening the door.