He burst out laughing. "You're altogether delightful. But how little you
know about it--about the honourable practice of any art!"
"What do you call practice? You'll have all our things--you'll live in
the midst of them."
"Certainly I shall enjoy looking at them, being so near them."
"Don't say I've taken you away then."
"Taken me away----?"
"From the love of art. I like them myself now, poor George's treasures.
I didn't of old so much, because it seemed to me he made too much of
them--he was always talking."
"Well, I won't always talk," said Nick.
"You may do as you like--they're yours."
"Give them to the nation," Nick went on.
"I like that! When we've done with them."
"We shall have done with them when your Vandykes and Moronis have cured
me of the delusion that I may be of _their_ family. Surely that won't
take long."
"You shall paint _me_," said Julia.
"Never, never, never!" He spoke in a tone that made his companion
stare--then seemed slightly embarrassed at this result of his emphasis.
To relieve himself he said, as they had come back to the place beside
the lake where the boat was moored, "Shan't we really go and fetch Mr.
Hoppus?"