
    There was a pause. They came back into the room, and Cecily, with a look of
hesitation, asked quietly, -
    »Have you heard of late from Reuben?«
    Miriam, with averted eyes, answered simply, »No.« Again there was silence,
until Cecily, moving about the room, came to the »St. Cecilia.«
    »So my patron saint is always before you. I am glad of that. Where is the
original of this picture, Miriam? I forget.«
    »I never knew.«
    »Oh, I wished to speak to you of Mr. Mallard. You met him yesterday. Had you
much conversation?«
    »A good deal. He dined with us.«
    »Did he? I thought it possible. And do you like him?«
    »I couldn't say until I knew him better.«
    »It isn't easy to know him, I think,« said Cecily, in a reflective and
perfectly natural tone, smiling thoughtfully. »But he is a very interesting man,
and I wish he would be more friendly with me. I tried hard to win his confidence
on the journey from Genoa, but I didn't seem to have much success. I fancy« -
she laughed - »that he is still in the habit of regarding me as a little girl,
who wouldn't quite understand him if he spoke of serious things. When I wished
to talk of his painting, he would only joke. That annoyed me a little, and I
tried to let him see that it did, with the result that he refused to speak of
anything for a long time.«
    »What does Mr. Mallard paint?« Miriam asked, half absently.
    »Landscape,« was the reply, given with veiled surprise. »Did you never see
anything of his?«
    »I remember; the Bradshaws have a picture by him in their dining-room. They
showed it me when I was last in Manchester. I'm afraid I looked at it very
inattentively, for it has never re-entered my mind from that day to this. But I
was ill at the time.«
    »His pictures are neglected,« said Cecily, »but people who understand them
say they have great value. If he has anything accepted by the Academy, it is
sure to be hung out of sight. I think he is wrong to exhibit there at all.
Academies are foolish things, and always give most encouragement to the men who
are worth least. When there
