"It is I who am to take the portrait, and it is I who will pay for it," said Vance. "I understand that you have a pressing occasion for—" "Three pounds!" muttered Sophy, sturdily, through the tears which her grandfather's pathos had drawn forth from her downcast eyes—"Three pounds—three—three."
"You shall have them. But listen; I meant only to take a sketch—I must now have a finished portrait. I cannot take this by candle-light. You must let me come here to-morrow; and yet to-morrow, I understand, you meant to leave?"
Waife. "If you will generously bestow on us the sum you say, we shall not leave the village till you have completed your picture. It is Mr. Rugge and his company we will leave."
Vance. "And may I venture to ask what you propose to do toward a new livelihood for yourself and your grandchild, by the help of a sum which is certainly much for me to pay—enormous, I might say, quoad me—but small for a capital whereon to set up a business?"
Waife. "Excuse me if I do not answer that very natural question at present. Let me assure you that that precise sum is wanted for an investment which promises her and myself an easy existence. But to insure my scheme I must keep it secret. Do you believe me?"
"I do!" cried Lionel; and Sophy, whom, by this time he had drawn upon his lap, put her arm gratefully round his neck.
"There is your money, Sir, beforehand," said Vance, declining downward his betrayed and resentful nose, and depositing three sovereigns on the table.
"And how do you know," said Waife, smiling, "that I may not be off to-night with your money and your model?"
"Well," said Vance, curtly, "I think it is on the cards. Still, as John Kemble said when rebuked for too large an alms:
'It is not often that I do these things,
But when I do, I do them handsomely.
"Well applied, and well delivered, Sir," said the Comedian, "only you should put a little more emphasis on the word do."
"Did I not put enough? I am sure I felt it strongly; no one can feel the do more!"
Waife's pliant face relaxed into genial brightness—the équivoque charmed him. However, not affecting to comprehend it, he thrust back the money, and said, "No, Sir—not a shilling till the picture is completed. Nay, to relieve your mind, I will own that, had I no scruple more delicate, I would rather receive nothing till Mr. Rugge is gone. True, he has no right to any
