nervously poking the tip of a smart shoe
with her parasol, her eyes cast down;
the man beside her was talking earn-
estly to her with a triumphant smile.
He turned as Helen passed them, and
she recognized a man who had sat next
to her at dinner the night before, and
whose flowers had filled her rooms all
winter. His face fell, and he instantly
stopped talking. The woman looked
up and stared at Helen, who crossed
immediately to the other side of the
gallery. Her lip curled a little.
The beauty of the pictures began to
absorb her mind, which possessed a far
keener and more correct instinct for
what was good in art than she had ever
given herself credit for. The presence
of the pictures penetrated and stimu-
lated her mind, and she began to feel a
keen envy for the talent and the will
which had so triumphantly expressed
themselves.
She turned and walked to the door



A SAWDUST DOLL. 4 1

to buy a catalogue, when she saw Aytoun
standing at the entrance of the gallery
with some men and talking earnestly.
Helen was impressed by the suggestion
of power and exhilaration in his man-
ner, and the pose of his head. Noting
the graceful movements of his hands,
she watched him for a moment in sil-
ence. He was standing before one of
his pictures, evidently explaining it.
"Well he may be proud ! " she said to
herselL "I shall tell him so."

He looked up quickly and caught
sight of her. Excusing himself from
his companions, he came towards her
gallantly, hat in hand, bending low,
with a little French exaggeration of
manner, which became him well.
