CHAPTER I.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1428, 11 February 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

CHAPTER I.

Blind ! Nothing else would have mattered much but he was blind — hopelessly blind. He was an artist, and had caught cold while out sketching. Inflammation had set in — gone to his eyes ; and it was as if a dead wall had been built across his path of life. Ton years later it might have mattered less, for the children would have been out of haivl ; but now, with six of them, the eldest but nineteen and only a girl ; the youngest seven, and no provision, it was a black outlook indeed, for Charles Lloyd was not a genius. He had not even audacity ; which docs almost as well. He painted very nice pictures, true to nature ; but who is satisfied with nature? One might as well offer people uncooked meat.

Christmas came and the ready money was gone. There were some pictures in the studio, but not any finished ; however, finished or not, they must sro. They packed them up and sent them to Mr. Lloyd's picture dealer, with a note to sa} r they would be willing to take .a low price, as the paintings were unfinished, and thsy were the lasc they would ever send— a touch of tragedy Janet thought they would feel. She addfd she would be happy to send some of her drawings for their approval, and waited their orders with the calm confidence of one who has not. the faintest idea of the struggle for life. Impossible. ! It couldn't be true ! " Messrs. Pink & Son return the ' Woodland Scene' and the ' Morning Walk.' by Mr. Charles Lloyd, as they are eorry to say the pictures are unsalable in their present condition. They also beg to inform Miss Lloyd that they are unable at present to send her an order, as trade is bad, and they have a large stock on band."

Janet sat stupefied with the letter in her hand.

"Mother, the pictures are coming back! Pink won't have them. What in the world are we to do now ?"

'• Won't have them ? What do they mean ?"

"I don't know; oh, I don't know— it's dreadful— it's dreadful to think of !" and she started up distracted.

Jack was kneeling on a chair, his elbows well on the table, and a newspaper before him.

" Don't run away, Jenny ; stop a minute. There's something here. Listen. 'To artists. — Wanted pictures for exportation. Price must be moderate. Apply, Hoses & Co., Borough.' "

" Oh, Jack, let me see ; how providential ! What a fine openine ! Oh, lam so thankful ! For exportation ! Why, they'll want dozens. Let's write at once ; or perhaps we had better go, and then we can see them and get to know all about it, and buy the canvases and things."

The reaction was tremendous, and the boy and girl were elated. '• 15ut my dear, it's hardly the thing."

" Oh, with Jack it will be all right, mother; beside, we shall really not have to mind ' the thing' any more."

So Janet and Jack went, and found the Borough ; then they turned out of that, and up a court found Moses & Co. Talk about the improvement of taste ! Whoever will buy all the lea-lrays, wax flowers, gorgeous clock?, etc., which these warehouses contain, is a puzzle.

They were ushered into a little back office to interview the buyer.

" Pictures ?" said he, shortly. " Yes, well, I'll just look at them. I can tell at a glance whether they will do for us."

Janet thought he was rude and abrupt ; but if she had only known how tired the poor man was of pictures !

" There 1" said Janet, picking out two of her father's, and putting them up with some pride— they were so infinitely better than those in the room.

They all looked at them a minute — the man lost in admiration, doubtless. At last the girl looked around smiling, but there was no admiration to be seen, the man only screwed up his lips and shook his head. He took up one of her own sketches— the worst by a long way. " This might do ; only it would want a deal more work in it."

" Certainly," she said, anxiously. " I could put any amount of work in it, I don't mind work in the least."

" Don't you ? Then I dare say we shall come to terms. You must throw a bridge across the river, first thing." ''But there wasn't any." " That dosen't matter ; and you must put an old woman in a scarlet cloak in the foreground. Our customers like a bit of life,

and the canvas wants covering. There's too much sky ; they like it well filled vp — plenty for the money. You might put a range of mountains in the background ; it would be a great improvement, would a mountain or two. What's your price ?"

" I thought three guineas," she said, not liking to ask too much. The man shook his bead. " Forty-eight shillings is our price, and we never give a penny more to any body."

The brother and sister looked at each other anxiously, but foity-eight shillings was better than nothing, it was rather a queer price, though.

•• You find your own canvases?" said the man, sharply, " O£ course." " You had belter sign them— not your own name, of course ; besides a lady's name wouldn't do. Sign them — cr — let me see, O'ir last man signed himself Montague White ; suppese you call yourself Matthew — no, Maik Black ; no. perhaps Black would hardly do just after While. Say— cr — Barrett— Mai k Barrett. Don't forcet, and bring 'era in next week; forty-sight shillings, and find your own canvases."

" You want more than one, then ? It is hardly the thing to do the same subject twice."

The man looked horrified at such unbusi-ness-like ideas.

'-It's a dozen I'm ordering, just for a sample — forty-eight shillings a dozen, and if I like them, you'll have to do dozens and dozens, all alike." "Oh!"