CHAPTER II.

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

CHAPTER 11.

March, Havarstock Hill. "Show-day" among the artists. Carriages, critics, and well dressed people going from studio to studio. A rising young A.R.A., Mark Barrett, was looking at his own pictures before the arrival of his visitors, with that "divine discontent " which is not very common among young artists.

Sjmc ladies came in — people he knew quite well and had sent cards to, but he couldn't remember their names. He tried to make up for it in " gush/ '• So glad to see you ! How very kind of you to come !"

"Not fit all ; delighted ! Dear, dear, bow nice ! What a very fine picture ! "Worthy of Miliais, I declare !" said the elder lady.

Barrett reddened, not with gratification — it was a portrait of a provincial mayor, and he had not put liis best work into ifc, as he ought to have done.

More people came in, among them some friends of the mayor.

" How do you do, Mr. Barrett ? Very happy to meet you again, sir. Saw you last in our council chamber. You remember me — Mr. Alderman Whisely, sir. Now, let's have a look at our worthy mayor. Very good; just like him, isn't it, my dear?' 1 turning to his wife.

•• Well, it's like him in the face," said the little woman, doubtfully; " but I think myself that the waistcoat buttons are too small."

"So they are. Trust a woman for telling you your laults, Mr. Barrett." A city man came up to him. " I could have picked up one of your pictures for an old song the other day,' Mr. Barrett," in a loud, cheerful voice, as if it was a goo'l joke that all the roam would like to hear — and perhaps they did. " Indeed ! what was that ?" "River sCLne ; bridge, mountains, old woman in scarlet cloak. I should have bought it, being yours, only the frame was such a gimcrack affair." '• You arc mistaken. I never did such a thing in my life."' " It had your name on it." " What where they asking for it ?" " Twenty- five shillings." " You must be mistaken." "Very well ; if you don't believe ire you can look for yourself. I have got the address in my pocket." Mark was so much annoyed that the next day be made a pilgrimage to the city. He determined to get at the bottom of the mystery. Most likely it was a name that was something like his ; but it might be a forgery, in which case be would have the fellow punished. lie found the picture dealer's— at least, it wasn't a picture dealer's, it was a draper's— and there, sure enough, among oleographs and rubbish of all sorts, were three pictures, fearful things, signed " Mark Barrett."'

However, the shopman directed him to Moses & Co., Borough, ne hurried on there ; it was dinner-time between twelve and one ; only a boy in charge. That was fortunate ; he got the address without any trouble — Miss Jauet Lloyd, Ivy Cottage, Hoxton, Surry.

" A woman, after all. What pests those women are 1 '