Here at least was an intelligent human being who could set her on the right way, so she decided to go up to him.
CHAPTER IX
JACK HAS ADVENTURES
The young man absorbed in his painting did not see the child at first. She stood off watching him lay on deft strokes, but saying nothing until presently, as he backed off a little further than usual, he almost stumbled over her. “Hallo!” he exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.
“Oh, I beg your pardon,” said Jack. “I didn’t mean to get in your way.”
“No consequence at all,” returned the young man. “You weren’t properly in my way, but when I get excited over my painting I generally prance all over the place regardless of anything or anybody.”
“You’re doing a lovely picture,” remarked Jack sociably. “I’d get excited, too, if I could paint like that.”
“You would? Well, I don’t know. I’m afraid I don’t think much of it myself. The sun is getting too high. I ought to have stopped an hour ago, but I was interested and didn’t. However, I must go now.”
“I am afraid I interrupted you,” said Jack anxiously.
“Oh, no, you didn’t, or if you did you did me a good turn, for I am only doing the thing harm by keeping on. It was better before I did this last bit.” He began to scrape out a part of the foreground, then prepared to pack up his painting kit. “Anyhow, it must be near dinner time from the looks of things,” he went on, “so I ought to get back.”