"The Sir Charles Grandison business is done and gone. That's what you mean, I suppose? Don't you think we should find it very heavy if we tried to get it back again?"
"I'm not going to ask you to be a Sir Charles Grandison, Mr. Eames. But never mind all that now. Do you know that that girl has absolutely had her first sitting for the picture?"
"Has she, indeed?"
"She has. You may take my word for it. I know it as a fact. What a fool that young man is!"
"Which young man?"
"Which young man! Conway Dalrymple to be sure. Artists are always weak. Of all men in the world they are the most subject to flattery from women; and we all know that Conway Dalrymple is very vain."
"Upon my word I didn't know it," said Johnny.
"Yes, you do. You must know it. When a man goes about in a purple velvet coat of course he is vain."
"I certainly cannot defend a purple velvet coat."
"That is what he wore when this girl sat to him this morning."