There was a slight hesitation in her manner. And yet, when she had entered the studio only two hours ago, she had resolved to ask Edward Thornhill to lend her enough money to pay her fare back to the convent, so that she could begin her novitiate at once.
"Your mind is quite made up, nothing could change it?"
"I think not."
How quickly her listener detected the little tremor in her voice, which told him much more than the uncertainty implied in her words.
"And yet I believe you might be happy here. I can help you both; you shall not want for work. Your brother tells me that you have never been a model, but perhaps you would be kind enough to favour me by sitting for my Academy picture. The subject is to be the Annunciation."
She did not answer, and he continued talking,—
"You must remember that the city is not always as gloomy as it looks to-night. We have picture galleries, parks and squares, and the country is beautiful at all seasons. Do you not think you could be content to stay a little?"
"Perhaps a little."
"I will get you some needlework to do, and Rica shall find in me as good a master as the one he has just lost.