"Chatterbox, I hope you are not tiring Raymond;" and he looked kindly and inquiringly at the invalid.
"Not the least, sir; I was thinking that you are fortunate to possess so many of the paintings of Herbert Smith. How beautiful they are!" and the young artist's eye kindled with enthusiasm.
His new friend smiled.
"I am very fond of painting, Raymond."
"You must be, sir, from the way you have talked to me about it, and from your having such beautiful pictures. Do you paint yourself?"
"Why, Raymond," said Lilian, "don't you know—;" but a warning look from her father stopped her saying anything more. She only looked over at Madge, with her large blue eyes full of laughter.
Then her father bent down over the boy, and said, "I paint a great deal, Raymond."
"Oh, I am so glad!" said Raymond eagerly. "Then you will not think it wrong of me to want to be an artist."
"So far from thinking it wrong, Raymond, I am going to help you in it. I am going to get you taught."
A bright flush came over Raymond's face as he looked up for an explanation.