Everitt felt that he reddened.

“I have not been standing lately, signorina,” he stammered.

“So I thought,” returned Bell, inexorably. Silence followed for a time; then Kitty put her easel on one side.

“That will do for to-day,” she said. “I don’t think you can go on longer. Perhaps to-morrow you will be better able to stand, and pray be more punctual.”

“To-morrow, signorina?” faltered Everitt. This was too much.

“Yes, to-morrow. Are you engaged?”

“I am engaged every day this week.”

“Every day? Oh, how tiresome! how very tiresome! What can we do?”

“Is it to Mr Everitt?” inquired Bell, applying a little turpentine to a spot of paint on her dress.

“Signorina, yes.”