"'Reece has plenty of brains too,' said Barty.
"'Oh, Mr. Josselin—don't misunderstand me'—and then I began to stammer and look foolish.
"'Miss Royce—I've only got £15 in the world, and with that I mean to go to London and be an artist; and comfort myself during the struggle by the delightful remembrance of Riffrath and Reece and yourself—and the happy hope of meeting you both again some day, when I shall no longer be the poor devil I am now, and am quite content to be! And when you and he are among the great of the earth, if you will give me each a commission to paint your portraits I will do my very best!' (and he smiled his irresistible smile). 'You will be kind, I am sure, to Mr. Nobody of Nowhere, the famous portrait‑painter—who doesn't even bear his father's name—as he has no right to it.'
"I could have flung my arms round his neck and kissed him! What did I care about his father's name?
"'Will you think me dreadfully bold and indiscreet, Mr. Josselin, if I—if I—' (I stammered fearfully.)
"'If you what, Miss Royce?'
"'If I—if I ask you if you—if you—think Miss Gibson the most beautiful girl you ever saw?'
"'Honestly, I think you the most beautiful girl I ever saw!'
"'Oh, that's nonsense, Mr. Josselin, although I ought to have known you would say that! I'm not fit to tie her shoes. What I mean is—a—a—oh! forgive me—are you very fond of her, as I'm sure she deserves, you know?'
"'Oh yes, Miss Royce, very fond of her indeed; she's poor, she's of no family, she's Miss Nobody of Nowhere, you know; she's all that I am, except that she has a right to her honest father's name—'