“In the first place, it seems to me that the best thing I can do is to get the permission of Lady Crewkerne for you to finish the portrait of her niece. Now, I warn you it may not be easy. As I think you have conjectured, she is a difficult member of a most difficult sex. But I am only prepared to do this upon one definite condition.”
“What is it?” asked Jim, in a tone that was not very hopeful.
“The condition must be this, Lascelles,” said Cheriton, with a very businesslike air. “As you have treated me so abominably—I regret exceedingly that candor compels me to use the term—if I obtain permission for you to complete your portrait of Miss Perry, I shall insist upon being allowed to purchase it upon my own terms.”
“Yes,” said Jim, “that is only fair.”
It seemed to him that things were taking a much more favorable course than he could have hoped for.
“If I can obtain permission for you, Lascelles, to complete that picture, and you finish it in the manner you have begun it, it will be a pleasure to hang it at Cheriton House.”
Jim Lascelles was touched by the kindness of his patron.
“I didn’t quite see my way, Lord Cheriton,” said he, with admirable simplicity, “to offer you an apology for my rotten behavior, because you know you did rub it in, but I am going to now. And I hope you’ll accept it, because you’ve been so kind to me—much kinder to me than you ought to have been, really.”
“Yes, Lascelles,” said Cheriton, impartially, “I am inclined to take that view myself. But your father was good to me at school; and you are young, and you have talent, and you have a great subject to work upon, and I can’t help feeling that it would be a pity if you lost the opportunity which, in a sense, you have already had the wit to create. Mind, Lascelles, I don’t excuse you in the least. I palliate nothing; take your conduct all round it has been abominable; but in my humble judgment, had it been more correct than it has been I personally should not take such a hopeful view of your future. For you have conformed to my fundamental belief that all the men who are worth anything must begin by breaking the rules. Although have the goodness to remember, my dear Lascelles, when you come to breaking the rules be careful how you do it, for it is very easy to get expelled the school. And should that happen—well, of course, you are done for unless you are able to found a school of your own.”
Jim Lascelles forbore to smile at this piece of didacticism. He was very full of gratitude. The old blighter had behaved so much more nicely than he need have done.