“You are very kind to me,” said Helen.
“That is my duty. You have promised to be my little sister, you know.”
“Have you begun a new picture yet?”
“Not yet. I thought I could see where I might make some alterations for the better in the picture you have seen. I shall try to get it admitted to the Academy by and by, unless I succeed first in obtaining a purchaser.”
“It is so beautiful, I should think it would be easy to find a purchaser.”
“If all looked at it with your partial eyes, Helen. But I have no reputation, and an established name goes a great ways.”
“But you will become famous some day.”
“I hope so, but it will be many years first. I must work for bread and butter before I work for fame.”
“Can’t you work for both at the same time?”
“I hope so. But sometimes an artist, under the spur of necessity, is compelled to deny his highest aspirations, and work for present profit. From that temptation I am relieved at present,” the young man added, laughing, “since my pencil is not yet in demand.”