Mrs. Chiverly left her seat and approached the visitor. She was a little piqued at his remark.
"Some pictures have a meaning," she said, "which is not apparent to every one at first sight."
"You are correct, madam," said the visitor.
"This painting, for instance," continued Mrs. Chiverly, "represents the seven ages of trees." And then with as much readiness as Jacques detailed the seven ages of man to the duke, she pointed out in the trees of the picture the counterparts of these ages.
"Madam," said the visitor, "you delight me. I admit that I utterly failed to see the point of this picture; but now that I am aware of its meaning I understand its apparent incongruities. Meaning despises locality."
"You are right," said Mrs. Chiverly, earnestly. "Meaning is above everything."
"Madam," said the gentleman, his eyes still fixed upon the canvass, "as a student of Shakespeare, as well as a collector, in a small way, of works of art, I desire to have this picture, provided its price is not beyond my means."
Mrs. Chiverly gazed at him in an uncertain way. She did not seem to take in the import of his remark.
From her easel Ardis now named the price which Mr. Chiverly had fixed upon for the picture. He never finished a painting without stating very emphatically what he intended to ask for it.
"That is reasonable," said the gentleman, "and you may consider the picture mine." And he handed Mrs. Chiverly his card. Then, imbued with a new interest in the studio, he walked about looking at others of the pictures.