"And how you have improved it this sitting! Why, last time I thought there was no more to do to it, but now it is life itself."
"You flatter me, Helen," said McGuilp; "for I assure you that the portrait is still in a most crude and unfinished state."
"How say you?—still unfinished?" cried Helen. "Well, if you go on at that rate, by next sitting I shall expect to hear it speak."
"Come, Helen," said her mother, "we must be off, for we have no time to lose. Another time, when we have less to do, I shall be most happy to let you assist the gentleman to finish his pictur'," and curtseying to McGuilp, she led her daughter out of the room, while the painter was left to the uninspired operations of cleaning his palette and brushes, and putting his studio in order previous to joining the other members of the club.
FOOTNOTES:
[7] A paul is half a franc.
[8] A corruption of the word compare (godfather) which is used as a familiar appellation among the peasantry, even when no such relations exists between them.
[9] Paini, the grade between a peasant and a gentleman.
[10] A sort of pudding made of chestnut flour.
[11] A species of cake made of Indian corn, used much among the Italian peasantry, being cheaper than bread.