"No; seriously," Jean laughed.
He changed the topic.
"Is the portrait coming on?" he asked.
"Craig is despondent."
"Good thing!" he ejaculated. "Stimulates the gray matter." His face went awry, however, when she mentioned Julie's theory and practice. "So it's the tea-drinking Mrs. Joyce-Reeves our mighty painter thinks most important," he broke out acidly, after violent bottling of comment more pungent. "Fine! What insight! What originality!"
Jean's eyes snapped loyally.
"Don't be disagreeable," she retorted. "You know Craig doesn't think anything of the kind."
They separated with scant courtesy, but she had not quitted the park before MacGregor's tall figure again towered over her.
"Enlighten the brute a little further," he said with elaborate meekness. "What is to become of your work? Richter says you haven't darkened his door since your marriage."
"Four whole weeks!"