“Oh, please don’t refuse. It is always excellent, I assure you.”
Leyland looked still more uncomfortable.
Up jumped Jimmy, fetched his bag, and proceeded to untie his parcels, saying:
“It’s all right, old chap, have no anxiety; it is my lunch, not yours, and you are heartily welcome to it.”
When the work was accomplished which had taken so long Leyland wished to pay the bill, and asked the artist what was his figure.
“I have worked a whole year and more,” Whistler said. “I consider my services are worth two thousand pounds a year, therefore the figure is two thousand five hundred pounds, from which you can deduct the few hundreds you have given me on account.”
Leyland was horrified.
“Preposterous!” he said, “perfectly preposterous!”
Jimmy looked at him and drew himself up to his full height, which was not great.
“I beg, Mr. Leyland, that you will accept as a gift the entire work of my life for the last year and a quarter. I can compromise nothing.”