Fenwick's Career

by Mrs. Humphry Ward

And then the maidens in a double row,
Each singing soft and low,
And each on high a torch upstaying:
Unto her lover lead her forth with light,
With music, and with singing, and with praying.

'Here is the finished sketch,' he said, placing it in her hands and watching her eagerly.

She bent over it in emotion, conscious of that natural delight of woman when she has fired an artist.

'How fine!—and how you must have worked!'

'Night and day. It possessed me. I didn't want you to see it yet a while. But you understand?—it is to be romantic—not sentimental. Strong form. Every figure discriminated, and yet kept subordinate to the whole. No monotony! Character everywhere—expressing grief—and longing. An evening light-between sunset and moonrise. The sky gold—and the torches. Then below—in the crowd, the autumn woods, the distant River of Death, towards which the procession moves—a massing of blues and purples'—his hand—pointing—worked rapidly over the canvas; 'and here, some pale rose, black, emerald green, dimly woven in—and lastly, the whites of the bride-maidens, and of the bride upon her bier—towards which, of course, the whole construction mounts.'

'I see!—a sort of Mantegna Triumph—with a difference!'

'The drawing's all right,' said Fenwick, with a long breath, and a stretch. 'If I can only get the paint as I want it'—he stooped forward again peering into the canvas—'it's the handling of the paint—that's what excites me! I want to get it broad and pure—no messing—no working over!—a fine surface!—and yet none of your waxy prettiness. The forms like Millet—simple—but full of knowledge. Ah!'—he took up a brush, flung it down bitterly, and turned on his heel—'I can draw!—but why did no one ever teach me to paint?'

Eugénie lifted her eyebrows—amused at the sudden despair. Lord Findon laughed. He had restrained himself so far with difficulty while these two romanced; and now, bursting with his tidings, he laid a hand on Fenwick:—

'Look here, young man—we didn't come just on the loose—to bother you. Have you heard—?'

Fenwick made a startled movement.