"Say, but you look good enough to eat!" the youth remarked appreciatively.
Adelle laughed at the compliment.
"Why are you always thinking of eating?" she asked.
"I guess because a good meal don't often come my way," he yawned in reply.
Adelle wanted to find out why this was so, but could not frame her question to her satisfaction. Archie happened to be in one of those rare moments of melancholy introspection when he doubted even his divine calling to art. He was really hungry and somewhat cold, and life did not seem inviting.
"I don't know," he observed after a time, "as this art game is all it looks to be from a distance—that is," he added, watching Adelle with appreciative eyes, "unless you happen to have the dough to support it on the side."
"Aren't you painting?" Adelle asked after another pause.
"Nope!"
"Why not?"
"I can't paint when I'm feeling bad."