"I defy you to prove any fuss upon Charlie's works!"
"Perhaps not—Where is his study? I should like to see what he has done. Is his pencil always amphibious?"
"Yes; I believe he has never yet painted a landscape, without its portion of water. If you wish to see his study, you must go soon; he sails for Italy next month."
"If his partiality for water is really honest, it may help him on in his profession. Has he a good execution?—that is all-important."
"Decidedly good; and he improves every day. Execution is really all-important to Hubbard; for there can be no doubt that he possesses all an artist's conception."
"I suspect though, his notion about expressive water is not original. It appears to me, some German or other calls water, 'the eyes of a landscape.'"
"Very possibly; but Charlie Hubbard is not the man to steal other people's ideas, and pass them off for his own."
"You make a point of always believing the worst of everybody, Mr.
Stryker," said Mrs. de Vaux.
"I wish I could help it." said the gentleman, raising his eyebrows.
"Suppose, Mr. Hazlehurst, you take him to Mr. Hubbard's studio, and force him to admire that fine picture of Lake Ontario. I should like to see it again, myself; and Mr. de Vaux has been talking of carrying us all to Mr. Hubbard's, some time."