"No doubt; but if you could make up your mind to be less charming for half an hour, you might have the honours of the game oftener."
"I must gain the battle my own way, Mr. Stryker, or not at all."
"I leave you to your fate, then," said the gentleman, turning away.
Charlie, Elinor, Harry, and Jane were quietly talking together; Jane having now resumed her place in the family circle. They were speaking of Charlie's sketches, and the young widow asked if he ever painted portraits now; Miss Wyllys {sic} wished to have her's taken, before she left them to return to her parents.
{"Miss Wyllys" = should read Jane (or Mrs. Taylor); Elinor Wyllys is an orphan}
"You do paint portraits," said Elinor; "I have seen those of your mother and Miss Patsey."
Charlie changed colour, and hastily denied any claim to be called a portrait-painter.
"Yet it would be pleasant," said Elinor, "to have a picture of my cousin painted by you."
Jane observed she should like to have Elinor's, by the same hand.
"Oh, my portrait would not be worth having," said Elinor, smiling; "certainly not if taken by an honest artist."