It was during one of these lapses that Carlos failed to note the appearance of a phenomenon. This consisted of a very dirty girl who was leading—or being led by—a little white dog on a long rope, who, strangely enough, was as clean as his mistress was dirty. The two came charging down the path toward Carlos, evidently expecting to go past him on the left. But just before they reached him, the little dog with all the unexpectedness of little dogs darted to the right. The next moment Carlos was startled to feel his feet being jerked backward and wound up tightly in several yards of cotton clothesline on one end of which was a little girl, who was the most striking surprise of all. In spite of an evident absence of any recent ablution her features had a peculiarly charming grace which was surprising under the circumstances and so pleasant that Carlos found suddenly that he wanted to paint it.
When the child straightened up from her task of unwinding the little white dog, which she now held in her arms, she was adorable as she tried confusedly to explain and apologize for what had happened.
“Never mind that—I don’t appear to be any the worse. But would you mind telling me your name?”
The vision was entirely agreeable.
“It’s Rosalie,” she replied. “At least I think so. I haven’t no father or mother. I live with Aunt Bess, but Toots is my dog.”
“I’d like to paint a picture of you, Rosalie. That’s my business, you see; I’m an artist—or supposed to be. Do you think your aunt would let you come up to my house to-morrow afternoon, and would you like to?”
The child stared open eyed, but she quickly assimilated the facts. Her reply was frank.
“Sure I would. Aunt Bess don’t care where I go. Will you have some cookies? What do you want to paint me for?”
“Yes, there might be something to eat. Then you will come? That’s fine. My house is at 16 West 5—th Street. Can you remember that, Rosalie?” The child nodded. “Then I’ll expect you at two o’clock to-morrow afternoon.”
Carlos walked home in high spirits. The child’s face had so impressed him that it seemed as if he could never wait till the next day. Eloise was still at the apartment. To her he recounted his find in such glowing terms that she began to share his enthusiasm and help him make his plans.