"I must risk it. Hyacinthus is to be in white, and must look radiantly, gloriously happy."
"I say, do you want me to look radiantly, gloriously happy-because that will be rather difficult just now."
"As far as you can. You see, the point is that he was struck and killed in the moment of supreme confidence and light-hearted joy."
"How very uncomfortable! Is that to be my fate?" I said laughing.
"Well, will you, Victor?"
"Will I what?"
"Take your seat here, now, and let me sketch you?"
"Certainly; but I thought you said he was to be standing?"
"I don't think I can take you for the whole figure. You are too much occupied to be able to spare the time. And I can find another model for the figure. I should like to take you for the whole, but you may be going away or something before the painting is finished. But in any case I have set my heart on giving him your head and neck."
"You flatter me awfully," I returned. "You shall have them—but that wretched Nous is outside all this time. May I let him in?"