And, with a few magical touches, he stamped the fleeting expression on the canvass.
"I have it too!" exclaimed Hogarth, busily plying his pencil. "Gad! it's a devilish fine face when lit up."
"As like as life, Sir," observed Austin, peeping over Thornhill's shoulder at the portrait. "As like as life."
"The very face," exclaimed Gay, advancing to look at it;—"with all the escapes written in it."
"You flatter me," smiled Sir James. "But, I own, I think it is like."
"What do you think of my sketch, Jack?" said Hogarth, handing him the drawing.
"It's like enough, I dare say," rejoined Sheppard. "But it wants something here." And he pointed significantly to the hand.
"I see," rejoined Hogarth, rapidly sketching a file, which he placed in the hands of the picture. "Will that do?" he added, returning it.
"It's better," observed Sheppard, meaningly. "But you've given me what I don't possess."
"Hum!" said Hogarth, looking fixedly at him. "I don't see how I can improve it."