BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 139
Philip went to his studio on that memorable next day, unhitched his bell, wrote "Out" on his wicket, locked his door, put the key in his pocket, and entered upon a reflective solitude.
The Regent's Park studios were a pretty, red-brick cluster of buildings north of Primrose Hill, designed and erected for art work, and for personal comfort, by an enterprising architect who recognized the progressive movement of the times, and in the right spirit provided a calm retreat for workers who could afford to pay a fair rent for their accommodation. The studios had a general portal, in which resided the porter and his wife, who kept a small staff of servants for the purpose of attending to the domestic and culinary requirements of the tenants. Passing through this general portal which had its gates and hours on the principle of an old-fashioned college or inn, you came into a courtyard, around which the studios were ranged, each with its individual retiring rooms and offices. Some of the men lived there altogether; one occupant, after some protests and difficulties with the landlord, had been permitted to bring home his wife there; another house was occupied by a lady artist, and thus the humanizing influence of woman had entered through the general portal, and given a pleasant tone to the place. From the moment that Hymen had come in there, aesthetic blinds, red-raddled flower pots, outside mats, birds in cages, and gay flower-beds had appeared; while the harmless, necessary cat had had a ribbon tied round its neck, and the colony had made itself look just as gay and merry as it undoubtedly was. There had been little luncheons and an occasional reception prior to the entrance of Hymen with his torch; but they were as nothing compared with the gatherings which had made the place musical and floral in these latter days, when the Regent's Park studios have become famous not only for the work they turn out, but
