150 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.
day without luncheon, and not even open your newspapers i This will not do, Phil, even when a young fellow is in love. So you have been working on the sketch, have you? Humph ! I don't think I should touch it any more ; get at the picture, dear old chap, that's the thing to do now. And I have tremendous news for you ! "
" Indeed ? "
" Yes, dress, and I'll tell you as we go Dorset-square."
Philip lighted another lamp, and went into the next room.
" I shall smoke while you dress."
" All right," said Philip, " but come in."
- ' No, I shall amuse myself with the gold medal ; imagine
you carrying it off, and having a silk rope round the pic- ture at the Burlington house, or at another Gallery we wot of if you like."
" But what is the news? " asked Philip, now busy dress- ing.
" Great news, Phil ; the making of your picture. I shall not tell you until you are dressed."
Philip, now thoroughly aroused, was fairly back again in the every-day world ; he put his head into the washing bowl, and was soon all aglow ; it did not take him ten minutes to dress, and the porter's wife answered the bell with unwonted alacrity.
" I have a hansom at the gate," said Dick, when Philip asked the porter's wife to have one ordered.
The attendant being gone, " now," said Philip, " what is your news, Dick ? "
" Let me help you on with your overcoat ; it's a cold night, bright starlight, frosty ; you must not get a chill."
"Oh, I'm all right," said Phil.
" But you do not exactly belong to yourself any more, you know; you have to take care, for Dolly's sake."
" Very well," replied Phil, just a little impatiently ; " let me shut the door ; all right, mind the step."
