174 BY ORDER OF THE CZAR.
The mouth fell into an expression of despair,, and the eyes looked up with a tearful idea of pain in them ; the hair fell around the pale beautiful features. Philip gazed but did not paint.
" Why do you pause ? will you not have me for your model ? Do I not act well ? "
Then she arose from the crouching attitude she had assumed and laughed almost hysterically.
" You cannot realize that I who am so gay and rich and so high-born should act such a part as the miserable wo- man of the prison the lash perhaps. Well, you are right do not alter the picture ; it has all the spirit of the misery of persecution outrage, the rod, the lash ; you have felt it in your heart ; I am glad I have seen what you feel ; but go seek the wretched, not the happy such as I for your model ! "
She was putting on her bonnet.
" But you are not going ? " exclaimed the artist.
" Why not ? " she said ; " you will not paint me. You do not think I can be of use in your picture ! "
11 Forgive me, " he said, " you have perplexed me ; I was not prepared for so wonderful a realization of the woman I saw at the Opera the face I have tried to paint."
"Some other day, then," she said, "when we are both less embarrassed. I have other engagements a luncheon, dinner, a dance and I must get up my Society spirits, eh ? It is not for me to think of such sorrowful things."
She comprehended in a long sweeping action of her arm Philip's entire sketch.-
" You are angry with me," said Philip.
" No, no," she said, " I am never angry ; despair is not anger ; revenge is not anger ; longing is not anger. Ah ! I see I bewilder you ! Thank you."
She had pointed to her cape ; Philip assisted her to put it on.
