"Madam," said he, sternly, "there is a wild beast more cruel and savage than wolves and bears; it is called 'a rival,' and don't you get in its way." At this moment, in spite of Triplet's precaution, Mrs.Vane, casting her eye accidentally round, caught sight of the picture, and instantly started up, crying, "She is there!" Triplet was thunderstruck.

"What likeness!" cried she, and moved toward the supposed picture.
"Don't go to it!" cried Triplet, aghast; "the color is wet." She stopped; but her eye and her very soul dwelt upon the supposed picture; and Triplet stood quaking.

"How like! It seems to breathe.

You are a great painter, sir.

A glass is not truer." Triplet, hardly knowing what he said, muttered something about "critics and lights and shades." "Then they are blind!" cried Mabel, never for a moment removing her eye from the object.