The two ladies had been in the church when he arrived; women liked to sit in churches; they had been there more than half an hour, and the mother had not enough of it even yet.

The young lady, however, at present preferred the view that Longueville was painting; he became aware that she had placed herself in the very centre of his foreground.

His first feeling was that she would spoil it; his second was that she would improve it.

Little by little she turned more into profile, leaning only one arm upon the parapet, while the other hand, holding her folded parasol, hung down at her side.

She was motionless; it was almost as if she were standing there on purpose to be drawn.