He listened patiently and with unbroken attention.

When I had finished, he laid one hand on my shoulder, and said gently: "'Young man, pardon me if I say that up to the present your career has been an inactive, useless, selfish "kicking against the pricks," as St.
Paul says.

You set before yourself a task of noble effort, namely, to discover the secret of colouring as known to the old masters; and because you meet with the petty difficulty of modern trade adulteration in your materials, you think that there is no chance--that all is lost.
Fie! Do you think Nature is overcome by a few dishonest traders?
She can still give you in abundance the unspoilt colours she gave to Raphael and Titian; but not in haste--not if you vulgarly scramble for her gifts in a mood that is impatient of obstacle and delay.

"Ohne hast, ohne rast," is the motto of the stars.

Learn it well.