Although she is after all--a cow." He laughed again, and, fearing to brush away with his sleeve the drawing on the slate, he cautiously placed it in the corner.
Here I did that which my duty compelled me to do.

Seizing the slate, I smashed it to pieces with a powerful blow.

I thought that the artist would rush upon me furiously, but he did not.

To his weak mind my act seemed so blasphemous, so supernaturally horrible, that his deathlike lips could not utter a word.
"What have you done ?" he asked at last in a low voice.

"You have broken it ?" And raising my hand I replied solemnly: "Foolish youth, I have done that which I would have done to my heart if it wanted to jest and mock me! Unfortunate youth, can you not see that your art has long been mocking you, that from that slate of yours the devil himself was making hideous faces at you ?" "Yes.