I told him, however, that we would not part with more than ten canvases, and he seemed glad to buy even that number at a price which was so far in excess of our expectations that I was loath to accept it.

Our beloved "Woman"-- that was the title we had given Rayel's strangely derived conception--was among the paintings included in the sale to Mr.Paddington.

Rayel thought he could reproduce it, and for days after it was gone he made ineffectual efforts to paint another woman after the ideal of our hearts.

But, alas! try as he would, that face never came back to his canvas.

Many beautiful faces were conjured by his masterful touch, but they were other faces, and none of them satisfied us.