Sophy's gaze rested on him most benignly.
"Just so," said Vance; "and now be silent till I have got the attitude and fixed the look." The artist sketched away rapidly with a bold practised hand, and all was silent for about half-an-hour, when he said, "You May get up, Lionel; I have done with you for the present." SOPHY.--"And me too--may I see ?" VANCE.--"No, but you may talk now.

So you had a doll?
What has become of it ?" SOPHY.--"I left it behind, sir.

Grandfather thought it would distract me from attending to his lessons and learning my part." VANCE.--"You love your grandfather more than the doll ?" SOPHY.--"Oh! a thousand million million times more." VANCE.--"He brought you up, I suppose?
Have you no father,--no mother ?" SOPHY.--"I have only Grandfather." LIONEL.--"Have you always lived with him ?" SOPHY.--"Dear me, no; I was with Mrs.Crane till Grandfather came from abroad, and took me away, and put me with some very kind people; and then, when Grandfather had that bad accident, I came to stay with him, and we have been together ever since." LIONEL.--"Was Mrs.Crane no relation of yours ?" SOPHY.--"No, I suppose not, for she was not kind; I was so miserable: but don't talk of it; I forget that now.

I only wish to remember from the time Grandfather took me in his lap, and told me to be a good child and love him; and I have been happy ever since." "You are a dear good child," said Lionel, emphatically, "and I wish I had you for my sister." VANCE.--"When your grandfather has received from me that exorbitant--not that I grudge it--sum, I should like to ask, What will he do with it?
As he said it was a secret, I must not pump you." SOPHY.--"What will he do with it?
I should like to know, too, sir; but whatever it is I don't care, so long as I and Grandfather are together." Here Waife re-entered.

"Well, how goes on the picture ?" VANCE.--"Tolerably, for the first sitting; I require two more." WAIFE.--"Certainly; only--only" (he drew aside Vance, and whispered), "only the day after to-morrow, I fear I shall want the money.