These statements silenced all objections; and the young lady was accordingly much better known in the painter's house as "Madonna" than as "Mary." On now entering the studio, she walked up to Valentine, laid a hand lightly on each of his shoulders, and so lifted herself to be kissed on the forehead.

Then she looked down on his palette, and observing that some colors were still missing from it, began to search for them directly in the painting-box.

She found them in a moment, and appealed to Mr.Blyth with an arch look of inquiry and triumph.

He nodded, smiled, and held out his palette for her to put the colors on it herself.

Having done this very neatly and delicately, she next looked round the room, and at once observed the bust of Venus placed on the office stool.
At the same time, Mr.Blyth, who saw the direction taken by her eyes, handed to her a port-crayon with some black chalk, which he had been carefully cutting to a point for the last minute or two.