Shaking her head, with a serious smile, she returned slowly, "I wish that I could be sure you are not mistaken." "You will permit me to exhibit the picture, will you ?" he asked.
"Why, yes! of course! You made it for people to see, didn't you?
I don't believe any one could look at it seriously without having good thoughts, could they ?" "I'm sure they could not," he answered.

"But, you see, it's a portrait of you; and I thought you might not care for the--ah--" he finished with a smile--"shall I say fame ?" "Oh! I did not think that you would tell any one that _I_ had anything to do with it.

Is it necessary that my name should be mentioned ?" "Not exactly necessary"-- he admitted--"but few women, these days, would miss the opportunity." She shook her head, with a positive air.

"No, no; you must exhibit it as a picture; not as a portrait of me.

The portrait part is of no importance.
It is what you have made your picture say, that will do good." "And what have I made it say ?" he asked, curiously pleased.
"Why it says that--that a woman should be beautiful as the roses are beautiful--without thinking too much about it, you know--just as a man should be strong without thinking too much about his strength, I mean." "Yes," he agreed, "it says that.