He apologized for his intrusion, and said he was only come for a book; but when he had got it, he condescended to cast a glance over my picture.

Being a man of taste, he had something to say on this subject as well as another, and having modestly commented on it, without much encouragement from me, he proceeded to expatiate on the art in general.

Receiving no encouragement in that either, he dropped it, but did not depart.
'You don't give us much of your company, Mrs.Huntingdon,' observed he, after a brief pause, during which I went on coolly mixing and tempering my colours; 'and I cannot wonder at it, for you must be heartily sick of us all.

I myself am so thoroughly ashamed of my companions, and so weary of their irrational conversation and pursuits--now that there is no one to humanize them and keep them in check, since you have justly abandoned us to our own devices--that I think I shall presently withdraw from amongst them, probably within this week; and I cannot suppose you will regret my departure.' He paused.

I did not answer.
'Probably,' he added, with a smile, 'your only regret on the subject will be that I do not take all my companions along with me.