Then she will pack up those pitiful attempts of hers and take them home to New York, and spend a whole season in glorious apology for them." Elfrida looked at him steadily for an instant.

Then she laughed lightly.

"Thanks," she said.

"I see you had not forgotten my telling you that Lucien said she painted better than I did." Kendal wondered whether he had really meant to go so far.

"I am sorry," he said, "but I am afraid I had not forgotten it." "Well, you would not say it out of ill-nature.