It's--but I dare say it's my fault," he replied, in that tone which clearly implies the opposite of what is asserted.
"It must be, I think," said Claudia gently.

"You see, it interests so many people, Mr.Morewood." "Not artists." "Dear me! no!" "Whom, then ?" "Oh, the nobility and gentry." "And clergy ?" A shadow passed across her face--but a fleeting shadow.
"You paint very slowly," she said.
"I do when I am not inspired.

I hate painting young women." "Oh! Why ?" "They're not meant to be painted; they're meant to be kissed." "Does the one exclude the other ?" "That's for you to say," said Morewood, with a grin.
"I think they're meant to be painted by some people, and kissed by other people.

Let the cobbler stick to his last, Mr.Morewood." "I wonder if you'll stick to your last," said Morewood.
Claudia decided that she had better not see this joke, if the contemptible quip could be so called.

It was very impertinent, and she had no retort ready.