"
Triplet gave her a knife, and looked confused, while she cut away the
face of the picture, and by dint of scraping, cutting, and measuring, got
her face two parts through the canvas. She then made him take his brush
and paint all round her face, so that the transition might not be too
abrupt. Several yards of green baize were also produced. This was to be
disposed behind the easel, so as to conceal her.
Triplet painted here, and touched and retouched there. While thus
occupied, he said, in his calm, resigned way: "It won't do, madam. I
suppose you know that?"
"I know nothing," was the reply: "life is a guess. I don't think we could
deceive Roxalana and Lucy this way, because their eyes are without
colored spectacles; but, when people have once begun to see by prejudices
and judge by jargon what can't be done with them? Who knows? do you? I
don't; so let us try."
"I beg your pardon, madam; my brush touched your face."
"No offense, sir; I am used to that. And I beg, if you can't tone the
rest of the picture up to me, that you will instantly tone me down to the
rest. Let us be in tune, whatever it costs, sir."
"I will avail myself of the privilege, madam, but sparingly. Failure,
which is certain, madam, will cover us with disgrace."
"Nothing is certain in this life, sir, except that you are a goose. It
succeeded in France; and England can match all Europe for fools.
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