"That's curious," he muttered.

"Will you do it?" she asked.

He looked away toward the terrace.

"I hadn't planned to do any portraits until Fall."

"Doesn't she interest you?" she continued quickly.

"She's paintable--it would be profitable, of course--"

"You're evading again."

"Yes, she interests me," he said frankly. "She's clever, amiable,
hospitable--and quite irresponsible. But then she would want to be
'pretty.' I'm afraid I should only make her childish."

"Oh, she's prepared for the worst. You had better paint her. It will
do you a lot of good. Besides, you paint better when you're a little
contemptuous."

"I'm not sure that I could take that attitude toward Miss Challoner,"
he said slowly. "She's too good for the crowd she runs with, that's
sure, and--"

"Thanks," laughed Olga. "You always had a neat turn for flattery."

But he didn't laugh.