childish amazement, and the hurt and offended silence which lasted
all that morning, but which, if he noticed at all, was doubtless
entirely gratifying to him.

"May I rest?"

"If it's necessary."

She sprang lightly to the floor walked around behind him, and stood
looking at his work.

"Do you want to know my opinion?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, with unexpected urbanity; "if you are clever enough
to have an opinion. What is it?"

She said, looking at the wax figure of herself and speaking with
deliberation:

"In the last hour you have made out of a rather commonplace study an
entirely spontaneous and charming creation."

"What!" he exclaimed, his face reddening with pleasure at her
opinion, and with surprise at her mode of expressing it.

"It's quite true. That dancing figure is wholly charming. It is no
study; it is pure creation."

He knew it; was a little thrilled that she, representing to him an
average and mediocre public, should recognize it so intelligently.