"Now," said he, trying to look wise, "Miss Fanny, just stand with
flowers in your hand while I paint you like a grand lady; and one of you
quiz the work as it goes on, and the other pretend to be in raptures
with the portrait."
"Will you write her name under it, when it's done?" asked Bobby Butt,
who was always ready with his fun.
"No," answered Richard, laughingly; "I shall make it a speaking
likeness."
"Well, I'm glad of that," returned the lady; "for I shouldn't like to be
taken with my mouth shut."
So they went to work.
Richard looked at the lady very sharp, particularly with his right
eye,--you can see him; and Bob took a penny out of his pocket and held
it in front of him as if it were an eye-glass; and Frank put his right
leg out, and bent forward and said every now and then, "To a T!"
"Charming!" "Nature improved!" and other such flatteries.
It was very well to say all this; but the truth must be told: when
Richard had painted the lady's head and neck, he had no more room on the
canvas; and what was done was so ugly, that the subject threw her
bouquet at it. Then Richard sent it back again, at which she boxed his
ears.
"It certainly is like nothing in the world," said Bob, putting his hands
before his eyes as he looked at the smudges.
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