Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 302: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

304 “ Humph!” said Jack. “ Not badly done. I'll wager but the dame for which this is 1n- tended to be the representative doubtless thinks herself better looking than the picture. ‘The features are coarse, and what woman ever be- lieved her own to be so? Now, what will he get for that, I wonder? I am curious to know. Ten guineas, perhaps, or about a third of what. it is worth; for J’?d almost swear the possessor of a face like that is not troubled with a bene- volent heart. Hallo! here’s someone coming ! Now, Jack, you are in for it !”’ He let the covering fall quickly before the easel, and darted behind it as the lock in the door clicked. The next moment the door opened, and a tall woman, between fifty and sixty years of age, entered the room, followed by a young man attired in a brown holland blouse, secured at the waist by a leathern belt, and a red skull- cap surmounting locks of raven black, which curled around his neck. “The artist,” muttered Jack; “and, as I live, his model! ” “No more sittings, madam, will be neces- sary,’ said the youno- man. “The portrait re- quires but a few touches now, to render it com- plete.” : “But do you think it is like me, Mr. Delain 2” saidathe lady. “Most certainly ; but of course it would be better you asked the opinion of some other per- son than the artist. I believe it to be one of the best my pencil has produced. Your glass, madam, will tell you how like it is.” Don’t you think it is a little too old ?”’ said the lady. The artist smiled. “You desired a true portrait, madam. I did not presume to act otherwise than from your orders.” “Yes, yes,” said the lady. ‘Of course I desired a life-like portrait ; but I think, sir, you have been at fault in some parts. The features are too large, the expression harsh, and, in fact, it would almost seem I had heen very ill when the picture was painted, and I never looked better.” “You look at if with a prejudiced eye, madam,’ said Delain. ‘“‘ Please glance at it again, and then at yonder glass, and I am sure you will admit the resemblance to be strikingly true.’ } The young artist uncovered the picture by drawing the cloth on one side, and the lady sitting down in the easy chair, raised her glasses to her eyes, and looked criticisingly at the por- trait. ‘Now, madam, if you will please look into that glass,” said the young man, pointing to a mirror hanging against the wall, “you will favour me.” The lady’s face had been growing black, and 1t was in no very good humour she rose to comply. {twas evident she did not admire the portrait. SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON, poor Mrs. Tomkins, wished others to believe | her younger than she really was. She turned from viewing herself in the mirror, © and beckoned the young artist to her side. Delain suffered the cloth to fall over the picture, an@® obeyed. | ‘“Oblige me, sir, by looking at the reflection of my face in that mirror.”’ Y The artist bowed and complied, and while they both looked into the polished glass, Jack took his penknife from his pocket, and drew the blade over the canvas on which the portrait was painted. : ‘“‘ Now, really, Mr. Delain, you cannot say the face you see in that class is like the face on that canvas ?”’ said the lady. | “Madam, I assure you it is the very counter- part,” was the reply. | “Ts my nose so long and broad?” ™ elt is)” ‘‘ And my mouth so large.” “ Madam, shall I measure it ? ”’ ‘‘'No, sir. But do you wish to make me believe that my lips are so thick and coarse, my brows so lowering, my neck so short, my forehead so heavy ?” ~ ‘“T can only say, madam, that if any person who will speak conscientiously can assert the portrait I have painted is not a life-like and speaking picture of yourself, at your present time - of life, I will paint it out, and do it again for no- thing,” said the artist, evidently grieved at the tones of the lady. vo" ‘Don’t be angry, Mr. Delain,” she said, “we — are none of us right at times—we are all of us liable to err, but you must allow me to be the best judge of my own portrait. I say it is not like me, at least, not so lke as it ought to be, and J think I can point out to you where it is wrong.’ os RW “Tf you can, madam, I shall be happy to learn,” | “Then, sir,’ said the lady, trying to get upa blush, ‘it is too old, many years too old.” = “Madam !” | “Make the picture ten or twelve years younger, and then, I think, it would be as good a portrait as ever was painted,” said the lady. _ “Madam, had you desired the artist to flatter you, he could certainly have done so; but he would have belied his art. If anything, the colouring is in your favour, ‘The hair, too, is not really so silvery as your own.” ar as) ve gene ) “I bee your pardon: but I speak truly, as here is proof I do. Look upon these tints. If you will be seated, you will see these better, and I will explain what I mean.”’ The lady dropped into the chair with a very bad grace, and the young artist again, drawing the cloth ‘from over the portrait, said, placing his finger upon the forehead of the likeness— ‘©To do you justice, I should have placed a deeper tint here.”’ “ And what effect would that have had?” ‘To throw out the wrinkles on the forehead, “Why,” thought Jack, ‘‘ does she think it too | and ’’ —— good, or too true to life? ”’ Such was the case, but the lady’did not ac- | knowledge that she thought it too old; and, like A — . 7 X 7 COMICDOOKS. CO Make me as ugly as ’ —— “ The devil!” cried Jack, thrusting his head’ through the canvas. | : ‘