第75部分(第4/8 頁)

“With　pleasure；”　I　replied；　and　I　felt　a　thrill　of　artist—delight　at　the　idea　of　copying　from　so　perfect　and　radiant　a　model。　She　had　then　on　a　dark…blue　silk　dress；　her　arms　and　her　neck　were　bare；　her　only　ornament　was　her　chestnut　tresses；　which　waved　over　her　shoulders　with　all　the　wild　grace　of　natural　curls。　I　took　a　sheet　of　fine　card…board；　and　drew　a　careful　outline。　I　promised　myself　the　pleasure　of　colouring　it；　and；　as　it　was　getting　late　then；　I　told　her　she　must　e　and　sit　another　day。

She　made　such　a　report　of　me　to　her　father；　that　Mr。　Oliver　himself　acpanied　her　next　evening—a　tall；　massive…featured；　middle…aged；　and　grey…headed　man；　at　whose　side　his　lovely　daughter　looked　like　a　bright　flower　near　a　hoary　turret。　He　appeared　a　taciturn；　and　perhaps　a　proud　personage；　but　he　was　very　kind　to　me。　The　sketch　of　Rosamond’s　portrait　pleased　him　highly：　he　said　I　must　make　a　finished　picture　of　it。　He　insisted；　too；　on　my　ing　the　next　day　to　spend　the　evening　at　Vale　Hall。

I　went。　I　found　it　a　large；　handsome　residence；　showing　abundant　evidences　of　wealth　in　the　proprietor。　Rosamond　was　full　of　glee　and　pleasure　all　the　time　I　stayed。　Her　father　was　affable；　and　when　he　entered　into　conversation　with　me　after　tea；　he　expressed　in　strong　terms　his　approbation　of　what　I　had　done　in　Morton　school；　and　said　he　only　feared；　from　what　he　saw　and　heard；　I　was　too　good　for　the　place；　and　ore　suitable。

“Indeed；”　cried　Rosamond；　“she　is　clever　enou