‘What, the Prospero and Miranda I admired so much, papa?’ Amy asked.

’Yes; and he wants another to pair it done within a fortnight, so I must rise early and labour hard, for the days are short; but I was better remunerated than commonly, which makes it worth my while to put myself to a little inconvenience.’

‘You will like to have your coffee at six to-morrow morning, then?’ Amy observed.

‘Yes, child, not a moment later.’

The coffee was prepared to the minute, and, contrary to the expectation of the daughter, her father was up to partake of it; for it was not an uncommon case for him to talk of executing a painting in a hurry, and then be more than usually dilatory in its performance.  In this instance, however, he seemed in earnest, for, after having hastily swallowed his breakfast, he sat down to sketch out the piece.  Amy silently withdrew from the room, not daring at present to broach the subject which was uppermost in her thoughts, and employed herself with her domestic duties till the time when she deemed he would require her assistance in mixing his colours, which was her usual task.

‘It won’t do; the design is bad,’ the artist petulantly exclaimed as his daughter re-entered the apartment, and he dashed his pencil to the ground.

‘What won’t do, dear papa?’ Amy gently inquired.

’I’ve spent the whole night deciding on a subject, and now that I have sketched it, see that it’s not suitable,’ he pettishly made answer.

‘What is it, papa?’

‘Coriolanus and his mother.’

’Well, in my opinion, that would be very appropriate.  As the other was a father and daughter, here is a mother and son; but if you don’t like it, what think you of Lear and Cordelia?’ Amy’s voice faltered, and she dared not raise her eyes from the sketch which she affected to be examining.

‘I’m not in a mood for painting to-day:  I’ll try tomorrow.’

‘But your time, you said, was short,’ Amy ventured to interpose.

‘Well, if I can’t get it done, he must go without it,’ was his irritable reply.  ’I’m not going to be tied down to the easel, whether disposed or not, for such a paltry sum.’

’I thought you told me that this gentleman would remunerate you handsomely?’

‘Handsomely!’ the artist scornfully repeated; ’it is better than I am usually paid, but not a fiftieth part of what I ought to receive.  See how some men, not possessed of half my talent, succeed! but they have the patronage of the great to aid them.’

‘And perhaps brighter days may yet dawn on you, dear father!’ pleaded the daughter.

‘Never!’ and Beaufort rose in haste to attire himself for departure.

‘Papa,’ cried Amy, gently catching his arm, ’will you just stay for a few minutes; I have something to say to you;’ and a deep flush of crimson suffused her cheek as she spoke.  Beaufort turned hesitatingly.  ‘It is my birthday,’ she pursued—­’ I am this day nineteen.’