登陆注册
5455200000010

第10章

"You have a good eye for a likeness," he said; "and you have made it keep you hitherto. Very well. Make it keep you still. You can't profitably caricature people's faces any longer--never mind! go to the other extreme, and flatter them now. Turn portrait-painter. You shall have the use of this study three days in the week, for ten shillings a week--sleeping on the hearth-rug included, if you like. Get your paints, rouse up your friends, set to work at once. Drawing is of no consequence; painting is of no consequence; perspective is of no consequence; ideas are of no consequence. Everything is of no consequence, except catching a likeness and flattering your sitter--and that you know you can do."I felt that I could; and left him for the nearest colorman's.

Before I got to the shop, I met Mr. Batterbury taking his walking exercise. He stopped, shook hands with me affectionately, and asked where I was going. A wonderful idea struck me. Instead of answering his question, I asked after Lady Malkinshaw.

"Don't be alarmed," said Mr. Batterbury; "her ladyship tumbled downstairs yesterday morning.""My dear sir, allow me to congratulate you!""Most fortunately," continued Mr. Batterbury, with a strong emphasis on the words, and a fixed stare at me; "most fortunately, the servant had been careless enough to leave a large bundle of clothes for the wash at the foot of the stairs, while she went to answer the door. Falling headlong from the landing, her ladyship pitched (pardon me the expression)--pitched into the very middle of the bundle. She was a little shaken at the time, but is reported to be going on charmingly this morning.

Most fortunate, was it not? Seen the papers? Awful news from Demerara--the yellow fever--""I wish I was at Demerara," I said, in a hollow voice.

"You! Why?" exclaimed Mr. Batterbury, aghast.

"I am homeless, friendless, penniless," I went on, getting more hollow at every word. "All my intellectual instincts tell me that I could retrieve my position and live respectably in the world, if I might only try my hand at portrait-painting--the thing of all others that I am naturally fittest for. But I have nobody to start me; no sitter to give me a first chance; nothing in my pocket but three-and-sixpence; and nothing in my mind but a doubt whether I shall struggle on a little longer, or end it immediately in the Thames. Don't let me detain you from your walk, my dear sir. I'm afraid Lady Malkinshaw will outlive me, after all!""Stop!" cried Mr. Batterbury; his mahogany face actually getting white with alarm. "Stop! Don't talk in that dreadfully unprincipled manner--don't, I implore, I insist! You have plenty of friends--you have me, and your sister. Take to portrait-painting--think of your family, and take to portrait-painting!""Where am I to get a sitter?' I inquired, with a gloomy shake of the head.

"Me," said Mr. Batterbury, with an effort. "I'll be your first sitter. As a beginner, and especially to a member of the family, I suppose your terms will be moderate. Small beginnings--you know the proverb?" Here he stopped; and a miserly leer puckered up his mahogany cheeks.

"I'll do you, life-size, down to your waistcoat, for fifty pounds," said I.

Mr. Batterbury winced, and looked about him to the right and left, as if he wanted to run away. He had five thousand a year, but he contrived to took, at that moment, as if his utmost income was five hundred. I walked on a few steps.

"Surely those terms are rather high to begin with?" he said, walking after me. "I should have thought five-and-thirty, or perhaps forty--""A gentleman, sir, cannot condescend to bargain," said I, with mournful dignity. "Farewell!" I waved my hand, and crossed over the way.

"Don't do that!" cried Mr. Batterbury. "I accept. Give me your address. I'll come tomorrow. Will it include the frame! There!

there! it doesn't include the frame, of course. Where are you going now? To the colorman? He doesn't live in the Strand, Ihope--or near one of the bridges. Think of Annabella, think of the family, think of the fifty pounds--an income, a year's income to a prudent man. Pray, pray be careful, and compose your mind:

promise me, my dear, dear fellow--promise me, on your word of honor, to compose your mind!"I left him still harping on that string, and suffering, Ibelieve, the only serious attack of mental distress that had ever affected him in the whole course of his life.

Behold me, then, now starting afresh in the world, in the character of a portrait-painter; with the payment of my remuneration from my first sitter depending whimsically on the life of my grandmother. If you care to know how Lady Malkinshaw's health got on, and how I succeeded in my new profession, you have only to follow the further course of these confessions, in the next chapter.

同类推荐
  • Heart of the West

    Heart of the West

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 根本说一切有部略毗奈耶杂事摄颂

    根本说一切有部略毗奈耶杂事摄颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 李侍郎使北录

    李侍郎使北录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 增订叶评伤暑全书

    增订叶评伤暑全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 曲藻

    曲藻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 六十种曲红拂记

    六十种曲红拂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 步步生莲:废柴小姐要逆天

    步步生莲:废柴小姐要逆天

    她本是最负盛名的生物研究专家,一朝穿越,成了个哑巴也就算了,还是个软弱可欺手无缚鸡之力的小废物?灵魂归位,说她奇丑无比?不好意思,一个抬眸,万千美男为之倾倒!说她天生废柴?抱歉,左手灵力,右手念力,打得你跪地求饶找妈咪!说她没有灵兽?麻烦让一让,我家神兽要过路!本来只想还个人情,却不料自此被一无赖缠上:“不如姑娘以身相许?”颜玖衿:“……”不我只想下辈子做牛做马来还您这份人情!“做牛做马?这种耗费体力的事情还是为夫来做吧!”“混蛋!”老娘的腰……
  • 大荒之妖孽归来

    大荒之妖孽归来

    守护华夏,人人有责!
  • 变身王爷

    变身王爷

    古有七岁校书郎,今有七岁少年将。你家王爷来自现代!看好了,本王给你等办个现代军营!某女得瑟滴说。打江山,定乾坤;创帝国,开盛世。N年后……什么?王爷是女人?!一直六宫无妃的皇上惊震中凌乱了……(情节虚构,切勿模仿)
  • 秘婚成瘾

    秘婚成瘾

    肖佳佳想着那个肉麻的情书、妈妈愤怒的眼神、男孩子那种惊恐的眼神,就觉得时光匆匆过,自己也曾恋爱过,光阴如梭,怎么自己就剩下了呢。看着大学毕业后同学和闺蜜们相继结婚生子,她开始害怕同学聚会了,总是自己一个人去。可是一次老套情节的英雄救美,她认识他,他们就这样开始了,他眼神中出现了她的影子,她的心里为他了留着位置。新时代谁有女人就不能主动向男人说“我们结婚吧”……
  • 重生空间之破界传

    重生空间之破界传

    前世冷茗卿错把仇人当亲人,含冤死在小人手里,重活一世,不仅获得混沌空间,更是修炼一身本事。这一世誓要将小人狠踩脚下,追求修仙大道。人不犯我我不犯人,重生归来且看冷茗卿如何打破常规,凭借一介凡人登顶修炼巅峰。
  • 助鬼师已上线

    助鬼师已上线

    遇到死对头周易后,她有了新目标,怼他,抽他,弄死他!
  • 腹黑王爷独宠邪医妃

    腹黑王爷独宠邪医妃

    一个朝夕,她从顶级杀手变为不能修炼的废物,呵呵呵,宝宝怎么不知道自己是废物,哼!敢讽刺我,找死!!!带着奇异空间穿越,带着灵宠修炼,一跃成为鬼才,令天才羡慕,但更招惹了一腹黑男,成为一人之下,万人之上的王妃,令众人眼红。“王爷,王妃去了暻彧阁!”“不妨事,王妃身手不错。”却不想某日,某王爷被他所说的这个“身手不错”的王妃吊打:“王爷,听说你前几日新收了几个舞姬?”看着王妃轻咪着的眼,某王爷深知不妙。 “王爷,王妃和太子妃在宫里打起来了!” “什么!!快带人去。”“去哪儿?” “白痴,当然是去帮王妃啊!”某侍卫觉得自己被秀了一脸恩爱。
  • 最初的光明,最后的黑暗

    最初的光明,最后的黑暗

    1888年的纽约,煤气灯依然闪烁在城市上方,但“电”的奇迹已经萌发。谁能掌握这种把黑夜变成白昼的技术,谁就能创造历史——并且获得巨大的财富。托马斯·爱迪生在这场赛跑中领先,他起诉了仅存的竞争对手乔治·威斯汀豪斯,索赔金额达到前所未见的十亿美元。威斯汀豪斯做出了一个令所有人震惊的选择:他聘用了年仅26岁、没有任何经验的新人律师保罗。爱迪生是一个强势、狡诈而危险的对手,保罗面对的挑战令人胆寒。但他与大名鼎鼎的对手之间有一个共同点,那就是不计任何代价也要获胜的冲动。这桩官司让保罗有机会见识了镀金时代纽约上流社会的疯狂——他发现每个人都各有打算、每个人在表象之下都另有面目,直到他遇见尼古拉·特斯拉——一个脾气古怪却智慧超群的发明家,他手里很可能掌握着击败爱迪生的关键。
  • 愤怒的鸽子(中国好小说)

    愤怒的鸽子(中国好小说)

    这篇小说想像奇特。以灰颈与大翅是一雌一雄两只鸽子,是夫妻。他们相爱又相互猜忌,相互渴望又相互折磨,相互拥有又相互折磨,背叛、猜忌、轻浮、浪荡、自私、无耻、怀疑、愤怒,肮脏、无知……种种情绪与心理轮翻上演。为了报复对方,双方各自选择出轨,大翅有了红腿,灰颈风骚卖弄,这一切都消磨不了他们既爱又恨的心理折磨,最终在一场歇斯底里的争吵之后,灰颈自杀,大翅远走高飞,循逃了人世。