I can't look at it!"
"You shall care for my bust, I promise you!" cried Roderick, with a
laugh.
"To satisfy Miss Light," said the Cavaliere, "one of the old Greeks
ought to come to life."
"It would be worth his while," said Roderick, paying, to Rowland's
knowledge, his first compliment.
"I might sit to Phidias, if he would promise to be very amusing and make
me laugh. What do you say, Stenterello? would you sit to Phidias?"
"We must talk of this some other time," said Mrs. Light. "We are in
Rome for the winter. Many thanks. Cavaliere, call the carriage." The
Cavaliere led the way out, backing like a silver-stick, and Miss Light,
following her mother, nodded, without looking at them, to each of the
young men.
"Immortal powers, what a head!" cried Roderick, when they had gone.
"There 's my fortune!"
"She is certainly very beautiful," said Rowland. "But I 'm sorry you
have undertaken her bust."
"And why, pray?"
"I suspect it will bring trouble with it."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I hardly know. They are queer people. The mamma, I suspect, is the
least bit of an adventuress.
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