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James, Henry, 1843-1916

"Roderick Hudson"

You
looked as if you had on a pair of tight boots."
"Ah, my child, you 'll not understand that!" cried Mrs. Light. "You
never yet had a pair that were small enough."
"It 's a pity, Mr. Hudson," said Christina, gravely, "that you could
not have introduced my feet into the bust. But we can hang a pair of
slippers round the neck!"
"I nevertheless like your statues, Roderick," Rowland rejoined, "better
than your jokes. This is admirable. Miss Light, you may be proud!"
"Thank you, Mr. Mallet, for the permission," rejoined the young girl.
"I am dying to see it in the marble, with a red velvet screen behind
it," said Mrs. Light.
"Placed there under the Sassoferrato!" Christina went on. "I hope you
keep well in mind, Mr. Hudson, that you have not a grain of property in
your work, and that if mamma chooses, she may have it photographed and
the copies sold in the Piazza di Spagna, at five francs apiece, without
your having a sou of the profits."
"Amen!" said Roderick. "It was so nominated in the bond. My profits are
here!" and he tapped his forehead.
"It would be prettier if you said here!" And Christina touched her
heart.


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