Roderick stood looking at him for a moment with concentrated rancor, and
then strode to the statue and twitched off the cover. Mr. Leavenworth
settled himself into his chair with an air of flattered proprietorship,
and scanned the unfinished image. "I can conscientiously express myself
as gratified with the general conception," he said. "The figure has
considerable majesty, and the countenance wears a fine, open expression.
The forehead, however, strikes me as not sufficiently intellectual. In
a statue of Culture, you know, that should be the great point. The eye
should instinctively seek the forehead. Could n't you heighten it up a
little?"
Roderick, for all answer, tossed the sheet back over the statue. "Oblige
me, sir," he said, "oblige me! Never mention that thing again."
"Never mention it? Why my dear sir"--
"Never mention it. It 's an abomination!"
"An abomination! My Culture!"
"Yours indeed!" cried Roderick. "It 's none of mine. I disown it."
"Disown it, if you please," said Mr. Leavenworth sternly, "but finish it
first!"
"I 'd rather smash it!" cried Roderick.
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