Still--(_charitably_)--it shows he
would do better if he _could_!
_An Advanced Nephew_ (_who is endeavouring to convert a Philistine
Uncle to the superiority of the Modern School_). Now here, Uncle,
look at this. Look at the way the figure looms out of the canvas, look
at the learning in the simple sweep of the drapery, the _drawing_ of
it, and the masterly grace of the pose--you don't mean to tell me you
don't call _that_ a magnificent portrait?
_His Uncle._ Who's it of? That's what _I_ want to know first.
_Nephew_ (_coldly_). You will find it in the Catalogue, no doubt--No.
41.
_Uncle_ (_looking it up_). "_Arrangement in Black. La Dame au
Brodequin Jaune._"--the lady in a yellow something or other. Tchah!
And not a word to tell you who she's supposed to _be_? If I pay a
shilling for a Catalogue, I expect to find information in it. And let
me ask you--where's the interest in looking at a portrait when you're
not told who it's intended for?
[_The Nephew, not being prepared to answer this difficult
query, leads his relative gently up to a "Nocturne in Opal and
Silver." The Uncle conveys his opinion of it by a loud and
expressive snort._
_First Prosaic Person_ (_before No. 28_). Valparaiso, is it?
(_Hopefully._) Well, come, I _ought_ to recognise this--I've _been_
there often enough. (_Inspecting it closely._) Ha--um!
_Second P.P._ (_with languid interest_). Is it _like_?
_First P.P._ I could tell you better if he'd done it by daylight.
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