It
was agreed that Miriam should be permitted to do the work, but only
in the presence of Ithiel and two other curators, one of them her own
instructor in art.
Thus it came about that when Marcus presented himself for the second
time, at an hour fixed by Ithiel, he found three white-bearded and
white-robed old gentlemen seated in a row in the workshop, and behind
them, a smile on her dusky face, Nehushta. As he entered they rose and
bowed to him, a compliment which he returned. Now Miriam appeared, to
whom he made his salutation.
"Are these," he said, indicating the elders, "waiting their turn to be
modelled, or are they critics?"
"They are critics," said Miriam drily, as she lifted the damp cloths
from the rude lump of clay.
Then the work began. As the three curators were seated in a line at
the end of the shed, and did not seem to think it right to leave their
chairs, they could see little of its details, and as they were early
risers and the afternoon was hot, soon they were asleep, every one of
them.
"Look at them," said Marcus; "there is a subject for any artist."
Miriam nodded, and taking three lumps of clay, working deftly and
silently, presently produced to his delighted sight rough but excellent
portraits of these admirable men, who, when they woke up, laughed at
them very heartily.
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