By the time I had put these things together--Outreau's "American" having helped me--I was in just such full possession of her face as I had found myself, on the other first occasion, of that of her patroness.Only with so different a consequence.I couldn't look at her enough, and I stared and stared till I became aware she might have fancied me challenging her as a person unpresented."All the same," Outreau went on, equally held, "c'est une tete a faire.If I were only staying long enough for a crack at her! But I tell you what and he seized my arm--"bring her over!""Over?"
"To Paris.She'd have a succes fou."
"Ah thanks, my dear fellow," I was now quite in a position to say; "she's the handsomest thing in London, and"--for what I might do with her was already before me with intensity--"I propose to keep her to myself." It was before me with intensity, in the light of Mrs.Brash's distant perfection of a little white old face, in which every wrinkle was the touch of a master; but something else, I suddenly felt, was not less so, for Lady Beldonald, in the other quarter, and though she couldn't have made out the subject of our notice, continued to fix us, and her eyes had the challenge of those of the woman of consequence who has missed something.A moment later I was close to her, apologising first for not having been more on the spot at her arrival, but saying in the next breath uncontrollably: "Why my dear lady, it's a Holbein!""A Holbein? What?"
"Why the wonderful sharp old face so extraordinarily, consummately drawn--in the frame of black velvet.That of Mrs.Brash, I mean--isn't it her name?--your companion."This was the beginning of a most odd matter--the essence of my anecdote;and I think the very first note of the oddity must have sounded for me in the tone in which her ladyship spoke after giving me a silent look.It seemed to come to me out of a distance immeasurably removed from Holbein.
"Mrs.Brash isn't my 'companion' in the sense you appear to mean.She's my rather near relation and a very dear old friend.I love her--and you must know her.""Know her? Rather! Why to see her is to want on the spot to 'go' for her.
She also must sit for me,"
"SHE? Louisa Brash?" If Lady Beldonald had the theory that her beauty directly showed it when things weren't well with her, this impression, which the fixed sweetness of her serenity had hitherto struck me by no means as justifying, gave me now my first glimpse of its grounds.It was as if I had never before seen her face invaded by anything I should have called an expression.This expression moreover was of the faintest--was like the effect produced on a surface by an agitation both deep within and as yet much confused."Have you told her so?" she then quickly asked, as if to soften the sound of her surprise.
"Dear no, I've but just noticed her--Outreau, a moment ago put me on her.
But we're both so taken, and he also wants--""To PAINT her?" Lady Beldonald uncontrollably murmured.
"Don't be afraid we shall fight for her," I returned with a laugh for this tone.Mrs.Brash was still where I could see her without appearing to stare, and she mightn't have seen I was looking at her, though her protectress, I'm afraid, could scarce have failed of that certainty."We must each take our turn, and at any rate she's a wonderful thing, so that if you'll let her go to Paris Outreau promises her there--""THERE?" my companion gasped.
"A career bigger still than among us, as he considers we haven't half their eye.He guarantees her a succes fou."She couldn't get over it."Louisa Brash? In Paris?""They do see," I went on, "more than we and they live extraordinarily, don't you know, in that.But she'll do something here too.""And what will she do?"
If frankly now I couldn't help giving Mrs.Brash a longer look, so after it I could as little resist sounding my converser."You'll see.Only give her time."She said nothing during the moment in which she met my eyes; but then:
"Time, it seems to me, is exactly what you and your friend want.If you haven't talked with her--""We haven't seen her? Oh we see bang off--with a click like a steel spring.It's our trade, it's our life, and we should be donkeys if we made mistakes.That's the way I saw you yourself, my lady, if I may say so;that's the way, with a long pin straight through your body, I've got you.
And just so I've got HER!"
All this, for reasons, had brought my guest to her feet; but her eyes had while we talked never once followed the direction of mine."You call her a Holbein?""Outreau did, and I of course immediately recognised it.Don't you? She brings the old boy to life! It's just as I should call you a Titian.You bring HIM to life."She couldn't be said to relax, because she couldn't be said to have hardened; but something at any rate on this took place in her--something indeed quite disconnected from what I would have called her."Don't you understand that she has always been supposed--?" It had the ring of impatience; nevertheless it stopped short on a scruple.
I knew what it was, however, well enough to say it for her if she preferred."To be nothing whatever to look at? To be unfortunately plain--or even if you like repulsively ugly? Oh yes, I understand it perfectly, just as I understand--I have to as a part of my trade--many other forms of stupidity.It's nothing new to one that ninety-nine people out of a hundred have no eyes, no sense, no taste.There are whole communities impenetrably sealed.I don't say your friend's a person to make the men turn round in Regent Street.But it adds to the joy of the few who do see that they have it so much to themselves.Where in the world can she have lived? You must tell me all about that--or rather, if she'll be so good, SHE must.""You mean then to speak to her--?"
I wondered as she pulled up again."Of her beauty?""Her beauty!" cried Lady Beldonald so loud that two or three persons looked round.
"Ah with every precaution of respect I declared in a much lower tone.But her back was by this time turned to me, and in the movement, as it were, one of the strangest little dramas I've ever known was well launched.