Part 25 (2/2)
”Do you think you'd stand any chance of winning, Paul?” Carl asked secure in his peculiar privileges of free speech.
”I don't know. How should I?”
Jane was simply on tenter-hooks. If only Carl would take up the case!
”Would you like to try it?”
”Yes. I would.”
”Well, why don't you? You could find some place-”
”That isn't the point,” interrupted Paul, looking directly at his uncle, ”it's up to you, Uncle Peter. You told me that I wasn't to touch a paint-brush while I was in your house. And I haven't. But I-”
”Well, you'll let him, won't you, father? He might as well have a go at it.”
”My boy, I think it is hardly-”
”But it's only a little matter, father. I'd like to see how he'd make out. We'd feel pretty fine if he _should_ win anything, and if he doesn't, there's nothing lost.”
Mr. Lambert bit his lip. But at that time he could no more have refused his son's slightest wish than he could have struck him.
”Well, well-go ahead if you want, Paul. I am sure I wish you every success.” It was stiffly and unwillingly said, but it was a victory nonetheless, and Paul did not know whether to be more amazed at his uncle's concession or at Carl's intercession. Jane, her face beaming with delight, started to clap her hands, and then realizing that any evidences of unseemly joy might have unpleasant results, quickly folded them in her lap.
And so it came about, through the play of circ.u.mstances, that the one member of the Lambert family who had been so bitterly inimical to Paul for eight months a.s.sumed the role of benefactor, and gallantly squared his debt by a few right words spoken at exactly the right moment.
CHAPTER XII-JEFF ROBERTS
”Do you think I'll be able to put it across?” Paul asked, despondently, stepping back from the half finished picture and eyeing it with his head on one side and a frown on his brow.
Jane, perched on an old barrel, her chin on her fists, studied the embryo masterpiece with a grave, judicial air.
”I think it is going to be _very_ good,” she observed at length.
”Do you, honestly?” Paul knew of course that Jane was about as capable of judging as Anna, but he had reached the point where encouragement from any source was sweet. ”Lord, I hope I get it done in time.”
”You will,” said Jane. Paul grinned at her.
”You're about the most optimistic character I ever knew. I suppose you think I'm certain to win a first prize.”
”Don't _you_ think so?”
”No, my child. I don't think there's a chance in the world.”
”Oh, Paul! But you'll win something.”
”No, my jovial Jane, I won't. But that's neither here nor there. Whew!
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