Part 7 (2/2)
”Lady,” said he, ”I prefer the dress in which I saw you first.”
”Oh, but that is so old! so shabby!----”
”_Non importa_--it harmonises with your complexion----”
”Two shades of olive,” said she, laughing a little; and she went to change her dress.
When she returned, Sebastian had concentrated the light by excluding it altogether from one window, and placing a screen before the lower half of the other. His easel and panel had been brought in by his attendant, who was now busy laying his palette, and the artist was selecting chalks and cartridge paper for a preparatory sketch.
”You look charming,” said he, as Giulia entered and seated herself in a raised chair. She was in the olive-green dress, cut square on the bust, with velvet bars on the corsage; and full, puffed, long sleeves, a white lace neckerchief, and long transparent veil, added to the modest and n.o.ble simplicity of her dress; while her rich auburn hair, dark in the shade and golden in the sun,[8] was braided behind with a few pearls, and gathered into rich coils.
[8] ”As through the meadow-lands clear rivers run, Blue in the shadow, silver in the sun.”
Hon. Mrs. Norton. _Lady of La Garaye._
Poor Cynthia, with her throat swathed up, stood behind with her feather-fan; but the painter looked distastefully at her, and did not repeat his glance: he had no mind to introduce her, even as a foil.
”I must make a saint or an angel of you, since you are for a Cardinal,”
said he, with a grave smile; ”and it will not be difficult.”
”Surely, this old gown is not very angelical?” said the d.u.c.h.ess.
”No matter. A nimbus and pincers will identify you with St. Agatha or St. Apollonia, quite sufficiently for the purpose.”
He began to draw with great diligence, and was terribly silent. The d.u.c.h.ess felt inclined to yawn.
”More to the right,” he said, abruptly, as she inclined her head a little to the left. ”Perdona, ill.u.s.trissima.”
”Pray do not stand on ceremony,” said she. Her countenance had become vacant, and he felt he must call up its expression.
”Do you take any interest in art, Signora?”
”O yes, a great deal. I only wish I knew more about it.”
”Do you know what is its great object?”
”To address the eye?”
”To address the mind.”
”Certainly. Of course. I ought to have said so.”
”The painter who only aims to deceive the eye is ignorant of the true dignity of art.”
”To deceive the eye, and to please it, however, are different things.”
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