Part 11 (1/2)
”Would nothing else do, instead?”
”Oh, I want some other things, but I want that too.”
Mademoiselle Noemie turned away a moment, walked to the other side of the hall, and stood there, looking vaguely about her. At last she came back. ”It must be charming to be able to order pictures at such a rate.
Venetian portraits, as large as life! You go at it en prince. And you are going to travel about Europe that way?”
”Yes, I intend to travel,” said Newman.
”Ordering, buying, spending money?”
”Of course I shall spend some money.”
”You are very happy to have it. And you are perfectly free?”
”How do you mean, free?”
”You have nothing to bother you--no family, no wife, no fiancee?”
”Yes, I am tolerably free.”
”You are very happy,” said Mademoiselle Noemie, gravely.
”Je le veux bien!” said Newman, proving that he had learned more French than he admitted.
”And how long shall you stay in Paris?” the young girl went on.
”Only a few days more.”
”Why do you go away?”
”It is getting hot, and I must go to Switzerland.”
”To Switzerland? That's a fine country. I would give my new parasol to see it! Lakes and mountains, romantic valleys and icy peaks! Oh, I congratulate you. Meanwhile, I shall sit here through all the hot summer, daubing at your pictures.”
”Oh, take your time about it,” said Newman. ”Do them at your convenience.”
They walked farther and looked at a dozen other things. Newman pointed out what pleased him, and Mademoiselle Noemie generally criticised it, and proposed something else. Then suddenly she diverged and began to talk about some personal matter.
”What made you speak to me the other day in the Salon Carre?” she abruptly asked.
”I admired your picture.”
”But you hesitated a long time.”
”Oh, I do nothing rashly,” said Newman.
”Yes, I saw you watching me. But I never supposed you were going to speak to me. I never dreamed I should be walking about here with you to-day. It's very curious.”
”It is very natural,” observed Newman.
”Oh, I beg your pardon; not to me. Coquette as you think me, I have never walked about in public with a gentleman before. What was my father thinking of, when he consented to our interview?”