"Come in," I repeated, "and shut the door."
Viola looked at her kindly and laid down the charcoal sketch in her lap.
"I have been looking at your head here and thinking it so beautiful," she said gently.
Veronica only stared at her a little ungraciously in return, and took off her hat in silence.
I put her back into position, re-arranged the fillet on her head, and set to work to complete the colour study.
We worked in unbroken silence till tea was brought up at four. Viola rose to make it, and I told the girl to get up and move about if she liked, and I set the canvas aside to dry. Viola offered the girl a cup of tea, but she refused it and went and sat under the window on an old couch, leaving us by the table.
The canvas was a success in a way so far, but the great sweetness of the expression in the charcoal sketch of the morning was not there.
When tea was over I went up to Veronica and told her I must leave the canvas of the head to dry, I could not work more on it then, and asked her if she would pose for me as the Bacchante dancing. I wanted to see if she would do for a larger picture.
I got no answer for a minute. Veronica looked down and began to pull at the faded fringe of an old cushion.
"Not while _she's_ here," she muttered in a low, fierce tone.
I was surprised at the resentment in look and voice.
"Nonsense," I said with some annoyance. "You can pose before her as well as before me."
Veronica did not answer, only pulled in sullen silence at the cushion.
"You are wasting my time," I said impatiently.
"I shan't take off my clothes before her," she muttered defiantly.
I turned away from her in annoyance and approached Viola who had not moved from her chair on the other side of the room. She sprang up and came to meet me.
"She objects to my being here?" she said quickly. "Is it bothering you? Because, if it is, I'll go; that'll settle it."
"It's awfully stupid. I'm so sorry, Viola; it's so idiotic of her."
"Never mind, I'll go. You'll be down soon, now."
I held the door open for her, and with a smiling nod at me she passed through and went down the stairs. I waited till her bright head had disappeared, and then closed the door and went back to Veronica.
"Now," I said, "Mrs. Lonsdale has left us. Will you get up and stand as I want you to? Or do you want me to dismiss you?"