Mr. Ultramarine was a painter, and felt the
divine inspiration of his profession realized in that
face. But when the model had been arrayed by



The New Godiva. Ill

Mrs. Hill in the ante-room in the splendid dress of
Mrs. Honiton, and stood upon the dais, the effect
was bewildering. " Such," said the artist to him-
self, " was the face Raphael knew and painted, and
men turned from Divinity to worship art in the
ideal Virgin. It is not surprising the church has
made so many proselytes."

Mr. Ultramarine was an artist ; he set to work
manfully and painted the shawl. There was an
ease and grace in the careless curve of the living
arm holding it, that made lay-figure absolutely
repulsive. He put lay-figure in one corner of his
studio, and covered her all over with old coats,
pantaloons, a rug, and bit of curtain, besides piling
on his fishing-rod, and laying a cracked pallet on
top, by wajr of cap-stone. In a few days Mrs.
Honiton was done. Alas, Mr. Ultramarine had not
another lady sitter just then ; there were a score of
gentlemen whose portraits had to be painted.
They must be painted ; he had a family to support,
and not much to do it with. He must pay the
model and send her away. So he told her simply
and kindly, and then

The model turned deadly pale, essayed to speak,
failed, and fainted outright.
112 Spakeowgeasb Papers.
Mr. Ultramarine took it into his head that the
model had fallen in love with him. Never was he
more mistaken, nor more relieved when he found
he was mistaken. He cai-ried the helpless form to
a chair, bathed the Madonna face with water, and
brought the model to.
