"I won't say I
should be afraid, but I will say I should be ashamed to pay him his
money back on the day when I borrowed it. Why, he even refused to
accept my written acknowledgment of the loan! I only succeeded in
forcing it on him unawares, by slipping it in among his banknotes; and,
if he finds it there, I'll lay you any wager you like, he tears it up,
or throws it into the fire."
Mr. Blyth began to look a little puzzled. The stranger's behavior about
the money was rather staggering, to say the least of it.
"Let me bring him to your picture-show," pursued Zack. "Judge of him
yourself, before you condemn him. Surely I can't say fairer than that?
May I bring him to see the pictures? Or will you come back at once with
me to Kirk Street, where he lives?"
"I must write to your mother, before I do any thing else; and I have
work in hand besides for to-day and tomorrow," said Valentine. "All
things considered, you had better bring your friend as you proposed
just now. But remember the distinction I always make between my public
studio and my private house. I consider the glorious mission of Art to
apply to everybody; so I am proud to open my painting room to any
honest man who wants to look at my pictures.
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