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The boy caught his breath。 It seemed useless to pursue the talk with Sue。 She evidently had no sympathy with his aspirations。
〃Nobut I wish I could paint as he does；〃 he answered； mechanically。
Sue saw the change in his manner。 She realized； too； that she had hurt him in some way。 She drew nearer and put her hand on his arm。
〃Why； you can； Ollie。 You can do anything you want to； Miss Lavinia told me so。〃 The little witch was mistress of one artthat of holding her lover but that was an art of which all the girls about Kennedy Square approved。
〃No； I can't；〃 he replied； forgetting in the caressing touch of her hand the tribute to his ability； and delighted that she was once more in sympathy with him。 〃Mother wouldn't think of my being an artist。 She doesn't understand how I feel about it； and Miss Lavinia； somehow； doesn't seem to be favorable to it either。 I've talked to her lots of times she was more encouraging at first； but she doesn't seem to like the idea now。 I've been hoping she'd fix it so I could speak to mother about it。 Now she tells me I had better wait。 I can't see why Miss Lavinia knows what an artist's life can be； for she knew plenty of painters when she was in London with her father； and she loves pictures； too； and is a good judgenobody here any better。 She told me only a week ago how much one of these Englishmen was paid for a little thing as big as your hand； but I've forgotten the amount。 I don't see why I can't paint as well as those fellows。 Do you know； Sue； I'm beginning to think that about half the people in Kennedy Square are asleep？ They really don't seem to think there is anything respectable but the law。 If they are right； how about all the men who painted the great pictures and built all the cathedrals； or the men who wrote all the poems and histories？ Mother； of course； wants me to be a lawyer。 Because I'm fitted for it？not a bit of it！ Simply because father was one before me and his father before him； and Uncle John Tilghman another； and so on back to the deluge。〃
Sue drew away a little and turned her head toward the Square as if in search of someone。 Oliver noticed the movement and his heart sank again。 He saw but too clearly how little impression the story of his ambitions had made upon her。 Then the thought flashed into his mind that he might have offended her in some way； clashing against her traditions and her prejudices as he had done。 He bent toward her and laid his hand in hers。
〃Little girl；〃 he said； in a softened tone； 〃I can't make you unhappy； too。 Mother is enough for me to worry aboutI haven't talked it all out to you before； but don't you get a wrong idea of what I'm going to do〃 and he looked up into her face and tightened his hold upon her fingers； his eyes never wavering from her own。
The girl allowed his hand to remain an instant； then quickly withdrew her own and started up。 Coyness is sometimes fear in the timid heart that is stepping into the charmed circle for the first time。
〃There goes Ella Dorsey and Jack〃 she cried； springing down the steps。 〃Ella！ Ella！〃 and an answering halloo came back； and the two started from Malachi's steps and raced up the street to join their young friends。
CHAPTER IV
AN OLD…FASHIONED MORTGAGE
Pretty Sue Clayton with her ringlets and rosy cheeks had not been Oliver's only listener。
His mother had been sitting inside the drawing… room； just beside the open window。 She had spoken to Sue and Oliver when they first mounted the steps； and had begged them both to come in； but they had forgotten her presence。 Unintentionally； therefore； she had heard every word of the conversation。 Her old fears rushed over her again with renewed force。 She had never for a moment supposed that Oliver wanted to be a painterlike Mr。 Crocker！ Now at last she understood his real object in talking to Lavinia the night of the musical。
〃Richard；〃 she called softly to her husband sitting in the adjoining room； in the chair that Malachi； in accordance with the old custom； had with his sweeping bow made ready for him。 The inventor had been there since tea was over； lying back in his seat； his head resting on his hand。 He had had one of his thoughtful days； worrying over some detail of his machine； still incomplete。 The new device of which he had told her with such glee had failed； as had the others。 The motor was still incomplete。
〃Richard；〃 she repeated。
〃Yes； my dear；〃 he answered； in his gentle voice。 He had not heard her at first。
〃Bring your chair over here。〃
The inventor rose instantly and； crossing the room； took a seat beside her； his hand finding hers in the dark。
〃What is this you have been saying to Oliver about artists being great men？〃 she asked。 〃He's got a new idea in his head nowhe wants to be a painter。 I've thought for some time that Mr。 Crocker was not a proper person for him to be so much with。 He has evidently worked on the boy's imagination until he has determined to give up the law and study art。〃
〃How do you know？〃
〃I've just heard him tell Sue Clayton so。 All he wants now is my consenthe says he has yours。〃
The inventor paused； and gently smoothed his wife's fingers with his own。
〃And you would not give it？〃 he inquired。
〃How could I？ It would ruin himdon't you know it？〃 There was a slight tinge of annoyance in her voicenot one of fault…finding； but rather of anxiety。
〃That depends； my dear； on how well he could succeed；〃 he answered； gently。
〃Why； Richard！〃 She withdrew her hand quickly from his caressing touch； and looked at him in undisguised astonishment。 〃What has his SUCCEEDING to do with it？ Surely you cannot be in earnest？ I am willing he should do anything to make his living； but not that。 No one we know has ever been a painter。 It is neither respectable nor profitable。 You see what a dreadful existence Mr。 Crocker leads hardly an associate in town； and no acquaintances for his daughter； and he's been painting ever since he was a boy。 Oliver could not earn a penny at such work。〃
〃Money is not everything； my dear； nor social recognition。 There are many things I would value more。〃
〃What are they？〃 She was facing him now； her brows knit； a marked antagonism in her voice。
〃Good manners and good taste； Sallie； and kindly consideration for another's feelings；〃 he answered。 He spoke calmly and kindly； as was his custom。 He had lived almost all his life with this high…strung Sallie Horn； whose eyes flashed now and then as they had done in the old days when he won her hand。 He knew every side of her temperament。 〃Good manners； and good taste〃he repeated； as if wishing to emphasize his thoughts〃Oliver has all of these； and he has； besides； loyalty to his friends。 He never speaks of Mr。 Crocker but with affection； and I love to hear him。 That man is an artist of great talent； and yet it seems to be the fashion in this town to ridicule him。 If Ollie has any gifts which would fit him to be a painter； I should be delighted to see him a painter。 It is a profession despised now； as are many others； but it is the profession of a gentleman； for all they say； and a noble one！〃 Then he stopped and said； thoughtfully； as if communing with himself〃I wish he coul