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an average successful painter。 Again； consider our implements of
musicour pianofortes； for example。 Nobody but an acrobat will
voluntarily spend years at such a difficult mechanical puzzle as
the keyboard； and so we have to take our impressions of
Beethoven's sonatas from acrobats who vie with each other in the
rapidity of their prestos； or the staying power of their left
wrists。 Thoughtful men will not spend their lives acquiring
sleight…of…hand。 Invent a piano which will respond as delicately
to the turning of a handle as our present ones do to the pressure
of the fingers； and the acrobats will be driven back to their
carpets and trapezes； because the sole faculty necessary to the
executant musician will be the musical faculty； and no other will
enable him to obtain a hearing。〃
The company were somewhat overcome by this unexpected lecture。
Sir Charles； feeling that such views bore adversely on him； and
were somehow iconoclastic and low…lived； was about to make a
peevish retort； when Erskine forestalled him by asking Trefusis
what idea he had formed of the future of the arts。 He replied
promptly。 〃Photography perfected in its recently discovered power
of reproducing color as well as form！ Historical pictures
replaced by photographs of tableaux vivants formed and arranged
by trained actors and artists； and used chiefly for the
instruction of children。 Nine…tenths of painting as we understand
it at present extinguished by the competition of these
photographs； and the remaining tenth only holding its own against
them by dint of extraordinary excellence！ Our mistuned and
unplayable organs and pianofortes replaced by harmonious
instruments； as manageable as barrel organs！ Works of fiction
superseded by interesting company and conversation； and made
obsolete by the human mind outgrowing the childishness that
delights in the tales told by grownup children such as novelists
and their like！ An end to the silly confusion； under the one name
of Art； of the tomfoolery and make…believe of our play…hours with
the higher methods of teaching men to know themselves！ Every
artist an amateur； and a consequent return to the healthy old
disposition to look on every man who makes art a means of
money…getting as a vagabond not to be entertained as an equal by
honest men！〃
〃In which case artists will starve； and there will be no more
art。〃
〃Sir；〃 said Trefusis； excited by the word； 〃I； as a Socialist；
can tell you that starvation is now impossible； except where； as
in England； masterless men are forcibly prevented from producing
the food they need。 And you； as an artist； can tell me that at
present great artists invariably do starve； except when they are
kept alive by charity； private fortune； or some drudgery which
hinders them in the pursuit of their vocation。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Erskine。 〃Then Socialists have some little sympathy
with artists after all。〃
〃I fear；〃 said Trefusis； repressing himself and speaking quietly
again； 〃that when a Socialist hears of a hundred pounds paid for
a drawing which Andrea del Sarto was glad to sell for tenpence；
his heart is not wrung with pity for the artist's imaginary loss
as that of a modern capitalist is。 Yet that is the only way
nowadays of enlisting sympathy for the old masters。 Frightful
disability； to be out of the reach of the dearest market when you
want to sell your drawings！ But；〃 he added； giving himself a
shake； and turning round gaily； 〃I did not come here to talk
shop。 Sopending the delugelet us enjoy ourselves after our
manner。〃
〃No；〃 said Jane。 〃Please go on about Art。 It's such a relief to
hear anyone talking sensibly about it。 I hate etching。 It makes
your eyes soreat least the acid gets into Sir Charles's； and
the difference between the first and second states is nothing but
imagination； except that the last state is worse than thehere's
luncheon！〃
They went downstairs then。 Trefusis sat between Agatha and Lady
Brandon； to whom he addressed all his conversation。 They chatted
without much interruption from the business of the table； for
Jane； despite her amplitude； had a small appetite； and was
fearful of growing fat； whilst Trefusis was systematically
abstemious。 Sir Charles was unusually silent。 He was afraid to
talk about art； lest he should be contradicted by Trefusis； who；
he already felt； cared less and perhaps knew more about it than
he。 Having previously commented to Agatha on the beauty of the
ripening spring； and inquired whether her journey had fatigued
her； he had said as much as he could think of at a first meeting。
For her part； she was intent on Trefusis； who； though he must
know； she thought； that they were all hostile to him except Jane；
seemed as confident now as when he had befooled her long ago。
That thought set her teeth on edge。 She did not doubt the
sincerity of her antipathy to him even when she detected herself
in the act of protesting inwardly that she was not glad to meet
him again； and that she would not speak to him。 Gertrude；
meanwhile； was giving short answers to Erskine and listening to
Trefusis。 She had gathered from the domestic squabbles of the
last few days that Lady Brandon； against her husband's will； had
invited a notorious demagogue； the rich son of a successful
cotton…spinner； to visit the Beeches。 She had made up her mind to
snub any such man。 But on recognizing the long…forgotten Smilash；
she had been astonished； and had not known what to do。 So； to
avoid doing anything improper； she had stood stilly silent and
done nothing； as the custom of English ladies in such cases is。
Subsequently； his unconscious self…assertion had wrought with her
as with the others； and her intention of snubbing him had faded
into the limbo of projects abandoned without trial。 Erskine alone
was free from the influence of the intruder。 He wished himself
elsewhere； but beside Gertrude the presence or absence of any
other person troubled him very little。
〃How are the Janseniuses？〃 said Trefusis； suddenly turning to
Agatha。
〃They are quite well； thank you；〃 she said in measured tones。
〃I met John Jansenius in the city lately。 You know Jansenius？〃 he
added parenthetically to Sir Charles。 〃Cotman's bankthe last
Cotman died out of the firm before we were born。 The Chairman of
the Transcanadian Railway Company。〃
〃I know the name。 I am seldom in the city。〃
〃Naturally；〃 assented Trefusis； 〃for who would sadden himself by
pushing his way through a crowd of such slaves； if he could help
it？ I mean slaves of Mammon； of course。 To run the gauntlet of
their faces in Cornhill is enough to discourage a thoughtful man
for hours。 Well； Jansenius； being high in the court of Mammon； is
looking out for a good post in the household for his son。
Jansenius； by…the…bye is Miss Wylie's guardian and the father of
my late wife。〃
Agatha felt inclined to deny this； but； as it was true； she had
to forbear。 Resolved to show that the relations between her
family and Trefusis were not cordial ones； she asked
deliberately； 〃Did Mr。 Jansenius speak to you？〃
Gertrude looked up； as if she thought this scarcely ladylike。
〃Yes；〃 said Trefusis。 〃We are the best friends in the world