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not be denied。
〃I love you for crying； don't cry；〃 and he fished from the chaotic drawer
a cambric handkerchief； with which he dried her tears as they fell。
It is my firm belief she cried nearly twice as much as she really wanted
to； she contrived to make the grief hers； the sympathy his。 Suddenly she
stopped； and said：
〃I'm daft； ye'll accept a lane o' the siller fra me； will ye no？〃
〃No！〃 said he。 〃And where could you find eighty pound？〃
〃Auchty pund；〃 cried she； 〃it's no auchty pund that will ding Christie
Johnstone； laddy。 I hae boats and nets worth twa auchtys； and I hae forty
pund laid by； and I hae seven hundred pund at London； but that I canna
meddle。 My feyther lent it the king or the queen； I dinna justly mind；
she pays me the interest twice the year。 Sac ye ken I could na be sae
dirty as seek my siller； when she pays me th' interest。 To the very day；
ye ken。 She's just the only one o' a' my debtors that's hoenest； but
never heed； ye'll no gang to jail。〃
〃I'll hold my tongue； and sacrifice my pictures；〃 thought Charles。
〃Cheer up！〃 said Christie； mistaking the nature of his thoughts； 〃for it
did na come fra Victoree hersel'。 It wad smell o' the musk； ye ken。 Na；
it's just a wheen blackguards at London that makes use o' her name to
torment puir folk。 Wad she pairsecute a puir lad？ No likely。〃
She then asked questions； some of which were embarrassing。 One thing he
could never succeed in making her understand； how； since it was sixty
pounds he borrowed； it could be eighty pounds he owed。
Then once more she promised him her protection； bade him be of good
cheer； and left him。
At the door she turned； and said： 〃Chairles； here's an auld wife seeking
ye；〃 and vanished。
These two young people had fallen acquainted at a Newhaven wedding。
Christie； belonging to no one； had danced with him all the night； they
had walked under the stars to cool themselves； for dancing reels； with
heart and soul； is not quadrilling。
Then he had seen his beautiful partner in Edinburgh； and made a sketch of
her； which he gave her； and by and by he used to run down to Newhaven；
and stroll up and down a certain green lane near the town。
Next； on Sunday evenings； a long walk together； and then it came to
visits at his place now and then。
And here。 Raphael and Fornarina were inverted； our artist used to work；
and Christie tell him stories the while。
And； as her voice curled round his heart； he used to smile and look； and
lay inspired touches on his subject。
And she； an artist of the tongue （without knowing herself one）； used to
make him grave； or gay； or sad； at will； and watch the effect of her art
upon his countenance； and a very pretty art it isthe _viva voce_
story…teller'sand a rare one among the nations of Europe。
Christie had not learned it in a day； when she began； she used to tell
them like the other Newhaven people； with a noble impartiality of detail；
wearisome to the hearer。
But latterly she had learned to seize the salient parts of a narrative；
her voice had compass； and； like all fine speakers； she traveled over a
great many notes in speaking； her low tones were gorgeously rich； her
upper tones full and sweet； all this； and her beauty； made the hours she
gave him very sweet to our poor artist。
He was wont to bask in her music； and tell her in return how he loved
her； and how happy they were both to be as soon as he had acquired a
name； for a name was wealth； he told her。 And although Christie Johnstone
did not let him see how much she took all this to heart and believed it；
it was as sweet music to her as her own honeysuckle breath to him。
She improved him。
He dropped cigars； and medical students； and similar abominations。
Christie's cool； fresh breath； as she hung over him while painting；
suggested to him that smoking might； peradventure； be a sin against
nature as well as against cleanliness。
And he improved her； she learned from art to look into nature （the usual
process of mind）。
She had noticed too little the flickering gold of the leaves at evening；
the purple hills； and the shifting stories and glories of the sky； but
now； whatever she saw him try to imitate； she learned to examine。 She was
a woman； and admired sunset； etc。； for this boy's sake； and her whole
heart expanded with a new sensation that softened her manner to all the
world； and brightened her personal rays。
This charming picture of mutual affection had hitherto been admired only
by those who figured in it。
But a visitor had now arrived on purpose to inspect it； etc。； attracted
by report。
A friend had considerately informed Mrs。 Gatty； the artist's mother； and
she had instantly started from Newcastle。
This was the old lady Christie discovered on the stairs。
Her sudden appearance took her son's breath away。
No human event was less likely than that she should be there； yet there
she was。
After the first surprise and affectionate greetings； a misgiving crossed
him； 〃she must know about the writ〃it was impossible； but our minds are
so constitutedwhen we are guilty； we fear that others know what we
know。 Now Gatty was particularly anxious she should not know about this
writ； for he had incurred the debt by acting against her advice。
Last year he commenced a picture in which was Durham Cathedral； his
mother bade him stay quietly at home； and paint the cathedral and its
banks from a print； 〃as any other painter would；〃 observed she。
But this was not the lad's system； he spent five months on the spot； and
painted his picture； but he had to borrow sixty pounds to do this； the
condition of this loan was； that in six months he should either pay
eighty pounds； or finish and hand over a certain half…finished picture。
He did neither； his new subject thrust aside his old one； and he had no
money； ergo； his friend； a picture…dealer； who had found artists slippery
in money matters； followed him up sharp； as we see。
〃There is nothing the matter； I hope； mother。 What is it？〃
〃I'm tired； Charles。〃 He brought her a seat； she sat down。
〃I did not come from Newcastle； at my age； for nothing； you have formed
an improper acquaintance。〃
〃I； who？ Is it Jack Adams？〃
〃Worse than any Jack Adams！〃
〃Who can that be？ Jenkyns； mother； because he does the same things as
Jack； and pretends to be religious。〃
〃It is a femalea fishwife。 Oh； my son！〃
〃Christie Johnstone an improper acquaintance；〃 said he； 〃why！ I was good
for nothing till I knew her； she has made me so good； mother； so steady；
so industrious； you will never have to find fault with me again。〃
〃Nonsensea woman that sells fish in the streets！〃
〃But you have not seen her。 She is beautiful； her mind is not in fish；
her mind grasps the beautiful and the goodshe is a companion for
princes！ What am I that she wastes a thought or a ray of music on me？
Heaven bless her。 She reads our best authors； and never forgets a word；
and she tells me beautiful storiessometimes they make me cry； for her
voice is a music that goes straight to my heart。〃
〃A woman that does not even wear the clothes of a lady。〃
〃It is the only genuine costume in these islands not ben