"I know who you mean. Didn't look as if he'd got any business there
--not like the rest of them, did he? No, they never do. Odd and
end sort of people like he is, never do look the right thing--
let them try ever so hard. How can they when they ain't it? That's
a fellow that's painting Lady Lossie's portrait! Why he should
be asked to dinner for that, I'm sure I can't tell. He ain't paid
for it in victuals, is he? I never saw such land leapers let into
Lossie House, I know! But London's an awful place. There's no such
a thing as respect of persons here. Here you meet the butcher, the
baker, the candlestick maker, any night in my lady's drawing room.
I declare to you, Mawlcolm MacPhail, it makes me quite uncomfortable
at times to think who I may have been waiting upon without knowing
it. For that painter fellow, Lenorme they call him, I could knock
him on the teeth with the dish every time I hold it to him. And to
see him stare at Lady Lossie as he does!"
"A painter must want to get a right good hold of the face he's got
to paint," said Malcolm. "Is he here often?"
"He's been here five or six times already," answered Wallis, "and
how many times more I may have to fill his glass, I don't know. I
always give him second best sherry, I know. I'm sure the time that
pictur' 's been on hand! He ought to be ashamed of himself.
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