during the courtship.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Exactly. She's jealous.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Of whom?
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
Of nobody--of everyone. Of my past, which was rather more decent than
most fellows--of my life to-day, which is a pattern for a County
Councillor.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Poor beggar.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
You're sorry for me?
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Devilishly. To be married to a jealous woman!--what a fate.
CHARLES SYLVESTER (_with a groan_).
Ah! Tempenny, there was a girl I used to know when I was a
bachelor--she was a model. My wife found her likeness one day after we
were married. A likeness, nothing more--I thought I had destroyed it.
Well, if you'd have heard the ructions she made; you'd have thought
she'd found a harem.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Ah!
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
A year or two ago the girl turned up again--walked into my studio, and
wanted to sit to me. As it happened I could have used her very well.
Just as I had given her a drink who should march in too, but my wife.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
The devil.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
I _said_ my wife--but--
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Yes, go on.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
She recognised my visitor in a moment from the photograph--abused her,
insulted me, and raised a royal row. The girl cleared out like a shot,
and I pledge you my word I have never seen her since, but from that
hour to this not a day passes without Mrs. Sylvester making some
allusion to the incident. I am the most moral man alive, and I'm
watched and suspected as if I were a criminal.
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
We must see more of each other than we have of late. When I work in
your studio we shall be company for each other.
CHARLES SYLVESTER.
I shall be very glad. Well, I'll be off, now. See you to-morrow then?
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
To-morrow! Au revoir, dear boy.
(_Exit_ SYLVESTER.)
REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.
Poor old Sylvester! Had no idea Mrs. Sylvester was such a termagant. I
must cheer him up a bit. So there was a girl, was there, and Mrs.
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