"
'The way in which he spoke the words "since my great loss" almost
brought tears into my eyes. He then went round the room, and
explained in a delightful way the various pictures and objects of
interest. I felt that I was preventing him from working, and told
him so.
'"You are very thoughtful," he said, "but I can only paint when I
feel the impulse within me, and to-day I am lazy. But while you go
and get your luncheon--I do not lunch myself--I must try to do
something. You must have many matters of your own that you would
like to attend to. Will you return to the studio about five o'clock,
and let me have your company in another walk?"
'Until five o'clock I was quite alone, and wandered about the house
and garden trying my memory as to whether I could recall something,
but in vain. At any other time than this I should no doubt have found
the old house a very fascinating one; but not for two minutes
together could my mind dwell upon anything but the amazing situation
in which I found myself. The house was, I saw, built of grey stone,
and as it had seven gables it suggested to me Nathaniel Hawthorne's
famous story, of which my aunt was so fond.
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