Writeanotetoyouroffice，——yousayyou’retheheadofit，——andorderthemtogiveTorpenhowmysketches，——everyoneofthemWaitaminute：
yourhand’sshakingNow！’Hethrustapocket-bookbeforehim。
ThenotewaswrittenTorpenhowtookitanddepartedwithoutaword，whileDickwalkedroundandroundthespellboundcaptive，givinghimsuchadviceasheconceivedbestforthewelfareofhissoulWhenTorpenhowreturnedwithagiganticportfolio，heheardDicksay，almostsoothingly，’Now，Ihopethiswillbealessontoyou；andifyouworrymewhenI
havesettleddowntoworkwithanynonsenseaboutactionsforassault，believeme，I’llcatchyouandmanhandleyou，andyou’lldieYouhaven’tverylongtolive，anyhowGo！Imshi，Vootsak，——getout！’Themandeparted，staggeringanddazedDickdrewalongbreath：’Phew！
whatalawlesslotthesepeopleare！Thefirstthingapoororphanmeetsisgangrobbery，organisedburglary！Thinkofthehideousblacknessofthatman’smind！Aremysketchesallright，Torp？’
’Yes；onehundredandforty-sevenofthemWell，Imustsay，Dick，you’vebegunwell。’
’HewasinterferingwithmeItonlymeantafewpoundstohim，butitwaseverythingtomeIdon’tthinkhe’llbringanactionIgavehimsomemedicaladvicegratisaboutthestateofhisbodyItwascheapatthelittleflurryitcosthimNow，let’slookatmythings。’
TwominuteslaterDickhadthrownhimselfdownonthefloorandwasdeepintheportfolio，chucklinglovinglyasheturnedthedrawingsoverandthoughtofthepriceatwhichtheyhadbeenbought。
TheafternoonwaswelladvancedwhenTorpenhowcametothedoorandsawDickdancingawildsarabandundertheskylight。
’IbuildedbetterthanIknew，Torp，’hesaid，withoutstoppingthedance。
’They’regood！They’redamnedgood！They’llgolikeflame！IshallhaveanexhibitionofthemonmyownbrazenhookAndthatmanwouldhavecheatedmeoutofit！DoyouknowthatI’msorrynowthatIdidn’tactuallyhithim？’
’Goout，’saidTorpenhow，——’gooutandpraytobedeliveredfromthesinofarrogance，whichyouneverwillbeBringyourthingsupfromwhateverplaceyou’restayingin，andwe’lltrytomakethisbarnalittlemoreshipshape。’
’Andthen——oh，then，’saidDick，stillcapering，’wewillspoiltheEgyptians！’
CHAPTERIV
Thewolf-cubatevenlayhidinthecorn，Whenthesmokeofthecookinghunggray：
Heknewwherethedoemadeacouchforherfawn，Andhelookedtohisstrengthforhisprey。
Butthemoonsweptthesmoke-wreathsaway。
Andheturnedfromhismealinthevillager’sclose，Andhebayedtothemoonassherose。
InSeonee-
’WELL，andhowdoessuccesstaste？’saidTorpenhow，somethreemonthslaterHehadjustreturnedtochambersafteraholidayinthecountry。
’Good，’saidDick，ashesatlickinghislipsbeforetheeaselinthestudio。
’Iwantmore，——heapsmoreTheleanyearshavepassed，andI
approveofthesefatones。’
’Becareful，oldmanThatwayliesbadwork。’
Torpenhowwassprawlinginalongchairwithasmallfox-terrierasleeponhischest，whileDickwaspreparingacanvasAdais，abackground，andalay-figureweretheonlyfixedobjectsintheplaceTheyrosefromawreckofoddmentsthatbeganwithfelt-coveredwater-bottles，belts，andregimentalbadges，andendedwithasmallbaleofsecond-handuniformsandastandofmixedarmsThemarkofmuddyfeetonthedaisshowedthatamilitarymodelhadjustgoneawayThewateryautumnsunlightwasfalling，andshadowssatinthecornersofthestudio。
’Yes，’saidDick，deliberately，’Ilikethepower；Ilikethefun；Ilikethefuss；andaboveallIlikethemoneyIalmostlikethepeoplewhomakethefussandpaythemoneyAlmostButthey’reaqueergang，——anamazinglyqueergang！’
’Theyhavebeengoodenoughtoyou，atanyrateThantin-potexhibitionofyoursketchesmusthavepaidDidyouseethatthepaperscalleditthe“WildWorkShow“？’
’NevermindIsoldeveryshredofcanvasIwantedto；and，onmyword，Ibelieveit...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：