Evelyn Sharp

“ So does Anna. I think you'd like Anna too, rather."
"Ah! What makes you think that?"
"Well, you've got some sense of humour, enough to know she wasn't really laughing at you. Most people are afraid of her, you know; and they think she doesn't feel things because she laughs; and of course she does feel them all the same. She hates people to be afraid of her; but you are never afraid of any one, are you? And you'd understand why she laughs. Oh yes, you'd like Anna."
"You are a very devoted friend," said Askett. ”

“ What in the name of wonder is the joke now?"
"It — it's the same joke as before," gasped Anna. " You really don't know what an awfully good joke it is."
"You must forgive me if I don't even want to find out," said Askett, shortly; and he got up and went to the window and looked out. The situation was not dignified, and he apostrophised the whole race of models, and wondered why they could not see that a chap wanted to work, instead of playing up to him with their hopelessly feminine ways. ”

“ There was already a yard and a half of stone passage between them; and the space was widening every minute, as she backed towards the staircase, and he into the middle studio.
"I am afraid she would have too much sense of humour to receive you," she said, and laughed mockingly, and went away down the long flights of stone stairs.
"It's all right," said Askett, congratulating himself. "She doesn't care. I might have known she wouldn't. These models — ah well!" He flung the pink silk cloak on the floor, and sat down on the chair, and relighted his pipe. ”

“ I believe you are a solitary instance of a woman who can endure the charms of another woman without feeling jealous."
"Perhaps it is only the charms of the other Anna," she said, carelessly. "What do you want to know about her?"
"Oh, anything, everything. What does she do, for instance? said Askett, vaguely. His temporary interest in a woman, who was not there with the express purpose of distracting him, was already vanishing as he began to grow interested in his work.
"Do? Has she got to do anything? You surely don't suppose she is a model, or anything like that, do you? ”

“ It's rather difficult to talk to a person who only tells you the ends of her thoughts, as it were. If I were a conjurer, or a medium, or somebody like that, it might be all right." "It isn't half so difficult as talking to a person who doesn't talk at all," retorted his model.
"Perhaps not," said Askett, indifferently. "Will you kindly lower your chin a little, it has a tendency to — thanks. You were saying——"
"I was saying that conversation with a person who is only interested in your stupid chin isn't any fun at all," said Anna, who was beginning to feel both tired and cross. ”

“ I wonder how the other Anna would look in that thing? It's very odd to have kept my interest in the same woman for six, seven, eight weeks, and a woman I haven't even seen. I suppose it's true that all the constancy in a man's heart is for the women he has never seen, but still——However, it's a safe passion, and I won't risk it by making her acquaintance. ”

“ Of course, yes."
"You're very unfeeling," remarked Anna, who had assented by nods to the touching story of her life as related by Askett. "You should try being a model for an afternoon, and then you'd know."
"My dear young lady, one occupation at a time is always enough for a man," said Askett, quietly. "Probably that is why I am interested merely in your features. Does the elderly lady, I mean the other Anna, know that you are a model?" ”

“ Oh yes, you do; pretty little girl rather, big hat, name Wilson, lives with a Miss Angell. My dear fellow, one would think you had never even heard her name! Well, never mind about the model; I don't want to talk about her. But I do want to know something about the girl she lives with, the other Anna, you know — Miss Angell, in fact."
"I suppose you know what you're playing at," said Tom, good-naturedly; "but I'm bothered if I do. Miss Angell doesn't live with any one as far as I know. She never introduced me to a model in her life ”

“ When she made ready to go, that day, he forgot to put on her cloak for her, and stood irresolutely looking at her with the old nervous frown come back to his face; and she guessed instinctively that there was something he had to say to her. ”

“ Even for the sake of the disguise, she could not endure that he should think of her as Poppy.
"Real name Anna, pet name Poppy, address care of Miss Anna — hullo? " he stopped writing on his cuff and looked down at her sternly. "You seem to have the same name as the elderly lady who looks after you. How's this? I don't believe your name is Anna at all." ”

“ Flowers always are. I'm glad you like them, they'll help you not to feel bored, perhaps. You curious child, to make all that fuss over a lot of daffodils! Does the other Anna like flowers as much as you do? ”

“ But this he showed no anxiety to do, for the mere suggestion precipitated him into his studio again, and she concluded that the frown must have been nervousness after all. She returned to her seat on the stairs, but had hardly settled herself in her corner when the door opened behind her once more, and the owner of the middle studio was again jerking out his abrupt remarks at her back.
"It's no use staying out there in the cold," he said, as though she were somehow morally responsible for the inclemency of the weather. "There's a fire in here, and my model hasn't come back yet. ”

“ She's much too lazy to do things; she just has a good time, that's all. All her people are away or dead or at war with her; and she has some money of her own, not nearly enough of course, but still it's something. And she dresses rather well, and has a charming flat — I don't believe you are listening to a word I say, and it's too bad!"
"Indeed I am. It is my way of appearing interested. She dresses rather well, and has a charming flat. ”

“ No, I'm all right," he said, in the resentful manner with which he repelled all her attempts to find out something about him. "Women always think you're ill if you feel a bit off colour," he added, as though to explain his abruptness.
"The other Anna," she observed, "always has a headache when she is off colour, as you call it. She had one this morning."
"Ah," said Askett, brightening a little, "tell me about the other Anna. Why is she off colour to-day?"
"Because she is in love," said Anna, lightly; and she crossed her feet and leaned back in her chair and looked at him.
"In love? ”

“ Several times that evening, she took up her pen to write and tell him that she would not come any more, and each time she laid it down again, and jerked her small chin into the air, and vowed she would go through with it.
"It is an adventure," she said, "and it is too rare to be wasted."
"So for the sake of an adventure, she knocked once more at the door of Askett's studio. He opened it immediately, and held out his hand in greeting; but he was very businesslike in his manner, and set to work directly she was ready. ”

“ So it would have been rather, don t you know, if you'd been an ordinary model; they want jumping on sometimes. I say, Miss Angell," he added, chuckling, "what larks if Askett comes in when you've gone, and asks me for your address! Ten to one he does. What shall I say?"
"I don't fancy," said Anna, quietly, "that he will want to know."
Nevertheless, as she was hurrying past the door of the middle studio, two hours later, Askett came out hastily and called her back. ”