artist¡¡of¡¡ability£»¡¡and¡¡remove¡¡thither¡¡on¡¡speculation¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡my¡¡friends¡¡
among¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡picture¡dealers¡¡¡¡¡¡say¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡word¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡behalf¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡rich¡¡
customers£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡pave¡¡the¡¡way¡¡for¡¡me¡¡in¡¡the¡¡large¡¡towns¡£¡¡Sometimes¡¡my¡¡
prosperous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡famous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡brother¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡artists£»¡¡¡¡hearing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡commissions¡¡
which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡worth¡¡their¡¡while¡¡to¡¡accept£»¡¡mention¡¡my¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡procure¡¡
me¡¡¡¡¡¡introductions¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pleasant¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡¡¡¡houses¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡get¡¡¡¡¡¡on£»¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡
way¡¡and¡¡now¡¡in¡¡another£»¡¡not¡¡winning¡¡a¡¡reputation¡¡or¡¡making¡¡a¡¡fortune£»¡¡but¡¡
happier£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡whole£»¡¡than¡¡many¡¡men¡¡who¡¡have¡¡got¡¡both¡¡the¡¡one¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡other¡£¡¡So£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡I¡¡try¡¡to¡¡think¡¡now£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡started¡¡in¡¡my¡¡youth¡¡
with¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡high¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡ambition¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡best¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Thank¡¡¡¡¡¡God£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
business¡¡here¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡past¡¡times¡¡and¡¡their¡¡disappointments¡£¡¡A¡¡twinge¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡hopeless¡¡heartache¡¡comes¡¡over¡¡me¡¡sometimes¡¡still£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡think¡¡
of¡¡my¡¡student¡¡days¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡¡¡peculiarity¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡present¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡is£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡brings¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡51¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡52¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
contact¡¡with¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡of¡¡characters¡£¡¡I¡¡almost¡¡feel£»¡¡by¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡
painted¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡civilised¡¡¡¡¡¡variety¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡human¡¡¡¡¡¡race¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡whole£»¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡
experience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world£»¡¡rough¡¡as¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been£»¡¡has¡¡not¡¡taught¡¡me¡¡to¡¡think¡¡
unkindly¡¡of¡¡my¡¡fellow¡creatures¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡certainly¡¡received¡¡such¡¡treatment¡¡
at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hands¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sitters¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡describe¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡
saddening¡¡and¡¡shocking¡¡any¡¡kind¡hearted¡¡reader£»¡¡but£»¡¡taking¡¡one¡¡year¡¡and¡¡
one¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡another£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡cause¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡remember¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡gratitude¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
respect£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sometimes¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡friendship¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡affection£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡large¡¡
proportion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡numerous¡¡persons¡¡who¡¡have¡¡employed¡¡me¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡results¡¡of¡¡my¡¡experience¡¡are¡¡curious¡¡in¡¡a¡¡moral¡¡point¡¡of¡¡
view¡£¡¡For¡¡example£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡found¡¡women¡¡almost¡¡uniformly¡¡less¡¡delicate¡¡in¡¡
asking¡¡me¡¡about¡¡my¡¡terms£»¡¡and¡¡less¡¡generous¡¡in¡¡remunerating¡¡me¡¡for¡¡my¡¡
services£»¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡¡¡¡¡within¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡knowledge£»¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡
decidedly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡vainer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡personal¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡attractions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡vexatiously¡¡
anxious¡¡to¡¡have¡¡them¡¡done¡¡full¡¡justice¡¡to¡¡on¡¡canvas£»¡¡than¡¡women¡£¡¡Taking¡¡
both¡¡sexes¡¡together£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡found¡¡young¡¡people£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part£»¡¡more¡¡
gentle£»¡¡more¡¡reasonable£»¡¡and¡¡more¡¡considerate¡¡than¡¡old¡£¡¡And£»¡¡summing¡¡up£»¡¡
in¡¡a¡¡general¡¡way£»¡¡my¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡different¡¡ranks¡¡£¨which¡¡extends£»¡¡let¡¡me¡¡
premise£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡down¡¡from¡¡peers¡¡to¡¡publicans£©£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡met¡¡with¡¡most¡¡
of¡¡my¡¡¡¡formal¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡ungracious¡¡¡¡¡¡receptions¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡rich¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡uncertain¡¡
social¡¡standing£»¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡classes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lowest¡¡among¡¡my¡¡employers¡¡
almost¡¡always¡¡contrivein¡¡widely¡¡different¡¡ways£»¡¡of¡¡course¡¡to¡¡make¡¡me¡¡
feel¡¡at¡¡home¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡I¡¡enter¡¡their¡¡houses¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡one¡¡great¡¡obstacle¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡contend¡¡against¡¡in¡¡the¡¡practice¡¡of¡¡
my¡¡¡¡¡¡profession¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡not£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡persons¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡¡¡¡¡imagine£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡difficulty¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
making¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sitters¡¡¡¡keep¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡heads¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡paint¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
difficulty¡¡of¡¡getting¡¡them¡¡to¡¡preserve¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡look¡¡and¡¡the¡¡every¡¡¡day¡¡
peculiarities¡¡of¡¡dress¡¡and¡¡manner¡£¡¡People¡¡will¡¡assume¡¡an¡¡expression£»¡¡will¡¡
brush¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡hair£»¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡correct¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡characteristic¡¡¡¡¡¡carelessness¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
their¡¡apparelwill£»¡¡in¡¡short£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡want¡¡to¡¡have¡¡their¡¡likenesses¡¡taken£»¡¡
look¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡sitting¡¡for¡¡their¡¡pictures¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡paint¡¡them¡¡under¡¡these¡¡
artificial¡¡circumstances£»¡¡I¡¡fail£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡to¡¡present¡¡them¡¡in¡¡their¡¡habitual¡¡
aspect£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡portrait£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡necessary¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡consequence£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡disappoints¡¡
everybody£»¡¡the¡¡sitter¡¡always¡¡included¡£¡¡When¡¡we¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡judge¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man's¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡52¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡53¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
character¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡handwriting£»¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡want¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡customary¡¡¡¡¡¡scrawl¡¡¡¡¡¡dashed¡¡¡¡¡¡off¡¡
with¡¡his¡¡common¡¡workaday¡¡pen£»¡¡not¡¡his¡¡best¡¡small¡¡text¡¡traced¡¡laboriously¡¡
with¡¡the¡¡finest¡¡procurable¡¡crow¡quill¡¡point¡£¡¡So¡¡it¡¡is¡¡with¡¡portrait¡painting£»¡¡
which¡¡is£»¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡right¡¡reading¡¡of¡¡the¡¡externals¡¡of¡¡character¡¡
recognisably¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡the¡¡view¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Experience£»¡¡after¡¡repeated¡¡trials£»¡¡has¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡the¡¡only¡¡way¡¡of¡¡
getting¡¡sitters¡¡who¡¡persist¡¡in¡¡assuming¡¡a¡¡set¡¡look¡¡to¡¡resume¡¡their¡¡habitual¡¡
expression¡¡is¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡into¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡some¡¡subject¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡
are¡¡greatly¡¡interested¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡can¡¡only¡¡beguile¡¡them¡¡into¡¡speaking¡¡earnestly£»¡¡
no¡¡matter¡¡on¡¡what¡¡topic£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure¡¡of¡¡recovering¡¡their¡¡natural¡¡expression£»¡¡
sure¡¡of¡¡seeing¡¡all¡¡the¡¡little¡¡precious¡¡every¡¡¡day¡¡peculiarities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡or¡¡
woman¡¡peep¡¡out£»¡¡one¡¡after¡¡another£»¡¡quite¡¡unawares¡£¡¡The¡¡long¡¡maundering¡¡
stories¡¡about¡¡nothing£»¡¡the¡¡wearisome¡¡recitals¡¡of¡¡petty¡¡grievances£»¡¡the¡¡local¡¡
anecdotes¡¡¡¡¡¡unrelieved¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡faintest¡¡¡¡¡¡suspicion¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡anything¡¡¡¡¡¡like¡¡¡¡¡¡general¡¡
interest£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡condemned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡hear£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡consequence¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
thawing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ice¡¡¡¡off¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡features¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡formal¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sitters¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡method¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡just¡¡
described£»¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡fill¡¡¡¡¡¡hundreds¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡volumes¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡promote¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡repose¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
thousands¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡readers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡hand£»¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡suffered¡¡¡¡¡¡under¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
tediousness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡without¡¡my¡¡compensating¡¡gains¡¡
from¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡and¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡few¡£¡¡To¡¡some¡¡of¡¡my¡¡sitters¡¡I¡¡have¡¡
been¡¡indebted¡¡for¡¡information¡¡which¡¡has¡¡enlarged¡¡my¡¡mind£»¡¡to¡¡some¡¡for¡¡
advice¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡lightened¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡heart£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡narratives¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡strange¡¡
adventure¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡riveted¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡attention¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡served¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
interest¡¡and¡¡amuse¡¡my¡¡fireside¡¡circle¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡which¡¡are¡¡
now£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡fain¡¡¡¡¡¡hope£»¡¡¡¡¡¡destined¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡make¡¡¡¡¡¡kind¡¡¡¡¡¡friends¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
wider¡¡audience¡¡than¡¡any¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡yet¡¡addressed¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Singularly¡¡enough£»¡¡¡¡almost¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡best¡¡stories¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡
my¡¡sitters¡¡have¡¡been¡¡told¡¡by¡¡accident¡£¡¡I¡¡only¡¡remember¡¡two¡¡cases¡¡in¡¡which¡¡
a¡¡¡¡¡¡story¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡volunteered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡although¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡often¡¡¡¡¡¡tried¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
experiment£»¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡call¡¡to¡¡mind¡¡even¡¡a¡¡single¡¡instance¡¡in¡¡which¡¡leading¡¡
questions¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨as¡¡¡¡¡¡lawyers¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡¡¡them£©¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡part£»¡¡¡¡¡¡addressed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sitter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡
produced¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡result¡¡¡¡¡¡worth¡¡¡¡¡¡recording¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Over¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡again¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡
disastrously¡¡¡¡successful¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡encouraging¡¡dull¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡weary¡¡¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
clever¡¡people¡¡who¡¡have¡¡something¡¡interesting¡¡to¡¡say¡¡seem£»¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡have¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡53¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡54¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
observed¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡acknowledge¡¡no¡¡other¡¡stimulant¡¡than¡¡chance¡£¡¡For¡¡every¡¡
story£»¡¡¡¡¡¡excepting¡¡¡¡¡¡one£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡indebted£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡¡¡instance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
capricious¡¡¡¡¡¡influence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Something¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡sitter¡¡¡¡¡¡has¡¡¡¡¡¡seen¡¡
about¡¡me£»¡¡something¡¡I¡¡have¡¡remarked¡¡in¡¡my¡¡sitter£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡room¡¡in¡¡which¡¡
I¡¡take¡¡the¡¡likeness£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡through¡¡which¡¡I¡¡pass¡¡on¡¡my¡¡
way¡¡to¡¡work£»¡¡¡¡has¡¡suggested¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡necessary¡¡association£»¡¡or¡¡has¡¡started¡¡the¡¡
right¡¡train¡¡of¡¡recollections£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡story¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡of¡¡its¡¡own¡¡
accord¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Occasionally¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡most¡¡¡¡¡¡casual¡¡¡¡¡¡notice£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡part£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡
unpromising¡¡object¡¡has¡¡smoothed¡¡the¡¡way¡¡for¡¡the¡¡relation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡long¡¡and¡¡
interesting¡¡narrative¡£¡¡I¡¡first¡¡heard¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡dramatic¡¡stories¡¡merely¡¡
through¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡carelessly¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡inquisitive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡history¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡stuffed¡¡
poodle¡dog¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡thus¡¡not¡¡without¡¡reason¡¡that¡¡I¡¡lay¡¡some¡¡stress¡¡on¡¡the¡¡desirableness¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡prefacing¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡following¡¡¡¡¡¡narrative¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡brief¡¡¡¡¡¡account¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡curious¡¡
manner¡¡in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡became¡¡possessed¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡As¡¡to¡¡my¡¡capacity¡¡for¡¡repeating¡¡
the¡¡story¡¡correctly£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡answer¡¡for¡¡it¡¡that¡¡my¡¡memory¡¡may¡¡be¡¡trusted¡£¡¡I¡¡
may¡¡claim¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡merit£»¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡is£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡all£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡mechanical¡¡one£»¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡
forget¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡can¡¡call¡¡long¡¡¡past¡¡conversations¡¡and¡¡events¡¡as¡¡
readily¡¡to¡¡my¡¡recollection¡¡as¡¡if¡¡they¡¡had¡¡happened¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡weeks¡¡ago¡£¡¡Of¡¡
two¡¡things¡¡at¡¡least¡¡I¡¡feel¡¡tolerably¡¡certain¡¡before¡hand£»¡¡in¡¡meditating¡¡over¡¡
its¡¡¡¡¡¡contents£º¡¡¡¡¡¡first£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡can¡¡¡¡¡¡repeat¡¡¡¡¡¡correctly¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡heard£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡
secondly£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡missed¡¡anything¡¡worth¡¡hearing¡¡when¡¡my¡¡sitters¡¡
were¡¡addressing¡¡me¡¡on¡¡an¡¡interesting¡¡subject¡£¡¡Although¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡take¡¡the¡¡
lead¡¡in¡¡talking¡¡while¡¡I¡¡am¡¡engaged¡¡in¡¡painting£»¡¡I¡¡can¡¡listen¡¡while¡¡others¡¡
speak£»¡¡and¡¡work¡¡all¡¡the¡¡better¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡¡¡¡¡much¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡general¡¡¡¡¡¡preface¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡pages¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡am¡¡
about¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡reader's¡¡attention¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡now¡¡advance¡¡to¡¡particulars£»¡¡and¡¡
describe¡¡how¡¡I¡¡came¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡story¡£¡¡I¡¡begin¡¡with¡¡it¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡story¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡oftenest¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨rehearsed£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡borrow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡phrase¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡stage¡£¡¡
Wherever¡¡I¡¡go£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sooner¡¡or¡¡later¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡it¡£¡¡Only¡¡last¡¡night¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
persuaded¡¡into¡¡repeating¡¡it¡¡once¡¡more¡¡by¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡farm¡house¡¡
in¡¡which¡¡I¡¡am¡¡now¡¡staying¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Not¡¡many¡¡years¡¡ago£»¡¡on¡¡returning¡¡from¡¡a¡¡short¡¡holiday¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡
settled¡¡in¡¡Paris£»¡¡I¡¡found¡¡professional¡¡letters¡¡awaiting¡¡me¡¡at¡¡my¡¡agent's¡¡in¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡54¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡55¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡STORIES¡¡
London£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡required¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡immediate¡¡¡¡¡¡presence¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Liverpool¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡
stopping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡unpack£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡proceeded¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡¡¡¡conveyance¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡new¡¡
destination£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡calling¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡picture¡dealer's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡shop¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡portrait¡¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü