His
sister he could not endure. Therese had always been jealous of
the marked preference shown to him; and now, with an evident
sense of triumph, she preached little sermons, talked at him
with unceasing perseverance, and in truth was not a very
engaging person.
Madame Linders had not been dead ten days, when the brother
and sister had a violent quarrel, and parted with the
determination on either side never to meet again--a resolution
which was perfectly well kept. Therese retired to the Belgian
convent, and Adolphe, the possessor of a few thousand francs,
the remains of his mother's small fortune, returned to his
studio and to the life he had chosen.
The success and duration of a career of this sort is in exact
proportion to the amount of capital, real or assumed, invested
in it. Monsieur Linders' capital was very small; his francs
and credit both were soon exhausted, and began to find that
making-believe to paint pictures was hardly a paying business.
He tried to take portraits, attempted etching, gambled, and,
finally, being more in debt than he could well afford,
disappeared from the Paris world for a number of years, and
for a long space was known and heard of no more.
Pages:
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63