"What has happened," he said, balancing a armful of wet clay in onearm and looking laughingly up at her, where she stood on themodel-stand, "is that a beautiful kid strolled inside here one day andheld up a mirror to a solemn ass who was stalking theatricallythrough life. That solemn ass is somewhat grateful for the glimpse hehad of himself. He behaved gratefully, didn't he?"

"Very," she exclaimed with a forced chuckle.

"Do you object to the manner in which he expressed his gratitude?"