"Are you cross, Florian?" she asked gently, "Has something worried
you to-day?"
"Oh, I am often worried!" he replied;--and had he spoken the exact
truth he would have confessed that he was always seriously put out
when he was not the centre of attraction and the cynosure of women's
eyes--"But what does it matter! Do not think at all about me, cara
mia! Tell me of yourself. How goes the picture?"
"It is nearly finished now," she replied, her beautiful violet eyes
dilating and brightening with the fervour that inspired her whenever
she thought of her work, "I rise very early, and begin to paint with
the first gleam of daylight. I think I shall have it ready sooner
than I expected. The Queen has promised to come and see it here
before it is exhibited to the public."
"Margherita di Savoja is very amiable!" said Florian, with a tinge
of envy he could not wholly conceal, "She is always useful as a
patron."
A quick flush of pride rose to Angela's cheeks.
"I do not need any patronage, Florian," she said simply yet with a
little coldness, "You know that I should resent it were it offered
to me. If my work is not good in itself, no 'royal' approval can
make it so. Queen Margherita visits me as a friend--not as a
patron.
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