TheeffectofthiscuriouscapriceoffancyasIthoughtitthenwasnotofanaturetosetmeatmyease，duringafirstinterviewwithMissFairlie。Thefewkindwordsofwelcomewhichshespokefoundmehardlyself-possessedenoughtothankherinthecustomaryphrasesofreply。Observingmyhesitation，andnodoubtattributingit，naturallyenough，tosomemomentaryshynessonmypart，MissHalcombetookthebusinessoftalking，aseasilyandreadilyasusual，intoherownhands。
`Lookthere，MrHartright，’shesaid，pointingtothesketchbookonthetable，andtothelittledelicatewanderinghandthatwasstilltriflingwithit。`Surelyyouwillacknowledgethatyourmodelpupilisfoundatlast？Themomentshehearsthatyouareinthehouse，sheseizesherinestimablesketch-book，looksuniversalNaturestraightintheface，andlongstobegin！’
MissFairlielaughedwithareadygood-humour，whichbrokeoutasbrightlyasifithadbeenpartofthesunshineaboveus，overherlovelyface。
`Imustnottakecredittomyselfwherenocreditisdue，’shesaid，herclear，truthfulblueeyeslookingalternatelyatMissHalcombeandatme。`FondasIamofdrawing，IamsoconsciousofmyownignorancethatIammoreafraidthananxioustobegin。NowIknowyouarehere，MrHartright，Ifindmyselflookingovermysketches，asIusedtolookovermylessonswhenIwasalittlegirl，andwhenIwassadlyafraidthatI
shouldturnoutnotfittobeheard。’