On the day after Holm had been up to Mrs. Rantzau, William and Marie came into the office. Each wore an air of serious importance, and Holm at once suspected something in the wind.
"Father, we want to read you something. It"s from an article in the paper."
"Right you are, my boy--go ahead!"
"It"s about that picture of mine, the big one of "Rebecca and the Camels," that"s on exhibition now in Christiania."
"What"s she doing with the camels?"
"Giving them water."
"Oh, I see. Watering the camelias; yes, go on."
"Father, I don"t think it"s nice of you always to be making fun of William," put in Marie.
"Making fun? Not a bit of it, my dear offspring, I"m highly interested."
"Don"t you want to hear what the papers say about my work?"
"That"s just what I"m waiting for, if you"ll only begin."
William opened the paper and read out solemnly:
"This large canvas, "Rebecca and the Camels," is the work of that promising young painter, William Holm.
"The most surprising feature of the picture, at a first glance, is the courage and self-confidence displayed by this young artist in handling so lofty a theme.
"Naturally, some of the details are not altogether happy in their execution, but, taken as a whole, one cannot but admit that it is a real work of art, and the country may be congratulated on adding a fresh name to the roll of its talented artists.
"With the further study which, we understand, he is shortly about to undertake in Paris, William Holm should have a great future before him."
"Very nice, my son, very pretty indeed. And I suppose it"s your pet particular friend, Listad, who wrote it? Does credit to his imagination, I"m sure."
"It was written by a critic of ability and understanding."
"It would be, of course."
"And after that you surely can"t have any objection to our going to Paris?"
"We should like to go at once, papa," added Marie.
"I dare say you would. But I think we ought to have a little more conclusive proof of your talent first. Well, I will make you an offer. William, you can send your picture to Copenhagen, and have it exhibited there anonymously: then we will abide by what the critics say. If it"s good, why, I give in; if it"s slated, then you agree to start work in the office here with me forthwith, and leave your paint-pots till your leisure, to amuse yourself and your friends apart from your work with me.
"And you, Marie, you can tell your music-mistress, Mrs. Rantzau, that you are seriously thinking of going to the opera, and ask her candid opinion of your prospects. If she advises you to do so, well and good, you shall go to Paris; if not, then you stay at home and begin to learn house-keeping like any other young woman. Isn"t that fair?"
"Yes, that"s fair enough," said William. "I"m not afraid of what the Copenhagen critics will say."
"And I know Mrs. Rantzau will tell me I ought to go on."
As soon as they had gone, Holm stole off quietly to Mrs. Rantzau and told her all that had pa.s.sed.
The young people started on their packing at once, Marie in particular was busily occupied in completing her wardrobe. A new travelling-dress was ordered, and various purchases made.
"Don"t you think it would be better to wait until we have heard the decision of the authorities," suggested Holm.
"Oh, but I shall hear from Mrs. Rantzau to-morrow," said Marie. "And it doesn"t really matter, does it, if you don"t get the answer till after I"ve gone?"
"H"m, I think I"d rather have it settled first, if it"s all the same to you."
A week pa.s.sed, however, and every day Marie had to try over again with Mrs. Rantzau; strange how particular she was now!
William had sent off his picture to Copenhagen, and was all anxiety to learn what had been said about it. The dealer had been instructed to send him press cuttings as soon as they appeared.
On Sat.u.r.day morning, when Holm went up into the drawing-room, he found the pair very subdued. William was in the smoking-room, which was in darkness, looking out of the window, and Marie lay on the sofa in tears.
On the table lay an open letter from Mrs. Rantzau, as follows:
"MY DEAR MISS HOLM,--I have for the past week carefully and conscientiously tested your voice in order to give my verdict without hesitation as to your chances of making a career as a singer.
"I regret that as a result I can only advise you most seriously to relinquish the idea.
"You have certainly a pleasing voice, but its compa.s.s is only slight, and would never be sufficiently powerful for concert work.
"By all means continue your training, you will find it worth while, and your voice might be a source of pleasure to your home circle and friends. I am sure you will be a thousand times happier in that way than in entering upon a career which could only lead to disappointment.--Sincerely yours,
"EMILIE RANTZAU."
Holm read the letter, and went over to Marie.
"Don"t cry, my child; you shall go to Paris all right, but we"ll go together this time, for a holiday."
"Oh, I"m so miserable--hu, hu!"
"It won"t be for long." And Holm sat comforting her as well as he could, until at last she went out of her own accord to lay the table for supper--a thing she had not troubled to do for a long time.
"Aha," thought Holm, "things are looking up a bit."
It was not a particularly cheerful meal, however, and William went off to his own room as soon as it was over.
A few days later a bundle of newspapers arrived by post from Copenhagen. William took the parcel with a trembling hand, and hurried off to his room to read them.
Not a word about "Rebecca and the Camels," beyond the dealer"s advertis.e.m.e.nt of the exhibition. Ah, yes, here was something at last.
And he read through the following, from one of the morning papers:
"NORWEGIAN CAMELS"
"A decidedly humorous work of art has been on exhibition here the last few days.
"We have rarely seen visitors to the gallery so amused as were the groups that gathered before the large-sized canvas indicated as representing "Rebecca and the Camels."