"
Jessie thanked with an effusion of gratitude which made her prettier
than ever, and then was claimed by Bobus to help him in the making of
some paper bags that he needed for some of his curiosities.
Janet liked to fancy that it was beauty versus genius that made
Jessie the greater favourite. She had not taken into account that
she was always too much engrossed with her own concerns to be
helpful, while Jessie's pretty dexterous hands were always at
everyone's service, and without in the least entering into the cause
of science, she was invaluable in the museum, whenever her ideas of
neatness and symmetry were not in too absolute opposition to the
requirements of system.
The two little ones, Essie and Ellie, were equally graceful, or
indeed still more so, as being still in their kittenhood, and their
attitudes were so charming as to revive their aunt's artistic
instincts.
All the earlier part of the year, when her time was her own, it had
been mere wretchedness and heart-sickness to think of the art which
had given her husband so much pleasure, and, but for Allen, the
studio would never have been arranged. But no sooner was her time
engrossed, than the artist fever awoke in her, and all the time she
could steal by early rising, or on wet afternoons, and birthday
holidays, was devoted to her clay.
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