stories by english authors in france(旅法英国作家的故事)-第13章
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view。 For example； I have found women almost uniformly less delicate in
asking me about my terms； and less generous in remunerating me for my
services； than men。 On the other hand； men； within my knowledge； are
decidedly vainer of their personal attractions； and more vexatiously
anxious to have them done full justice to on canvas； than women。 Taking
both sexes together； I have found young people； for the most part； more
gentle； more reasonable； and more considerate than old。 And； summing up；
in a general way； my experience of different ranks （which extends； let me
premise； all the way down from peers to publicans）； I have met with most
of my formal and ungracious receptions among rich people of uncertain
social standing； the highest classes and the lowest among my employers
almost always contrivein widely different ways； of course to make me
feel at home as soon as I enter their houses。
The one great obstacle that I have to contend against in the practice of
my profession is not； as some persons may imagine； the difficulty of
making my sitters keep their heads still while I paint them； but the
difficulty of getting them to preserve the natural look and the every… day
peculiarities of dress and manner。 People will assume an expression； will
brush up their hair； will correct any little characteristic carelessness in
their apparelwill； in short； when they want to have their likenesses taken；
look as if they were sitting for their pictures。 If I paint them under these
artificial circumstances； I fail； of course； to present them in their habitual
aspect； and my portrait； as a necessary consequence； disappoints
everybody； the sitter always included。 When we wish to judge of a man's
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character by his handwriting； we want his customary scrawl dashed off
with his common workaday pen； not his best small text traced laboriously
with the finest procurable crow…quill point。 So it is with portrait…painting；
which is； after all； nothing but a right reading of the externals of character
recognisably presented to the view of others。
Experience； after repeated trials； has proved to me that the only way of
getting sitters who persist in assuming a set look to resume their habitual
expression is to lead them into talking about some subject in which they
are greatly interested。 If I can only beguile them into speaking earnestly；
no matter on what topic； I am sure of recovering their natural expression；
sure of seeing all the little precious every… day peculiarities of the man or
woman peep out； one after another； quite unawares。 The long maundering
stories about nothing； the wearisome recitals of petty grievances； the local
anecdotes unrelieved by the faintest suspicion of anything like general
interest； which I have been condemned to hear； as a consequence of
thawing the ice off the features of formal sitters by the method just
described； would fill hundreds of volumes and promote the repose of
thousands of readers。 On the other hand； if I have suffered under the
tediousness of the many； I have not been without my compensating gains
from the wisdom and experience of the few。 To some of my sitters I have
been indebted for information which has enlarged my mind； to some for
advice which has lightened my heart； to some for narratives of strange
adventure which riveted my attention at the time； which have served to
interest and amuse my fireside circle for many years past； and which are
now； I would fain hope； destined to make kind friends for me among a
wider audience than any that I have yet addressed。
Singularly enough； almost all the best stories that I have heard from
my sitters have been told by accident。 I only remember two cases in which
a story was volunteered to me； and； although I have often tried the
experiment； I cannot call to mind even a single instance in which leading
questions （as lawyers call them） on my part； addressed to a sitter； ever
produced any result worth recording。 Over and over again I have been
disastrously successful in encouraging dull people to weary me。 But the
clever people who have something interesting to say seem； so far as I have
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observed them； to acknowledge no other stimulant than chance。 For every
story； excepting one； I have been indebted； in the first instance； to the
capricious influence of the same chance。 Something my sitter has seen
about me； something I have remarked in my sitter； or in the room in which
I take the likeness； or in the neighbourhood through which I pass on my
way to work； has suggested the necessary association； or has started the
right train of recollections； and then the story appeared to begin of its own
accord。 Occasionally the most casual notice； on my part； of some very
unpromising object has smoothed the way for the relation of a long and
interesting narrative。 I first heard one of the most dramatic stories merely
through being carelessly inquisitive to know the history of a stuffed
poodle…dog。
It is thus not without reason that I lay some stress on the desirableness
of prefacing the following narrative by a brief account of the curious
manner in which I became possessed of it。 As to my capacity for repeating
the story correctly； I can answer for it that my memory may be trusted。 I
may claim it as a merit； because it is； after all； a mechanical one； that I
forget nothing； and that I can call long… past conversations and events as
readily to my recollection as if they had happened but a few weeks ago。 Of
two things at least I feel tolerably certain before…hand； in meditating over
its contents： first； that I can repeat correctly all that I have heard； and；
secondly； that I have never missed anything worth hearing when my sitters
were addressing me on an interesting subject。 Although I cannot take the
lead in talking while I am engaged in painting； I can listen while others
speak； and work all the better for it。
So much in the way of general preface to the pages for which I am
about to ask the reader's attention。 Let me now advance to particulars； and
describe how I came to hear the story。 I begin with it because it is the story
that I have oftenest 〃rehearsed；〃 to borrow a phrase from the stage。
Wherever I go； I am sooner or later sure to tell it。 Only last night I was
persuaded into repeating it once more by the inhabitants of the farm…house
in which I am now staying。
Not many years ago； on returning from a short holiday visit to a friend
settled in Paris； I found professional letters awaiting me at my agent's in
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London； which required my immediate presence in Liverpool。 Without
stopping to unpack； I proceeded by the first conveyance to my new
destination； and； calling at the picture…dealer's shop where portrait…
painting engagements were received for me； found to my great satisfaction
that I had remunerative employment in prospect； in and about Liverpool；
for at least two months to come。 I was putting up my letters in high spirits；
and was just leaving the picture…dealer's shop to look out for comfortable
lodgings； when I was met at the door by the landlord of one of the largest
hotels in Liverpoolan old acquaintance whom I had known as manager
of a tavern in London in my student days。
〃Mr。 Kerby！〃 he exclaimed； in great astonishment。 〃What an
unexpected meeting！ the last man in the world whom I expected to see；
and yet the very man whose services I want to make use of！〃
〃What！ more work for me？〃 said I。 〃Are all the people in Liverpool
going to have their portraits painted？〃
〃I only know of one；〃 replied the landlord； 〃a gentleman staying at my
hotel； who wants a chalk drawing done of him。 I was on my way here to
inquire for any artist whom our picture…dealing friend could recommend。
How glad I am that I met you before I had committed myself to employing
a stranger！〃
〃Is this likeness wanted at once？〃 I asked； thinking of the number of
engagements that I had already got in my pocket。
〃Immediatelyto…daythis very hour； if possible；〃 said the landlord。
〃Mr。 Faulkner； the gentleman I am speaking of； was to have sailed
yesterday for the Brazils from this place； but the wind shifted last night to
the wrong quarter； and he came ashore again this morning。 He may； of
course； be detained here for some time； but he may also be called on board
ship at half an hour's notice； if the wind shifts back again in the right
direction。 This uncertainty makes it a matter of importance that the
likeness should be begun immediately。 Undertake it if you possibly can；
for Mr。 Faulkner is a liberal gentleman； who is sure to give you your own
terms。〃
I reflected for a minute or two。 The portrait was only wanted in chalk；
and would not take long； besides； I might finish it in the evening； if my
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other engagements pressed hard upon me in the daytime。 Why not leave
my luggage at the picture…dealer's； put off looking for lodgings till night；
and secure the new commission boldly by going back at once with the
landlord to the hotel？ I decided on following this course almost as soon as
the idea occurred to me； put my chalks in my pocket； and a sheet of
drawing…paper in the first of my portfolios that came to hand； and so
presented myself before Mr。 Faulkner； ready to take his likeness； literally
at five minutes' notice。
I found him a very pleasant； intelligen
