"He 's not very strong, and I 'm afraid the climate of Europe is very relaxing." "Ah, study ?" repeated Mr.Striker.

"To what line of study is he to direct his attention ?" Then suddenly, with an impulse of disinterested curiosity on his own account, "How do you study sculpture, anyhow ?" "By looking at models and imitating them." "At models, eh?
To what kind of models do you refer ?" "To the antique, in the first place." "Ah, the antique," repeated Mr.Striker, with a jocose intonation.

"Do you hear, madam?
Roderick is going off to Europe to learn to imitate the antique." "I suppose it 's all right," said Mrs.Hudson, twisting herself in a sort of delicate anguish.
"An antique, as I understand it," the lawyer continued, "is an image of a pagan deity, with considerable dirt sticking to it, and no arms, no nose, and no clothing.

A precious model, certainly!" "That 's a very good description of many," said Rowland, with a laugh.
"Mercy! Truly ?" asked Mrs.Hudson, borrowing courage from his urbanity.
"But a sculptor's studies, you intimate, are not confined to the antique," Mr.Striker resumed.

"After he has been looking three or four years at the objects I describe"-- "He studies the living model," said Rowland.
"Does it take three or four years ?" asked Mrs.Hudson, imploringly.
"That depends upon the artist's aptitude.