My statue looks so bad when I come into the studio that I have twenty minds to smash it on the spot, and I lose three or four hours in sitting there, moping and getting used to it." Rowland said that he supposed that this sort of thing was the lot of every artist and that the only remedy was plenty of courage and faith.
And he reminded him of Gloriani's having forewarned him against these sterile moods the year before.
"Gloriani 's an ass!" said Roderick, almost fiercely.

He hired a horse and began to ride with Rowland on the Campagna.

This delicious amusement restored him in a measure to cheerfulness, but seemed to Rowland on the whole not to stimulate his industry.

Their rides were always very long, and Roderick insisted on making them longer by dismounting in picturesque spots and stretching himself in the sun among a heap of overtangled stones.

He let the scorching Roman luminary beat down upon him with an equanimity which Rowland found it hard to emulate.