"I don't wonder at his passion! But I wonder at his forsaking your society for that of your brother's paint-brushes." Eugenia was silent a little.

"He had not been in the studio.

I invented that at the moment." "Invented it?
For what purpose ?" "He has an idea of being romantic.

He has adopted the habit of coming to see me at midnight--passing only through the orchard and through Felix's painting-room, which has a door opening that way.

It seems to amuse him," added Eugenia, with a little laugh.
Acton felt more surprise than he confessed to, for this was a new view of Clifford, whose irregularities had hitherto been quite without the romantic element.