Life burned with sterner fire! And yet, for all these self-denials, Morrison's money and his own savings were nearly gone.

Funds might hold out till after Christmas.
What then?
He had heard once or twice from Morrison, asking for news of the pictures promised.

Lately he had left the letters unanswered; but he lived in terror of a visit.

For he had nothing to offer him--neither money nor pictures.

His only picture so far--as distinguished from exercises--was the 'Genius Loci.' He had begun that in a moment of weariness with his student work, basing it on a number of studies of Phoebe's head and face he had brought South with him.