human
Phil, if you begin to flatter me you will spoil me; and I shall not be half so good a friend when I am spoiled. Won't you give this to me?
gpt
No; I keep my portfolio all to myself. But I will draw a better one, if you like, of you, and finish it up properly, like this.
human
That is my guardian, Mr. Dyson. I will draw you in the same style. Poor dear guardian! I think he was very fond of me.
gpt
Phil, will you instead make me a drawing--of your own face?
human
But can you not do it for yourself?
gpt
I? Phil, I could not even draw a haystack.
human
What a misfortune! It seems worse than not being able to read.
gpt
Draw me a picture of yourself, Phil.
human
Nobody ever asked me to do that yet. And I never drew my own face. It would be nice, too, to think that you had a likeness of me, particularly as you cannot draw yourself. Jack, would you mind if it were not much like me?
gpt
I should prefer it like you. Please try. Give me yourself as you are now. Do not be afraid of making it too pretty.
human
I will try to make it like. Here is Mrs. Cassilis. She did not think it was very good.
gpt
Phil, you are a genius. Do you know that? I hold you to your promise. You will draw a portrait of yourself, and I will frame it and hang it up--no, I won't do that; I will keep it myself, and look at it when no one is with me.
human
That seems very pleasant, said Phil, reflecting.
gpt
I should like to think that you are looking at me sometimes. Jack, I only met you yesterday, and we are old friends already.
human
Yes; quite old familiar friends, are we not? Now tell all about yourself.