′Nor in me,′ says Neville Landless, though not so freely; or perhaps so carelessly. ′But if Mr. Drood knew all that lies behind me, far away from here, he might know better how it is that sharp- edged words have sharp edges to wound me.′
′Perhaps,′ says Jasper, in a soothing manner, ′we had better not qualify our good understanding. We had better not say anything having the appearance of a remonstrance or condition; it might not seem generous. Frankly and freely, you see there is no anger in Ned. Frankly and freely, there is no anger in you, Mr. Neville?′
′None at all, Mr. Jasper.′ Still, not quite so frankly or so freely; or, be it said once again, not quite so carelessly perhaps.
′All over then! Now, my bachelor gatehouse is a few yards from here, and the heater is on the fire, and the wine and glasses are on the table, and it is not a stone′s throw from Minor Canon Corner. Ned, you are up and away to-morrow. We will carry Mr. Neville in with us, to take a stirrup-cup.′
′With all my heart, Jack.′
′And with all mine, Mr. Jasper.′ Neville feels it impossible to say less, but would rather not go. He has an impression upon him that he has lost hold of his temper; feels that Edwin Drood′s coolness, so far from being infectious, makes him red-hot.
Mr. Jasper, still walking in the centre, hand to shoulder on either side, beautifully turns the Refrain of a drinking song, and they all go up to his rooms. There, the first object visible, when he adds the light of a lamp to that of the fire, is the portrait over the chimneypicce. It is not an object calculated to improve the understanding between the two young men, as rather awkwardly reviving the subject of their difference. Accordingly, they both glance at it consciously, but say nothing. Jasper, however (who would appear from his conduct to have gained but an imperfect clue to the cause of their late high words), directly calls attention to it.
′You recognise that picture, Mr. Neville?′ shading the lamp to throw the light upon it.
′I recognise it, but it is far from flattering the original.′
′O, you are hard upon it! It was done by Ned, who made me a present of it.′
′I am sorry for that, Mr. Drood.′ Neville apologises, with a real intention to apologise; ′if I had known I was in the artist′s presence—′
′O, a joke, sir, a mere joke,′ Edwin cuts in, with a provoking yawn. ′A little humouring of Pussy′s points! I′m going to paint her gravely, one of these days, if she′s good.′
The air of leisurely patronage and indifference with which this is said, as the speaker throws himself back in a chair and clasps his hands at the back of his head, as a rest for it, is very exasperating to the excitable and excited Neville. Jasper looks observantly from the one to the other, slightly smiles, and turns his back to mix a jug of mulled wine at the fire. It seems to require much mixing and compounding.
′I suppose, Mr. Neville,′ says Edwin, quick to resent the indignant protest against himself in the face of young Landless, which is fully as visible as the portrait, or the fire, or the lamp: ′I suppose that if you painted the picture of your lady love—′
′I can′t paint,′ is the hasty interruption.
′That′s your misfortune, and not your fault. You would if you could. But if you could, I suppose you would make her (no matter what she was in reality), Juno, Minerva, Diana, and Venus, all in one.
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