ay?"hesaid,rubbinghisfatfreckledhands."IthoughtIwoulddomyselfthehonourofingroundinperson.Ihavejustgotabeautyofaframe,sir.Pickeditupatasale.OldFlorentine.CamefromFonthill,Ibelieve.Admirablysuitedfioussubject,Mr.Gray."

    "Iamsosorryyouhavegivenyourselfthetroubleofinground,Mr.Hubbard.Ishallcertainlydropinandlookattheframe--thoughIdontgoinmuchatpresentfiousart--butto-dayIonlyicturecarriedtothetopofthehouseforme.Itisratherheavy,soIthoughtIwouldaskyoutolendmeacoupleofyourmen."

    "Notroubleatall,Mr.Gray.Iamdelightedtobeofanyservicetoyou.Whichistheworkofart,sir?"

    "This,"repliedDorian,movingthesback."oveit,candall,justasitis?Idontwantittogetscratchedgoingupstairs."

    "Therewillbenodifficulty,sir,"saidthegenialframe-maker,beginning,withtheaidofhisassistant,tounhookthepicturefromthelongbrasssbywhichitwassuspended."And,now,whereshallwecarryittray?"

    "Iwillshowyoutheway,Mr.Hubbard,ifyouwillkindlyfollowme.Orperhapsyouhadbettergoinfront.Iamafraiditisrightatthetopofthehouse.Wewillgoupbythefrontstaircase,asitiswider."

    Heheldthedooropenforthem,andtheypassedoutintothehallaheast.Theelaboratecharacteroftheframehadmadethepictureextremelybulky,andnowandthen,inspiteoftheobsequiousprotestsofMr.Hubbard,whohadthetruetradesmansspiriteddislikeofseeilemandoinganythinguseful,Dorianputhishandtoitsoastohelpthem.

    "Somethingofaloadtocarry,sir,"gaspedthelittlemaheyreachedtheto