HCTtJaES. 267 



"Ah! weshaUsee." 



" I am convinced that a sight of the picture will make 

 you change your opinion. By the side of it you see the 

 entrance to a village ; amidst trees with rounded tops shoots 

 up the church spire; the sun, which darts his oblique rays, 

 fills the foliage of the trees with golden sparks; a peasant is 

 driving home his cart." 



" If that picture be, as I think it is, by J. Ostade, it is 

 valuable." 



" I do not believe that any Ostade ever did anything ap- 

 proaching it." 



" My dear friend, you don't understand the Ostades." 



" I was yesterday looking at another picture which de- 

 lighted me very much: a child was seated at a window 

 blowing soap-bubbles; the child was serious and attentive, 

 whilst the bubble, stiU a captive, appeared to grow larger 

 and larger, as it balanced itself upon an imperceptible breath 

 of air. The most enchanting colours succeeded each other 

 upon this frail globe of glass." 



" Oh ; that is a well-known picture ! I saw it at the house 

 of an amateur, from whom you must have bought it : that 

 is by J. Mieris." 



" I did not buy it." 



" Oh, dear no ; I suppose it was given you ! — or else you 

 found it ! As I told you, you are an amateiu: of the second 

 class. You pretend to have got for nothing a picture worth 

 6,000 francs!" 



" The back ground of another is composed of magnificent 

 chestnut-trees, with large leaves of golden green, rendered 

 stiU more so by the rays of the setting sun; a small house 

 covered with vines is entirely gilded by the last warm rays of 

 the star of day ; nearer, and towards the centre, a Bohemian 

 olive, and an elder-tree much lower down; so that the oblique 

 rays of the sun passing over and into the shade, leave the 

 foliage of the first of a whiteish hue, and the tuft of the 

 latter of a dark green. In front of the elder is a purple 

 blossomed rose; its lower flowers are in shade; one alone, 

 which shoots beyond the elder, catches a ray of the sun, and 

 looks like a magnificent ruby." 



" Are there no figures?" 



