And Polly always wanted to go after that to see the "Assumption," which
is the altar-piece, and then the "Elevation of the Cross," both by
Rubens. "And I am sure, Grandpapa," she would always say, "I like them
as well as I do the famous painting."
"And so do I, Polly, in a way," Grandpapa would invariably reply. "They
are all marvellous, and that is all we can say, for no expressions
could give the truth about them."
After the Cathedral, which they loved all the more,--"for being perched
under its eaves" (as Polly always said when speaking of the hotel that
was for the time being their home),--Polly and Jasper set next in their
regard the Mus?e Plantin-Moretus. They were never tired of running down
there to the March? du Vendredi, until it became a regular question
every day at dinner, "Well, what more have you discovered at the Mus?e
Plantin?"
And old Mr. King would often answer, for he was as interested as the
young people, "Marvellous things." And then he would expatiate on the
antique furniture, the paintings, engravings, and tapestries, till the
little doctor, fresh from his hospital visitations, would remark that
it was just as good as if he had time to visit the place, to hear
Grandpapa tell it all. And Adela would bring out her little sketches,
which now she was not averse to showing, since everybody was so kind
and sympathising, and there would be some little nook or corner of
corridor or court that Polly would fall upon and pronounce, "Just
perfect, and how did you get it?"
"Oh, I just drew a bit now and then when you were looking at things,"
said Adela, carelessly.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168