The young fellow was Edmund Murdoch's cousin,
and at present dwelt in Newlyn with the elder artist already mentioned as
John Barron's friend.
"May I make so bold as to ax if you do knaw a paintin' gen'leman by name
o'--o' Mister Jan? Leastways, that's wan on's names, but I never can call
home the other, though he tawld me wance. He was here last early
spring-time, an' painted a gert picture of me up 'pon top the hill they
calls Gorse Point."
"Lucky devil," thought the artist; but though he knew something of Barron
and his work and had heard that Barron painted when at Newlyn, he did not
associate these facts with the girl before him.
"He'm in Lunnon, so far's I knaw," she continued.
Harry Murdoch had to look hard at Joan before answering, and he delayed a
while with an expression of deep thought upon his face. At length he spoke.
"No, I cannot say that I have heard of him or the picture. But perhaps some
of the men in Newlyn will know. He was lucky to get you to paint. I wish
you would let me try."
She shook her head impatiently.
"No, no. He done it 'cause--'cause he just wanted a livin' thing to fill up
a bit o' his canvas. 'Tweern't for shaw or for folks to see. He done it for
pleasure. An' I wants to knaw wheer he lives 'cause he might think I be in
Newlyn still, but I ban't. I'm livin' up Drift along wi' Mr. Chirgwin. An'
I wish he could knaw it."
"He was called 'Mister John'? Well, I'll see what I can do to find out
anything about him.
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