Modern Art Painting

Modern Art Painting
Lucy looked round her. They were in a small room evidently designed to be used as a study, but equally evidently not used as such for a very long time. There were piles of dusty papers on the desk and cobwebs festooned from the corners of the ceiling. The air smelt damp and musty.
"Do you want me to clean this room?" she asked.
Old Mr. Crackenthorpe shook his head fiercely.
"No, you don't! I keep this room locked up. Emma would like to fiddle about in here, but I don't let her. It's my room. See these stones? They're geological specimens."
Modern Art Painting
Lucy looked at a collection of twelve or fourteen lumps of rock, some polished and some rough.
"Lovely," she said kindly. "Most interesting."
"You're quite right. They are interesting. You're an intelligent girl. I don't show them to everybody. I'll show you some more things."
"It's very kind of you, but I ought really to get on with what I was doing. With six people in the house –"
Modern Art Painting