What most often pleased his commissioners was the detail he used in the portraits. He had great skill in rendering clothes and hair and shoes and jewels. One of his happiest knacks was that of being able to see and to set onto canvas with paint the personality of pets. Having caught the dignity and mystery of Amos and the keen affability of Rufus, and by doing so pleasing the husband who would pay for the portraits, he could risk Mrs. Clay’s wondering if her mouth was quite that straight in repose and if her eyes were really so small. How was she to complain of such matters when Mr. Clay was laughing delightedly and telling Casey Troy that he had surely caught that devil Rufus to the life!

And so now, as the early music played and the late guests arrived, Casey Troy came in with the Clay family, and Sarah and Leon went to the door to greet them, as Lovey accepted coats and capes and gave them over to other servants to put away. As he was introduced to his host and hostess, Casey automatically made a quick study of their faces, as if he were to paint them—as he firmly intended to do once they thought the idea was their own. Knowing well that the first and most necessary target of approval was the man who would pay him, he was careful to make himself agreeable to Leon. Since he liked and enjoyed men, this part of his work was easy enough, and he and Leon had talked for less than five minutes when Leon told himself that he must see the portraits he had only heard about that had been done of the Clays, and if they bore out his favorable opinion of the good sense of the painter, to ask Mr. Troy to consider his family as future subjects. Troy knew from experience the very moment his host made that decision and turned his attention to his hostess. When he did, he saw that she had caught his train of thought even as he had caught Leon’s. She smiled at him, not as though she had found him out, but rather as if her perception was the beginning of friendship. He smiled back at her, at first to hide a stir of embarrassment, and then because he saw how lovely she was. This was no common rich farmer’s wife.

The musicians finished their tune, and Mr. Midas Mott, the dancing master, clapped his hands and announced in his best elocution voice that those engaged for the first formal set must take their places. Sarah turned to Leon. They smiled and nodded at the guests around them and then went off, her hand on his arm, to open the ball.

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