“I would not agree to having my own painted unless he did also. I very much want a portrait of my husband.”

“He is a handsome man,” Casey said.

“Yes, he is,” Sarah agreed. “I shall hang his likeness in the drawing room over the mantel.”

“That is usually the place reserved for the mistress of the house.”

“Oh, mine may go anywhere; I don’t care. In the office over the desk would be perhaps most appropriate.”

“Do you spend so much time upon business affairs of the plantation?”

“Oh, yes. Especially these last years. With the price of cotton continuing low, Mr. Kendrick occupies much of his time with our lumber works.”

“You have a sawmill.”

She nodded.

“I have passed it on my riding about. I very much enjoy the sights of the neighboring country. It is beautiful. I may not, of course, be seen idling about on my horse too often, or my patrons will not feel that I earn my price.”

“When you come to Beulah Land to do us—and, pray, not until you have made the Davis sisters happy—you may feel free to ride as much as you like. The quicker the portraits are done, the better pleased I shall be!”

“That sounds most inhospitable!”

“Oh! I am sorry. I did not mean it so. I only mean—I am sure to fidget and be a bad sitter. I am a restless person, I fear. Not nervously so, but there are always so many things I want to do, so many places I think I should be all at once.”

“Then when you sit for me, I shall try to keep you still with amusing stories.”

“Can you talk and paint?”

“They are done with entirely different parts of the mind, I assure you.”

“I should warn you; my Aunts Penelope and Nell are jealous of one another. When you portray them, I hope you are able to give their likenesses equal appeal.”

“Thank you! Such hints are invaluable. Your sister-in-law, Mrs. Davis—can you advise me how to proceed there? I have met her just the once, on the occasion of your ball.”

Sarah laughed, “Indeed yes. They are already talking of it. Her—companion is a colored person to whom she is devoted. The woman is of a family dear to us all, in fact. My sister-in-law insists that she will ask you to paint them together. Not side by side, mind you, but like a playing card. It is her notion to change the portrait about when she feels like it—one day one face right side up and the other upside down, another day—well, you see.”

Casey checked his laughter when a look from Sarah reminded him that they were walking together between two parts of a funeral. “What an original idea! I shall do it.”

“Here we are,” Sarah said.