Banked fires are none the less fires, but the love Floyd felt for Sarah was subject to such control that even Lovey might pretend to herself that it had burned out during those years of her son’s travels away from and back to Beulah Land. He was easy in Sarah’s presence. He did not appear to suffer, seeing Sarah and knowing that he could not have her. He even gained by seeing her. His spirit fed on her if his flesh could not. Nor was he one to sublimate desire. He was a healthy man with a healthy mind and body, and he used them. He briefly fancied many women and enjoyed them as long as he fancied them. Still, he could not bring himself to marry.

He was not unhappy. Happiness does not consist of having all the heart desires, but in realizing capabilities in the best ways open. If the true, long love is beyond grasp, a man may still savor a story, a woman, and a pork chop.

So it was; so it is, confounding the romantics.

8

Annabel Davis, who of all his subjects would have most enjoyed lengthy sittings, sketches made and then abandoned with a groan of despair, earnest discussions of the problem of catching her unique lineaments and soul, proved to be the easiest to paint; and Casey Troy completed her portrait in four days. Even he was astonished and wondered if the picture would be rejected because of the speed with which it had been done.

He need not have feared.

Annabel had not been permitted a glimpse of the work in progress. When she was invited to look upon the completed portrait, she burst into tears of happiness, declaring that it was her very self, Annabel Davis to the life, and that if she had wondered at the rapidity of his work, she had now perceived the truth: he had been inspired. She called to her father and grandmother to come at once and share her pleasure. Happening to be both in the house and in ear shot, they came, and Bruce looked and said that it was indeed a beautiful thing, squinting hard at it to indicate that he knew he looked upon no ordinary work of art and keeping his hands behind him, as if he were afraid it might bite. After giving it a good hard look Edna said, “It flatters you.”