As has been said, Porter Bigelow was not a snob, and he was a

gentleman. But even a gentleman can, when swayed by primal emotions,

convince himself that high motives rule, even while performing acts of

doubtful honor.

It was thus that Porter proved to himself that his interest in Roger

Poole's past was purely that of the protector and friend of Mary

Ballard. Mary must not throw herself away. Mary must be guarded

against the tragedy of marriage with a man who was not worthy. And who

could do this better than he?

In pursuance of his policy of protection he took his way one afternoon

in July to Colin's studio.

"I'm staying in town," Colin told him, "because of Miss Jeliffe. Her

father is held by the long Session. I'm painting another picture of

her, and fixing up these rooms in the interim--how do you like them?"

In his furnishing, Colin had broken away from conventional tradition.

Here were no rugs hung from balconies, no rich stuffs and suits of

armor. It was simply a cool little place, with a big window

overlooking one of the parks. Its walls were tinted gray, and there

were a few comfortable rattan chairs, with white linen cushions. A

portrait of Delilah dominated the room. He had painted her in the

costume which she had worn at the garden party--in all the glory of

cool greens and faint pink, and heavenly blue.

Porter surveying the portrait said, slowly, "You said that you had

painted--other women?"

"Yes--but none so satisfactory as Miss Jeliffe."

"There was the little saint--in red."

"You remember that? It is just a small canvas."

"You said you'd show it to me."

Colin, rummaging in a second room, called back, "I've found it, and

here's another, of a woman who seemed to fit in with a Botticelli

scheme. She was the long lank type."

Porter was not interested in the Botticelli woman, nor in Colin's

experiments. He wanted to see Roger Poole's wife, so he gave scant

attention to Colin's enthusiastic comments on the first canvas which he

displayed.

"She has the long face. D'you see? And the thin long body. But I

couldn't make her a success. That's the joy of Delilah Jeliffe. She

has the temperament of an actress and simply lives in her part. But

this woman couldn't. And lobster suppers and lovely lank ladies are

not synonymous--so I gave her up."

But Porter was reaching for the other sketch.

With it in his hand, he surveyed the small creature with the angel

face. In her dress of pure clear red, with the touch of gold in the

halo, and a lyre in her hand, she seemed lighted by divine fire, above

the earth, appealing.




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