If fathers and their male
friends rarely appreciated the fidelity of his likenesses, mothers and
nurses invariably made amends for their want of taste. It followed,
therefore, almost as a matter of course, that the local exhibition of
the Doctor's drawing must bring offers of long-clothes-portrait
employment to Valentine. Three resident families decided immediately to
have portraits of their babies, if the painter would only travel to
their houses to take the likenesses. A bachelor sporting squire in the
neighborhood also volunteered a commission of another sort. This
gentleman arrived (by a logical process which it is hopeless to think
of tracing) at the conclusion, that a man who was great at babies, must
necessarily be marvelous at horses; and determined, in consequence,
that Valentine should paint his celebrated cover-hack. In writing to
inform his friend of these offers, Doctor Joyce added another
professional order on his own account, by way of appropriate conclusion
to his letter. Here, then, were five commissions, which would produce
enough--cheaply as Valentine worked--to pay, not only for the new
bookcase, but for the books to put in it when it came home.
Having left his wife in charge of two of her sisters, who were
forbidden to leave the house till his return, Mr.
Pages:
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86