“I certainly did. I scarcely knew which way to look at first, but when he happened to mention Dr. Paul Woods and I found he knew him, we got quite chummy. I only stayed long enough to peep at his studio and for Jack to get off her rig and then we came right back. Oh, girls, it is the most charming little place once you are inside. I wonder none of us ever discovered it before. However, it is so hidden by great pine trees you would scarcely observe it from the lake and we never happened to land just there.”
“Did you find out who the superlative creatures were who were with him that day?” asked Mary Lee.
“Yes. At least I didn’t learn their names. The male creature he called Pinch, and it seems he shares the cabin with him when he is here. One of the girls was Pinch’s sister and the other a friend of hers. They have all gone back to the White Mountains where they have been spending the summer.”
“Peace be to their ashes. I don’t want to see them again,” said Jo fervently. “Your artist man is quite another thing; he was the only decent one in the bunch. Do you suppose you will ever meet him again, Nan?”
“Oh, yes, I am pretty sure I shall. He wants to have Jack sit for him in that costume he diked her out in, and is coming to ask mother’s permission on the strength of his acquaintance with Dr. Paul.”
“How romantic! When he sees Daniella he will probably pine to paint her; they generally do rave over her coloring.”
“Now, Jo,” protested Daniella. “Only one person ever did.”
“You mean only one person really ever did paint you, but I am sure there were plenty more who wanted to.”
“I can’t understand his wanting to paint Jack,” remarked Mary Lee with a sister’s lack of admiration for one of her own family. “I don’t think she is a bit picturesque.”
“You should have seen her in that costume; she looked stunning,” declared Nan. “She is just at an awkward age now, but Jack isn’t going to be overlooked when she grows older. She is such a combination of saint and sinner that her face takes on the most varied expressions.”