"Nobody can lie stiller than I can," responded Sunnie proudly. "But mustn't I speak? How long will she be?"
"I won't be long enough to tire you, and you can talk as much as you like," said Jean, smiling at her. Then turning to Mrs. Gordon she said, "May I paint her as I like, or have you any special wishes to be carried out?"
"I will leave her entirely in your hands."
"Then I should like to paint her as I saw her yesterday in the twilight."
"But I was listening to music," said Sunnie quickly.
"Yes," said Jean, "and your little brain was full of happy thoughts and fancies."
"How did you know what I was thinking about?"
"I saw it in your face and eyes."
Mrs. Gordon stayed till Jean had arranged the child according to her satisfaction, and changed her frock back to the brown velvet one she wore the night before. Then she left them together. Even the old nurse was absent, for Jean wished for no counter attractions. She worked rapidly, and found it easy work to keep Sunnie happy and interested.
"Do you tell stories?" the child asked. "Cousin Leslie does. We make them up together, and he plays stories on the piano. That's why I like winter, because he comes and sits in the dark, when the fire is blazing, and plays such lovely things. He makes the birds twitter, and the fairies' bells tinkle, and the water sparkling and splashing. There isn't anything that I ever hear that he can't make on the piano."