It was a severe trial to poor Bettina to see her darling sister thus almost literally borne away from her. But she tried to put faith in Mr. Sumner's assurances, and bravely resisted the anxious longing to go with her. She immediately gave herself up to the work of finishing the packing of their own trunks and of helping Margery all she could.
Mr. Sumner had commissioned Malcom to go up to his studio and gather into boxes all his canvases and painting materials; and soon all three were working as fast as they could, with the design of following the others the next morning.
Presently Malcom appeared at Bettina's door with the request that she should go up to the studio when she could leave her work for a minute.
"Come alone—by yourself," he added in a low voice.
Wondering a little at the singular request and the peculiar expression of Malcom's face, Bettina soon followed him.
Entering the studio, she found him attentively regarding a small canvas which he had placed on an easel, and took her place beside him that she might look at it also.
"How lovely!" she cried, and then a puzzled look came into her eyes.
"Why, it is Barbara! It is like Barbara," she added.
"And what do you think of this—and this—and this?" asked Malcom, rapidly turning from the wall study after study.
After a few moments of silence, she said solemnly: "They're all Barbara. Here she is thinking earnestly; here she is throwing her head proudly back, as she so often does; and here she is merry and smiling in her own adorable way. O you darling Barbara!" with a pathetic little catch of the breath; "how are you feeling just this minute?" and Bettina sank upon the floor beside the pictures, looking as if she longed to hug them all.