“I painted it from life,” she replied; adding, proudly: “Can you imagine anything in life so perfectly beautiful?”
CHAPTER XL.
A STARTLING REVELATION.
Alva looked intently at her brother, and she saw that he was struggling with deep emotion.
It pleased her to see that her picture could affect him so deeply.
“Is it not beautiful—the face of Cupid? Can you imagine anything living so perfectly beautiful?” she repeated.
Slowly, without taking his eyes from the lovely face, St. George replied, dreamily:
“Yes, I can imagine it, for I knew the original in all her living beauty, the fairest among women. Oh! my sister, how exquisitely you have reproduced her upon canvas! This picture must be mine, mine only—all that is left me of poor dead Floy.”
They drew close to him—father, mother, sister—and Alva caught his hand.
“What is that you mean? Have you ever known this girl Floy—my lovely model?” she exclaimed.