"Possibly some one or something she is afraid of has caused her to go into hiding," said Quarles.
"Afraid! I doubt if she had any fear of devil or man. Have you seen
Musgrave's portrait of her?"
The professor nodded, and I thought it was curious that the Academy picture should be referred to so persistently.
"She was like that," said Forbes. "Musgrave's is a wonderful piece of work."
Involuntarily I glanced at the bust, and he noticed my surprise.
"Oh, she was like that too at times," he said.
"I should doubt if Musgrave ever saw her as you have represented her," said Quarles.
"Perhaps not. He claims to paint character; possibly I might succeed in chiseling character, but give me a beautiful model, and as a rule I am content to show the surface only. Besides, the bust was for her, and I made the best of my subject."
"And in the Agricultural piece?" asked Quarles.
"Naturally I idealized her."