“Betsy, things are coming your way; I’ve caught one for you,” he almost shouted, and she implored him to be quiet and tell her what he meant.
“Why, a subject—a victim, or whatever you call people who have their portraits painted. No end of money and fame undying—but I haven’t time to tell you about it all now. Just let me know when you can commence, and I will have her here.”
“Are you in earnest, Tom?” she asked, incredulously; for the sudden realization of his prophecies of the night before seemed too good to be true.
“In earnest? Well, rather. Young woman, your foot is on the first rung of the ladder of fame, and the day is coming when I shall be proud to know you.”
“But who is it?” she persisted.
“Her name wouldn’t mean anything to you, and I haven’t time to tell you the story, but I will take you out to dinner to-night and tell you all about it.”
“But how old is she, Tom? I must know what to prepare for.”
“I wasn’t indiscreet enough to ask the lady’s age, but I should say about four years. I can see that there is no chance of getting anything but questions out of you; but I will make the appointment for ten to-morrow morning, and call for you at six-thirty tonight for dinner. Please be ready, so that I will not have to camp on those confounded stairs.”
Tom’s story at dinner was as delightful as a fairy tale to her, and if the first one had been made pleasant by anticipation, the feast of realization transported her to the realm of air castles. The arrival of the Italian family which had come from Florence to settle in New York, bearing letters of introduction to Tom from his mother, just in time to fit into his plans to make her a painter of children, seemed a harbinger of good fortune. The father had been most enthusiastic when Tom mentioned the “rising young artist” to him, and was anxious that the sittings should commence immediately, before her time was all taken up.
“There is only one drawback, Betsy,” said Tom, as he finished his story. “Little Carlotta speaks only Italian, so I will have to be there a lot to translate.”