"By-the-bye, have you two seen much of my cousin Audrey?"
This second utterance of the name was too much for Ted's overstrained nerves. He got up, stifled a yawn, and held out his hand to Hardy.
"I say, do you mind if I go to bed now? I can't for the life of me keep awake."
"Good-night, old fellow; I'm afraid I've sent you to sleep with my yarns."
"Not a bit. We'll have some more to-morrow."
"What's the matter with the boy, Kathy? He looks seedy."
"Oh, nothing. He's not over-strong, perhaps, but he's all right."
"Painting. Oh, Vincent, I should like you to see some of his things, now he's gone!"
All her pride in her brother was roused, perhaps by Vincent's boasting. She lifted the white linen cloth that covered one of Ted's easels, and revealed the portrait of Audrey. She had not guessed the truth; if she had, she would not have looked at Vincent just then. The effect she had produced was unmistakable. The blood rose to his face in a wave that died suddenly away, leaving a yellowish pallor under its sunburn.
"How beautiful!" he said softly, more to himself than Katherine.
He gazed at the portrait as if his eyes would never be satisfied with seeing. The pathos in his face gave it a sort of spirituality; and Katherine noticed his hand trembling as he helped her to cover the picture again.
"It's like her--as only genius could make it."
Only genius? Did he think that only genius had wrought that work of transfiguration, in which Katherine found it hard to see any likeness to the woman as she knew her now? She had read the secret of Vincent's hope. Ought she to let him believe a lie? Did not she, Ted's sister, of all people owe him the truth? No. Vincent's eyes looked as if they wanted sleep before everything. Sufficient unto the night is the evil thereof. And perhaps, after all, she had been mistaken. Hardy held out his hand, said a short good-night, and was gone before she could say more.
There flashed back on her the memory of Audrey's first visit to her. She recalled her little self-conscious air of possession in speaking of her cousin. She was morally certain that Audrey had treated Vincent as she had treated Ted.
"Beware of the woman who kisses you on both cheeks; it's too much for friendship, and too little for love!"