Roving from place to place, as I am obliged to do, though
I make many acquaintances, I keep but few friends. The nature of
my calling is, I am quite aware, mainly answerable for this.
People cannot be blamed for forgetting a man who, on leaving
their houses, never can tell them for certain when he is likely
to be in their neighborhood again.
Mr. Lanfray was one of the few exceptional persons who always
remembered me. I have proofs of his friendly interest in my
welfare in the shape of letters which I treasure with grateful
care. The last of these is an invitation to his house in the
South of France. There is little chance at present of my being
able to profit by his kindness; but I like to read his invitation
from time to time, for it makes me fancy, in my happier moments,
that I may one day really be able to accept it.
My introduction to this gentleman, in my capacity of
portrait-painter, did not promise much for me in a professional
point of view. I was invited to Rockleigh--or to "The Place," as
it was more frequently called among the people of the county--to
take a likeness in water-colors, on a small scale, of the French
governess who lived with Mr. Lanfray's daughters. My first idea
on hearing of this was, that the governess was about to leave her
situation, and that her pupils wished to have a memorial of her
in the shape of a portrait.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117