“Now, while you’re unable to walk around, why don’t you sit for a portrait—you’ll never have another time when the sittings will be less irksome. I’d come here and Ruth could come with me as a chaperon, not that I need one, but we might as well be perfectly proper when it’s just as pleasant—you know,” she continued, slightly embarrassed by the smiles on the faces of Nels, Professor Pendragon, and Ruth. “I’m not looking for a commission at all; I just want to paint you because you will make an interesting subject, and because, if I can hang you—I mean get your picture hung in the Academy, I will get real commissions, just because you sat for me. Now I’ve been perfectly frank,” she finished. Pendragon held out his hand to her, laughing: “Any of those numerous reasons ought to be enough,” he said, “and if my infirmity lasts long enough, I’ll be glad to have you come and help me kill time.” “Better start before next dark of the moon,” said Ruth mischievously. “That gives you only ten more days,” said Pendragon. “You don’t really believe in those things?”—Dorothy’s blue eyes were wide with distress—“Please tell me the truth; Nels, they’re just teasing, aren’t they?” “Of course, you know they are; don’t be a silly goose, Dot,” said Nels. “I know they are, but even if they don’t believe in all they say, they believe in something that I don’t understand, now, don’t you?—confess.” She turned to Ruth, but it was Pendragon who answered. “If mind is stronger than matter, and most of us believe that now, then an evil thought has power over matter just as surely as a good thought has power, and the power of the evil thought will continue until it is dispelled by good thought. There if you like is black and white magic. I believe that there are people in the world so crushed by fear and wickedness that every breath of their bodies and every glance of their eyes is a blight on all who come near them, and I believe that there are people who are so fearless and good that where they walk, health and happiness spreads round them as an aura, as sunlight on every life that touches them. Does that satisfy you, Miss Dorothy?” “Oh yes, that’s very beautiful, I’m sure,” said Dorothy, looking a bit uncomfortable as if she had been listening to a sermon. “When will you let me come for your first sitting?” “Sunday morning if you like; that won’t interfere with your classes, and it’s a good day for me too, because I am duller than usual on Sunday.” As they were leaving, Ruth lingered for a moment. “If you did have an enemy who was trying to harm you, what would you do, Professor Pendragon?” she asked. “Evil works like good, can only be accomplished with faith; if I had an enemy, I would destroy his faith in his own power,” he answered. Ruth found the entire family, as Gloria called her household, assembled when she reached the house on Gramercy Park. Terry Riordan was among them.