a bake-oven."

Drawing away quickly, she put them behind her, and felt her palms
tingle.

"It is expected I should believe that for some time past, you have
provided for your own, and your mother's wants. In what way?"

"By coloring photographs; by furnishing designs for Christmas and
Easter cards, and occasionally (not often), by selling drawings used
for decorating china, and wallpaper. At one time, I had regular pay
for singing in a choir, but diphtheria injured my throat, and when I
partly recovered my voice, the situation had been given to another
person."

"I am informed also that before long, you intend to astonish the
world with a wonderful picture, which shall distance such laggards
as Troyon, Dore, and Ary Scheffer?"

She was looking, not at him, but out through the glass door, at the
glowing western sky, where distant pine trees printed their
silhouettes. Now her gaze came back to his face, and he noted a
faint quiver in her full throat.

"If God will mercifully spare my mother to me, my loftiest and
holiest ambition shall be to distance the wolfish cares and woes
that have hunted her. ever since she became a widow. Any and all
honest labor that can contribute to her comfort, will be welcome and
sweet to me."