Part 10 (1/2)
She began by telling him of her aim to be a master of a Guild. How and when that would be achieved she did not know, but somehow she would fulfill her dream. Meanwhile there were cla.s.ses she wanted to attend. As she talked he thought it inexcusable that Hendrick Visser should not be helping his daughters by making them officially his apprentices and seeing them through the whole of their training. It revealed the total selfishness of the man behind the joviality.
”I've been taking commissions unknown to my father,” Aletta continued, ”and introducing myself by using my mother's maiden name of Veldhuis to conceal my ident.i.ty. I doubt if any of my patrons would have heard of Hendrick Visser, because they are not in the range ever to buy from his dealer, but I had to be sure that no chance meeting gave me away. Father talks to all and sundry wherever he is.” She went on to tell of the paintings of houses, workshops, interiors and even the fish stall she had done.
He looked amazed. ”Have you any spare time at all?”
”Almost none, because I use every spare minute to build up a stock of pictures to sell whenever it should prove possible. It's with such money I'll be able to attend those drawing and painting cla.s.ses I've already mentioned.”
”Where is this work to be sold? In picture shops?”
”No. I did approach several, but it was the same in every one. They're flooded with stock and n.o.body would look at mine.”
”Where else, then? Many taverns display pictures for sale.”
”That would be far too risky. My father has drinking companions in every tavern in Amsterdam. Some of them have been to our home and should I be seen in such places they would recognize me.”
”I see your difficulty. What does Francesca advise?”
”She doesn't know and mustn't suspect, because she would say I'll never be a painter if I don't devote my time to serious work.”
”Is she right, Aletta?” They had dropped into the use of Christian names almost without realizing it.
”What I am doing is serious enough for me, but the kind of work she means awaits me in plenty at those cla.s.ses. In the meantime I'm learning and improving even by the rough means of speed that I've chosen. I can tell whenever I paint in the studio now that I have acquired more skill. Even my father had a good word to say about my painting of the hyacinth. But Francesca is going from strength to strength. Recently her work has become quite beautiful. She seems to have leapt a gap that was keeping her back.”
”What would the reason be?”
”Father takes the credit for having resumed his teaching of her, but I think it's a natural progression. Like a fledgling taking wing.”
”Does he think highly of her work?”
”He does, but he is very sensitive about his own. Francesca must never become his rival, at least not in his studio.”
”Could that happen, do you think?”
”I believe she is destined to be a splendid artist. She did a painting of Sybylla and me that was so good that Father's agent, Willem de Hartog, is getting it viewed for an independent a.s.sessment of her work.” She took another sip of coffee, savoring the treat she was having.
”If,” he queried, ”your father has resumed his teaching of Francesca, why aren't you benefiting from it too?”
”I'm not often in his studio, because I have my own upstairs. He gets irritated enough having to instruct Francesca and to deal with two of us again would be too much for his temper. After my mother died he reverted in his grief to doing only what he wanted to do, and it has stayed that way. I understand. It has nothing to do with his love for Francesca or for me.”
”You are very tolerant.” He regarded her in a friendly and encouraging manner. ”Perhaps you should explain now the full purpose of this meeting. We haven't come to that yet and my guess is that you have mapped out a role for me to play in this plan of yours for cla.s.s attendance.” His grin was merry. ”Am I to sell your paintings for you?”
It was said in jest, for he believed she had been leading up to asking for a loan to let her attend cla.s.ses, and he had made up his mind that she should have it. To his dismay she seized on his remark avidly, her usual calm expression changing to one of thrilled and overwhelming relief.
”Oh yes! I never expected you to offer. I dreaded asking you. Just a few at a time along with the bulbs and flowers at any one of your stalls in Amsterdam or elsewhere.” The words were tumbling from her joyously. She scarcely drew breath. ”You'll take a commission from every sale as if you were a real art dealer. It won't be much, but it will mount up as my share will with time.” Then her voice trailed away and her eyes became stark as he threw up his hands and shook his head regretfully.
”I'm deeply sorry, Aletta. I fear I misled you with an ill-timed joke. I had no idea that was what you wanted of me.”
”What were you expecting?” she asked flatly.
”The request for a loan. I would have met you on that.”
She shook her head. ”That's out of the question. When I start my lessons I'll have no time to paint anything for sale and there would be no way of paying you back. I must have the money in hand first.”
He sighed and leaned both arms on the table. ”I have no time to sell pictures and neither have my a.s.sistants. You know how busy stalls are on market day. Why not rent one for yourself for a day? You'd probably sell out. I've seen picture stalls doing a good trade.”
”I can't do that.” The anguish of her disappointment was catching at her throat. ”I'd be in the public eye. My father seldom goes to the flower market, but people who know me do and in no time I'd be in the deepest trouble. Worst of all, it would be the end of any cla.s.ses for me.”
He nodded sympathetically. ”I see your difficulty. Do you know anyone else who would be willing to sell for you in return for commission?”
”I daresay our maidservant's sister would do it. I know she would be glad of a little extra money. But as I said, a stall is out of the question.”
”Suppose you were allotted a small s.p.a.ce at the end of one here in Amsterdam. Would that be enough?”
Her whole face became suffused with hope again. ”Do you know someone who would be agreeable to that?” When his smile provided a clue she clasped her hands and brought them up against her chest. ”You, Pieter! How can I ever thank you?”
”Wait a moment,” he insisted in a serious tone. ”If you do decide to employ your maidservant's sister, it must be understood there can be no encroaching by your pictures beyond the s.p.a.ce allowed.”
”There won't be!”
”Good, but I haven't finished yet. You'll have to agree to a special condition.”
His expression was so implacable that she lowered her hands to her lap again. ”What is that?”
”You will tell Francesca about the arrangement. I'll do nothing behind her back.”
She looked long at him, seeking the reason in his eyes. ”I'm not proud of keeping anything from her, but I fear she will never approve. She would not give me away to my father, but she'd want me to go back into the studio, although she knows I've always found it difficult to work at his side.” Then she bit deeply into her lower lip, which was suddenly tremulous. ”Even if I could persuade her to agree to my plan I realize now I can't accept your offer. How foolish I was to trouble you in the first place.”
He leaned toward her. ”You're thinking that you couldn't pay rent for a section of my stall as well as letting someone else receive commission, because you'd make no profit at all. But, if you are willing, I'll take your painting of the hyacinth in lieu of any rent.”
She raised her face again with an expression of disbelief. ”You haven't even seen the painting yet.”
”I'll take a chance.”
For the first time tears glinted in her eyes. The rise and fall of her hopes had not made her weep, but his generosity at this point had moved her. ”I think you're the kindest man I've ever met.”
He smiled and picked up the platter of cakes. ”Take another of these and don't exaggerate. I'll order more coffee too.”
She took one to allow herself time to regain her composure. ”I'll speak to Francesca at the first suitable moment.”
”You may not find her as obdurate about this matter as you fear.”
Her lips compressed ruefully. ”You don't know what she's like when she is against something. Nothing will sway her.”
”Would it help if I discussed it with her?”
”No.” Aletta was firm. ”I have to do this on my own.”
”Then let's meet here again next Friday. By then you will have had time to speak to Francesca.”
”Come back home with me today and see the flower paintings. If all works out well, I wouldn't want you to think you've made a bad bargain.”