Graham's and Mr. Leyland's, Henry.'
'Pre-Raphaelites?' said Wilderspin, 'the Master rhymes, madam, and
Burne-Jones actually _reads_ the rhymes! However, they are on the
right track in art, though neither has the slightest intercourse with
the spirit world, not the slightest.'
'My exploits as a painter have not been noticeable as yet,' I said;
'but an amateur may know what a barley-field is. That is one before
us. He may know what a man in love is; Boaz there is in love.'
'I wish we could see the woman's face,' said Sleaford. 'A woman, you
know, without a face--'
'Come and see the predella of "Faith and Love,"' said Wilderspin, and
he moved towards an easel where rested the predella, a long narrow
picture without a frame. My mother followed him, leaving me standing
before the picture of 'Ruth and Boaz.' Although the head of Ruth had
been painted out, the picture seemed to throb with life. Boaz had
just discovered the Moabitish maiden in the gleaming barley-field, as
she had risen from stooping to glean the corn. Two ears of barley
were in one hand.
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