Summary

The narrative transitions to the mid-1940s. By this point, Andrew has been coming to Christina’s house to paint for a few years. One day, a married couple that Christina has never seen before drives up to her house and asks if it is where the “famous painter” (127) comes to paint. Christina says that it is not and waves the people away. Betsy later explains that Andrew was featured in a magazine called “American Artist” and has since attracted much attention. In 1946, Andrews father dies when his car is hit by a train. Andrew is devastated but is determined to keep painting. He asks Christina if he can paint a portrait of her, and Christina agrees. Christina thinks the portrait depicts her as more solemn than she is. When Andrew asks Christina how she thinks of herself, she says, “I think of myself...