1664, Pages 73 - 94 Summary

Soon after, Maria Thins tells Griet that she can fully clean out the studio. Vermeer's painting of the woman at the mirror is complete. Griet feels sickened to know that he will no longer be working on the painting, and doesn't feel right folding up the mantel or putting the pewter bowl in a chest. When she is finished, Griet no longer recognizes the room, and no longer finds comfort there. Later that day, van Ruijven and his wife visit to inspect the painting. van Ruijven is immediately taken with Griet and wants her to serve him personally. This attention irritates Catharina, who demands that Griet stay away from such a rich and important man. After dinner, a man servant comes to collect the painting of van Ruijven's wife, and Griet does not have the chance to look at it one...