186 THE GARDEN OF A 



" Some day I will have a portrait painted for this 

 panel. It shall be of you, Barbara, in the garden 

 with Bluff, your faithful squire, at your feet. Who 

 shall the artists be? It will need three, a por- 

 trait, an animal, and a flower painter." 



" Meanwhile, take this," said father, crossing the 

 hall, carrying a portrait in a plain Dutch oak frame, 

 that had long hung over his study mantel. 



"Linnaeus! Are you really going to part with 

 him?" I cried, in joyful amazement. "You angelic 

 father ! it is the one thing needful to complete the 

 room. But our old shrine will be desolate." 



"The truth is, Barbara, I've something to replace 

 it. You know how long I've been collecting por- 

 traits of the men that were the founders of my pro- 

 fession, both medical and surgical, the Houbraken 

 Harvey, Galen, Sydenham, Par, and all the rest ? 

 After your Aunt Lot's marriage, I seized the oppor- 

 tunity to group them in one large frame, without 

 being reproached for extravagance, thus putting 

 these worthies in a house with many windows, as it 

 were, where, being together, each may keep his sepa- 

 rate point of view. But disliking to disturb anything 

 your wish had placed, I let Linnaeus keep his shrine, 

 storing the prints close at hand in my office closet, 

 until your return." 



