CHAPTER I.
Paul's Return Home from a Party—His Secret Admission by his Mother—Their
Habitual Good-night—Exchange of Confidence—Description of his Hidden
Studio in the Attic—Paul's First Reservation of Frankness, etc., etc., 9

CHAPTER II.
Description of the Party at the Cleverlys—The English Travellers for whoso
Entertainment it was given—Miss Ashly consigned by the Hostess to Paul's
Attentions—His Experiment at being Agreeable to her—His Impression on
being treated, for the First Time in his Life, with the Scorn of Indifference,
etc., etc., 13

CHAPTER III.
Paul's Meeting with Mary Evenden, the Pastor's Daughter, the next day—Description
of the Friendship between these two—His Difficulty as to confessing
to her his real Motive for the newly considered Thought of going Abroad—
Mary's disinterested View of it, and Paul's secret Humiliation at her Nobleness
of Counsel, etc., etc., 22

CHAPTER IV.
Change of Scene to Europe—Paul's Meeting with his College Chum, Blivins, at
Florence—Portrait of Wabosh Blivins—History of their College Intimacy—
Bosh's Artistic Experiences in the West—The Customers for Scripture Subjects,
etc., etc., 33

CHAPTER V.
The Studies of the two Friends at Florence, and their Model Giulietta—Their
Subjects for Pictures—Bosh's continued Confessions of Experience—His Sitter,
Deacon Superior Nash—Giulietta and her Trade as a Model—Discussion
of the Philosophy of it, etc., etc., 38

[figure description] Page iv.[end figure description]

CHAPTER VI.
The Afternoon Siesta, and Advantage taken of it to explain why Paul's Professional
Labors were kept Secret—Retrospective Description of his First Arrival
at Paris—The kind Reception of him by the American Minister, on his Presentation
of a Letter from Mrs. Cleverly—Nominal Appointment as Attaché,
and his Letter to his Mother, as to its Advantages—The First Encounter with
Bosh in the Café at Florence, etc., etc., 46

CHAPTER VII.
Evening Parting of Paul and Bosh for their different Engagements—Paul's
Drive out to Casa G—, and Description of its Vineyards and Home-Scenes—
Comparison of Advantages of Living between Italy and other Countries—
Colonel Paleford, and Description of his beautiful Daughter, etc., etc., 57

CHAPTER VIII.
Describing the Firkin Family of Ohio, in their Palace at Florence—Miss 'Phia
Firkin and her Adventures—Blivins's Chivalry—Miss 'Phia's Letter to her
Schoolfellow, Kitty Kumletts of Alabama—Allusions to Lady Highsnake,
Baroness Kuhl, Prince Kickubrichinoff, etc., etc. 70

CHAPTER IX.
A Ball at the Pitti Palace—The Grand Duke's Choice of a Partner—The Natural
Sovereignty of Sybil Paleford—The Drama of a Look—Fane embarrassed with
the Misunderstanding of his Motives—His Danger of a New Intimacy, etc. 82

CHAPTER X.
A Sunrise Breakfast-Party after a Ball—Portrait of a very distinguisned
Woman—The Princess C—'s Pleasure-Villa near Florence—Breakfast-Room
half out of doors—Paul's Ramble with his Hostess—Conversation as to the
Love of Men of Genius—Fashionable Insensibility to Intellectual Aristocracy
of Friendship, etc., etc., etc., 94

CHAPTER XI.
An Artist-Morning of Italy—Paul's Pencil called to correct the confused Pictures
of Memory—The Three Crayon Heads—The Background of Thought, as
he drew—His Embarrassments as to Conduct—Letter to Colonel Paleford—
Test of a Critical Question—Avowal of a Secret—Change produced in Beauty
by Change of Manner and Toilette—New Perplexity, etc., etc., 109

CHAPTER XII.
Exciting Event at the Studio—Preparations by Blivins for a Sitter—Mrs. Firkin's
Dismay at an Artistic Surprise—Discussion of how Miss Firkin was to be
Painted—Her Nervousness as to her particular Beauty—Letter to Miss Kitty
Kumletts—An offer Diplomatically made—Philosophy of Ladies' Figures,
etc., etc., 122

[figure description] Page v.[end figure description]

CHAPTER XIII.
The Artist-Easel for once neglected—Waiting for the Princess's Britzka—Drive
to the Mysterious Studio—Self-reproaches—Startling Discovery—Criticism of
a Flying Daphne—Beauty of the two Sexes—Sleeping Antinoüs—Likeness
breathing through the Statue of Hermione—Work and Speculation over the
Clay Figure—Tête-à-Tête Dinner at the Villa G—, etc., etc., 135

CHAPTER XIV.
A Dilemma—Simple Request interfering with a Secret Vow—Description of
Fane's Friend Tetherly—His Terrier “You-Sir”—Dog-supply to Conversation—
Expression of Privacy in Manners and Countenance—Philosophy of Introductions—
Tetherly's Offer of Relief to Paul's Embarrassment, etc., etc., 149

CHAPTER XV.
Double Ministration of a Letter—Stranger's Necessity of a Heart-Home—Passages
of Mother's Advice—Stroll by Starlight to a Soirée—Recognition of a
Stranger by Resemblance—Awkward Introduction—Embarrassment covered
by a Waltz—Tetherly's Mystification—The Baronet and his Jealous Prejudices,
etc., etc., 163

CHAPTER XVI.
A Birth-Day Breakfast Party—Café Appointment with a Friend—Tetherly's
Secret Commission—Unconfessed Object in a Duel—Philosophy of Instinctive
Tribunal of one Man over another—Charm of Sadness for Woman—Paul's
Second Meeting with Mr. Ashly—Common Level of a Lady's Favor—Distinguished
Party without Cost—Splendor of Nature beyond Art—Paul's New
Temptation and Trial, etc., etc., 176

CHAPTER XVII.
Continuance of Birth-Day Breakfast-Party—Style and Pleasure without Expense—
Paul's Secret Motive—Change of Place of Entertainment—Necessary Contact
with his Rival and its Result—Phantom Question Answered—Its Electric
Effect—A Heart won for Resentment—Apparent High Spirits and Attractiveness
strangely produced—Confidential Look at Birth-Day Presents—Mysterious
Late Arrival of One—Portrait without a Sitting—Startling Revolution
in Paul's Secret Feeling—Contradictory Recognition of Inner Nature, etc., 189

CHAPTER XVIII.
Bosh and his two-fold October—Paul's apparent Inconstancy—The Princess and
her Privacy as a Sculptress—Friendship without Love—Paul's Letter to his
Mother and a Startling Confession—Bosh made Happy again—Miss 'Phia and
her Secret—Doubts as to the Sex of “Signor Valerio,” etc., etc., 204

[figure description] Page vi.[end figure description]

CHAPTER XIX.
Search for the unknown Artist—New Sitter arriving from England—Seizing of
Opportunity for an Adventure—Adoption of Fictitious Name—First Call on
the Stranger—The renewed Spell of a Look—Commencement of a Portrait—
Paralysed Powers of Genius—Confirmation of dreaded Disparagement—Intention
to Abandon the Task, interrupted by strange Face in a Mirror—Revelation
through Music—New Inspiration and fresh Beginning, etc., etc., 217

CHAPTER XX.
Philosophy of Sitting for Portrait—Painter studied in his Turn—Inner and
outer Character—Influences that form Expression and Manners—Self-Recognition
in a Likeness—Miss Ashly's Introduction to herself—Music and its
Revelations—Danger to Paul's Incognito—Departure of Miss Ashly for Rome—
Letter confessing a Secret, etc., etc., 229

CHAPTER XXI.
Dilemma of a mis-sent Love-Letter—Surprise while tête-à-tête with a Portrait—
fastidious Fancy taken with a Picture—Discussion of Expression—Reply to
an Offer — Suggestion of another Choice — Proposal of apparently Chance
Introduction—Philosophy of previous Passions, etc., etc., 242

CHAPTER XXII.
A Morning in the Princess's Studio—Paul with a Secret or two to Unburden—
Approaches to the Subject—Purity, with Fun and Playfulness—Promised Arrival
of a Loved One—Letter from a Dying Mother—Offer of the Love of a
Daughter—Qualities in a Husband to make a Wife Happy—Considerations
above Wealth—Letter from Paul's Mother—Anticipations of Mary Evenden's
coming to Florence—Embarrassments as to Conduct, etc., etc., 249

CHAPTER XXIII.
Impossibility of representing the Character fully in a Portrait—Chance of Disappointment
in Marriage—Sympathy demanded by an intellectual Nature—
Horror of a mercenary Match, creating an Antagonism—Paul's Confession—
Charm of an intellectual Love—Skepticism of the Truth of a Romance—Men
of Genius better without Love—Friendships more needed—The Princess's
Suggestion to relieve Paul from his Embarrassment, etc., etc., 260

CHAPTER XXIV.
Arrival of Mary Evenden in Florence—Astonishment of Paul at the Arrival of
another Lady in her Company—Unexpected Turn of Conversation at Breakfast-Table—
Criticism of one of Paul's Drawings—Sudden Sympathy between
the Artist and Miss Ashly—New Thought suggested by a Miniature—Walk in
the Ducal Gardens with Mary alone—Restraint over their Intercourse, 271

[figure description] Page vii.[end figure description]

CHAPTER XXV.
Tea-Table Gathering, Preparatory to a Court-Reception and Ball—Effect of a
Mourner's Dress and Expression on a Gay Party—Unbecomingness of illsuited
Adornments—Friendly Exercise of Woman's Skill in Policy—Curious
Resemblance of two Extremes of Character—Opening of a New Life to Mary
Evenden—Presentation at Court—Considerate Management by the Princess—
Renewal of Paul's Secret Experiment, etc., etc., 285

CHAPTER XXVI.
Curiosity as to the unknown Artist—Accidental Oil upon a Wound—Whether
the Quality of a Man is recognized in Society—Approach to a delicate Subject—
Paul once more beforehand in a Secret—Confession of a hidden Motive—
Glowing Tribute of one Woman to another—Discussion of Probabilities of
Happiness in a Love—Miss Ashly's Excuse to herself for confiding in Paul—
Mary Evenden and the Princess, etc., etc., 296

CHAPTER XXVII.
Temporary Lull of Events—Step taken to escape oppressive Thoughts—Unexpected
Meeting, on the Way to an artistic Appointment—Important Tete-a-Tete
in the Aisles of the Cathedral—Strange Communication from the Princess—
Freedom from Embarrassment as to Choice—Analysis of one Female Heart
by another—Theory of Exemption from Love—Sympathy with the Unloving—
Love-Vigil over a dormant Heart, etc., etc., 307

CHAPTER XXVIII.
Secret still kept—Arrangements for the “sitting” of Casa G— —Paul's Conscious
Disabling by Illness—Miss Ashly's Surprise at the Discovery of the
Artist—Production of the Rival's Portrait—Sybil's new Impression of Mr.
Ashly's Face—Paul's Strength failing him with the Effort to commence his
Work—Waking from Faintness—A Kiss upon closed Eyes, etc., etc., 319

CHAPTER XXIX.
Doubts as to what had become of Miss Winifred Ashly—Sudden News—Letter
of curious Confessions—Proposal of a Love-Match Unexpected—Significant
Commission given to Paul, etc., etc., 329

CHAPTER XXX.
Success of Paul's delicate Commission—Difficulty of painting with too many
Eyes on the Painter—Use of a Friend to divide a Focus—Two kinds of Portrait—
Chance Alteration of the Expression of a Sitter's Countenance—Betrayal
of a Secret by a supposed Illness—Coming Round of an Era in Paul's
Career—Confidential Tête-à-Tête with Miss Mildred—Paul's Letter to Colonel
Paleford, etc., etc., 335

[figure description] Page viii.[end figure description]

CHAPTER XXXI.
Paul's Leave-Takings—Miss Ashly seeing the Last of the Tetherlys and being
the Bearer of a Letter—Avoidance of an expected Adieu—Reply from Colonel
Paleford—Start on the Journey to London—A Father's Choice for his Daughter—
His frank Estimate of her Lovers and Chances for Happiness, etc., 352

CHAPTER XXXII.
Paul waiting for a Sitter—Reading a forgotten Letter—'Phia Firkin's Account
of her Marriage—Her Comparison of Paul and her Bridegroom, Blivins—Men
to Admire, and Men to Marry—Mrs. Blivins' Guess as to Mary Evenden—Her
Opinion of foreign Appreciation of Women as contrasted with American—
Mrs. Tetherly and her Strange Proposition—Miss Ashly at Raven Park, 357

CHAPTER XXXIII.
Paul's Visit with the Tetherlys to Raven Park—The Meeting with Miss Ashly and
her Relatives—The chance Neighborhood at Dinner, and Difficulty of Position—
A sudden Arrival and Surprise—The exclusive Secret between Paul and
the Bride—His tumultuous Thoughts before meeting her—Interval of Thought
upon the Piazza—View of the Bride through a Window—Description of her—
Chance Meeting in the Moonlight—Madness-music—Sudden Departure, 367

CHAPTER XXXIV.
Paul's proposed Return to America—A Letter of Adieu from the Princess—Mrs.
Cleverly's Proposal, etc., etc., 386

CHAPTER XXXV.
Paul's waiting in London for Mrs. Cleverly and Mary Evenden—His shutting
out the Fog of Daylight in England and lighting his Candles for a Letter to
his Mother—Opening of his Heart to her—Philosophy of his Desire for his
native Country again—Glance at his Loves since he had been gone—Farewell
of the Tetherlys, Voyage, and Conclusion, 393