foot had crystallized into a fever that occupied his whole body. He must stand, but he would lean on his crutches, and hope it went along somehow. He asked Moses to assist.
Raphaelle began his spiel in a tone of hearty good-will and wonder at the universe. First he went through the scientific experiments with electricity. When Moses engaged the switches, sparks flew, and the audience gasped. Raphaelle felt the sweat dripping down the sides of his face. He bit back the pain and began the astronomy lesson, animating his talk with illuminated paintings in motion to simulate the night sky. He uttered each word with precise jocularity—an immense effort. Exhaustion clouded his consciousness. Questions, remarks, any sound from the audience had to be ignored. He could not stop or he would never be able to get through it.
Finally, Raphaelle ended the evening with the firing of the brass gas cannon. Applause went up and Raphaelle exhaled a long breath of relief. Moses helped him to a chair and brought him a cup of cider. Raphaelle drank it gratefully as he watched the crowd disperse.
Before leaving, Gilbert Stuart stopped. "It's been an evening to remember. You Peales are amazing. Some of you paint, some collect butterflies and minerals. Old Mr. Peale preserves birds and animals and digs up the great mastodon bones. Some of you write. I hear you have written a theory of the universe?" Stuart's good-hearted accolades did not ring with sincerity. But he was putting himself out to say them, Raphaelle reminded himself. Why must I always think the worst of men like him? I am jealous of his success, and that I should not be.
Stuart prattled on. 'This pamphlet is priceless." With an amused smile, he held up a copy of Essay to Promote Domestic Happiness. Raphaelle winced. His father had written the pamphlet as a lecture to him. Stuart may not have heard the gossip of his unhappy domestic life and his father's well-intentioned essay. "It's all very good advice," Raphaelle said.
"I should undoubtedly benefit from reading it," Stuart said. "But I've grown so fond of my faults." He put down the pamphlets and smiled again at Raphaelle.
Raphaelle could no longer pretend good fellowship. Stuart could go to hell as far as he was concerned. "Good night," he said.
Tom Sully went with the Stuart party, but Anna and Sarah stayed to help close the Museum. After Moses Williams left, Sarah waited until Anna and Raphaelle were safely at the front entry before she blew out the last lamp and scurried down the dark stairs.
It was kind of Anna and Sarah to walk with him. He suspected they wanted to see him safely past the tavern before they turned the corner to their own house. It proved they cared something for his welfare.
"Good night, Anna dear, and Sarah. Thank you both." He kissed their foreheads and squeezed their hands though it pained him. He pretended to walk straight home. They would glance around and see him shuffling off in the right direction.
He ordered a whiskey and propped his feet on a chair opposite him. Pain diminished by degrees. His relief at being off his painful legs was so sweet he could not help smiling at the bar man. "I hope you've had a pleasant day, my good fellow."
"Aye, and you, sir?"
"Capital." Raphaelle picked up his glass and held it high health and prosperity."
Soon the warmth of the liquor raced through him, bringing a tinge of numbness. He would be all right. He would not think anymore of how hard he had striven to excel, to make his father proud of him, and how often he had failed.
He didn't want to think of Patty either. Everything he wanted was unattainable. She despised him and always would. He didn’t want to go home. He didn't want to wake up in the morning. It was warm here. The sound of laughter came and went. Nothing more was needed of him tonight, and soon the pain would ease even more. Perhaps I’ll paint a bowl of fruit so perfect in every way there will never be need of trying again.
Chapter 3
In the subtle light of autumn's dawn, Sarah helped her father and Uncle Charles fit the baggage in the rig. Anna climbed into the seat next to Hannah while Sarah had to swear she would not lose Margaretta's white kid gloves and absolutely would not allow her royal blue taffeta to become water-spotted.
James took Anna's hand. "Do your best work," he said. "Show Washington City what Peale quality is, and our workshop will be more prosperous than ever." He squinted, his smile was strained.
"And you, Sally, study hard. Remember, I need a good steady hand to work beside me."
"We will do you proud, Papa," Anna said. Sarah hugged her father.
Charles drove swiftly down the road toward the harbor where they were to board the steamship heading for New Castle. When they arrived at the dock, Rubens was there waiting to pick up the rig and to add one more package for Rembrandt's museum.
Rubens and Charles took charge of unpacking the rig and having their baggage stored on board. Standing idly by, Sarah looked up then and saw Benjamin Blakely rushing toward them. He was something to watch, his long legs gliding gracefully over the cobbles, his rusty colored hair clapping at his forehead, his blue eyes fixed straight ahead. Sarah smiled.
"Hello, Sarah. Morning, everyone." He fumbled with a package, pushed it toward Sarah and smiled. "Something for your trip."
His face, though not quite handsome, was rosy from his run, giving him a look of vitality. Sarah took the box. "Thank you, Ben. What is it?"
"Nothing much. Sweets and cakes. I was hoping...well, I'll be seeing you when you get back, won't I?"
"Sweets and cakes," Sarah exclaimed as she looked at Ben, who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Isn't that nice, Anna?"
"Very." "Thank you, Ben." "Hope you enjoy it," he said. "I hope…well, that you have a nice journey."
Sarah wondered why he looked at her in that worried way. She was pleased that he remembered this was the day she was leaving; pleased, he cared enough to bring cakes and sweets. She wanted to touch his hand, but that wouldn't do so she smiled at him before she went on board, turned as she stepped on deck and smiled again.
The morning was calm but foggy. Haze obscured people standing on the quay. Birds squawked overhead, but were hidden in the fog. Sarah and Anna stood at the rail and waved. Sarah could barely make out Ben's pale silhouette as he leaned on a post, probably looking up at the deck with his curious smile.
Fog horns blew and the boat moved. Sarah watched Ben's shadowy form until it disappeared completely into the fog. Anna pulled her below deck to the seat beside Uncle Charles and Aunt Hannah. She opened the box Ben had brought, thinking that his face had that look Jane Hayes's men sometimes had. Sarah smiled, took a sweet, tasted it and savored it.
As soon as they had settled in, Charles excused himself to go off to check the baggage, which he thought ought to be tied together in some way so that nothing would be forgotten. Charles was too restless to sit idle for very long. His energy prodded him and when he applied it to a problem, his inventive mind would produce some solution. His younger children, Betsy, Titian, and Franklin, thought he was much too inventive. Sarah didn't agree. Why should anyone be embarrassed by experiments that didn't work, when so much of what he did worked wonderfully?
Sarah wished she could be like her uncle. She didn't want to stay in Philadelphia her whole life, painting backgrounds or ruffles and lace on her father's commissions. She wanted to travel like this and see America. It was such an achingly beautiful country. Her soul had hungered for the changing landscape, rushing rivers and vast blue sky. She suddenly felt how confining the city streets and her father's workshop had been.
Shortly after noon a banquet was served in the ship's dining room. Sarah filled her plate with smoked oysters, country ham, vegetables swimming in a lovely cheese sauce, and fragrant mincemeat pie. Wine was offered, but Charles refused. "Water is the best for health. There is no danger of overdoing when drinking water."
The afternoon and evening passed uneventfully. Sarah slipped off her shoes as they had begun to feel uncomfortable, put a pillow behind her head and dozed. In a few minutes she was wide awake and restless. She decided to put on her shoes and freshen up so she would