Previews Dangerous Echoes by Mai Griffin | Page 16

Dangerous Echoes
a more recent picture with her which strangely enough
was also of a Welsh cottage.
“Oh, I’m sure hers is not a cottage. From what she says,
it sounds like a rambling old place, but do bring the
painting anyway – I’d love to see it myself.”
A date was agreed for Saturday the twenty-first and
Clarrie went back to her easel. The subject she was
tackling was another landscape, started last summer. To
finish it she was using sketches and photographs taken at
the time. Always her own severest critic she knew it was
not even nearly as good as the one she privately called
‘The Haunted Cottage’, which had, after all, been painted
from life ...much more satisfying than using snaps
however good.
She was filled with pleasurable anticipation, as always,
at the prospect of another out-door commission ...but only
if the weather held good. If Miss Matthews did decide to
have a painting, she would plan to go soon – in early
spring.
As she worked, she wondered if it would be within
calling distance of Williams’ farm where the cottage still
stood – she had a standing invitation to stay with them
and Gareth could show her more of his favourite views
for her to paint. It would be interesting to see them again
– the haunted house too! Was it still empty, she wondered?
She decided to photograph her painting of it, which they
had wanted to buy, and give them an enlarged print on
canvas. She could not part with the original ...it held too
much significance in her life. Sarah also seemed to regard
the painting as special; to her it marked her daughter’s
spiritual advancement and she had actually asked that
Clarinda should never sell it.
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