It was as if he imagined that the limner, being shorn of words, thereby lacked amusement.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

It did not matter in the least that the limner could not hear what he was saying.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

The limner had shown the customs collector some miniatures of children, hoping to change his mind, but Tuttle merely shook his head.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

Habit and prudence urged him to snuff out the two candles he had been awarded, but the limner decided to leave them burning.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

Mr. Tuttle had not offered lodging, but the limner willingly slept in the stable with his mare for company, and ate in the kitchen.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

The limner always felt tenderly toward children: for themselves, for the grateful fact that they overlooked his defect, and also because he had no issue himself.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

The limner watched as Tuttle stood there, one foot advanced, as in his portrait, his mouth opening and closing in a manner that did not suggest dignity.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

The limner had finished his broth and was warming himself before the fire an element that Mr. Tuttle was not generous with elsewhere in the house when an idea came to him.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

While waiting, the limner examined his work.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

Those who did not have the modesty to be struck by such doubts tended to comport themselves as the collector now did: to ask for adjustments and improvements, to tell the limner that his hand and eye were faulty.

NEWYORKER: The Limner

He watched as Tuttle took the paper calmly, examined it, looked at the boy, glanced at Wadsworth, nodded, then deliberately tore the sketch in four, placed it in the fire, waited until it blazed, said something further when in quarter-profile to the limner, and made his exit.

NEWYORKER: The Limner