Now you try. He scooped the black paste into a small pot and got out another piece of ivory. I took up the muller and tried to imitate his stance as I leaned over the table.
No, your hand needs to do this. He placed his hand over mine. The shock of his touch made me drop the muller, which rolled off the table and fell on the floor.
I jumped away from him and bent down to pick it up. Im sorry, sir, I muttered, placing the muller in the bowl.
He did not try to touch me again.
Move your hand up a little, he commanded instead. Thats right. Now use your shoulder to turn, your wrist to finish.
It took me much longer to grind my piece, for I was clumsy and flustered from his touch. And I was smaller than him, and unused to the movement I was meant to make. At least my arms were strong from wringing out laundry.
A little finer, he suggested when he inspected the bowl. I ground for a few more minutes before he decided it was ready, having me rub the paste between my fingers so I would know how fine he wanted it. Then he laid several more pieces of bone on the table. Tomorrow I will show you how to grind white lead. It is much easier than bone.
I stared at the ivory.
What is it, Griet? Youre not frightened of a few bones, are you? They are no different from the ivory comb you use to tidy your hair.
I would never be rich enough to own such a comb. I tidied my hair with my fingers.
Its not that, sir. All the other things he had asked of me I was able to do while cleaning or running errands. No one but Cornelia had become suspicious. But grinding things would take timeI could not do it while I was meant to be cleaning the studio, and I could not explain to others why I must go to the attic at times, leaving my other tasks. This will take some time to grind, I said feebly.
Once you are used to it, it will not take as long as today.
I hated to question or disobey himhe was my master. But I feared the anger of the women downstairs. Im meant to go to the butchers now, and to do the ironing, sir. For the mistress. My words sounded petty.
He did not move. To the butchers? He was frowning.
Yes, sir. The mistress will want to know why I cannot do my other work. She will want to know that I am helping you, up here. Its not easy for me to come up for no reason.
There was a long silence. The bell in the New Church tower struck seven times.
I see, he murmured when it had stopped. Let me consider this. He removed some of the ivory, putting it back in a drawer. Do this bit now. He gestured at what was left. It shouldnt take long. I must go out. Leave it here when you are done.
He would have to speak to Catharina and tell her about my work. Then it would be easier for me to do things for him.
I waited, but he said nothing to Catharina.
The solution to the problem of the colors came unexpectedly from Tanneke. Since Franciscus birth the nurse had been sleeping in the Crucifixion room with Tanneke. From there she could get easily to the great hall to feed the baby when he woke. Although Catharina was not feeding him herself, she insisted that Franciscus sleep in a cradle next to her. I thought this a strange arrangement, but when I came to know Catharina better I understood that she wanted to hold on to the appearance of motherhood, if not the tasks themselves.
Tanneke was not happy sharing her room with the nurse, complaining that the nurse got up too often to tend to the baby, and when she did remain in bed she snored. Tanneke spoke of it to everyone, whether they listened or not. She began to slacken her work, and blamed it on not getting enough sleep. Maria Thins told her there was nothing they could do, but Tanneke continued to grumble. She often threw black looks at mebefore I came to live in the house Tanneke had slept where I did in the cellar whenever a nurse was needed. It was almost as if she blamed me for the nurses snores.
One evening she even appealed to Catharina. Catharina was preparing herself for an evening at the van Ruijvens, despite the cold. She was in a good moodwearing her pearls and yellow mantle always made her happy. Over her mantle she had tied a wide linen collar that covered her shoulders and protected the cloth from the powder she was dusting on her face. As Tanneke listed her woes, Catharina continued to powder herself, holding up a mirror to inspect the results. Her hair had been dressed in braids and ribbons, and as long as she kept her happy expression she was very beautiful, the combination of her blond hair and light brown eyes making her look exotic.
At last she waved the powder-brush at Tanneke. Stop! she cried with a laugh. We need the nurse and she must sleep near me. Theres no space in the girls room, but there is in yours, so she is there. Theres nothing to be done. Why do you bother me about it?
Perhaps there is one thing that may be done, he said. I glanced up from the cupboard where I was searching for an apron for Lisbeth. He was standing in the doorway. Catharina gazed up at her husband in surprise. He rarely showed interest in domestic affairs. Put a bed up in the attic and let someone sleep there. Griet, perhaps.
Griet in the attic? Why? Catharina cried.
Then Tanneke may sleep in the cellar, as she prefers, he explained mildly.
But Catharina stopped, confused. She seemed to disapprove of the idea but could not say why.
Oh yes, madam, Tanneke broke in eagerly. That would certainly help. She glanced at me.
I busied myself refolding the childrens clothes, though they were already tidy.
What about the key to the studio? Catharina finally found an argument. There was only one entrance to the attic, by the ladder in the studios storeroom. To get to my bed I would have to pass through the studio, which was kept locked at night. We cant give a maid the key.
She wont need a key, he countered. You may lock the studio door once she has gone to bed. Then in the morning she may clean the studio before you come and unlock the door.
I paused with my folding. I did not like the idea of being locked into my room at night.
Unfortunately this notion seemed to please Catharina. Perhaps she thought locking me away would keep me both safely in one place and out of her sight. All right, then, she decided. She made most decisions quickly. She turned to Tanneke and me. Tomorrow you two move a bed to the attic. This is only temporary, she added, until the nurse is no longer needed.
Temporary as my trips to the butcher and fishmonger were meant to be temporary, I thought.
Come with me to the studio for a moment, he said. He was looking at her in a way I had begun to recognizea painters way.
Me? Catharina smiled at her husband. Invitations to his studio were rare. She set down her powder-brush with a flourish and began to remove the wide collar, now covered with dust.
He reached out and grasped her hand. Leave that.
This was almost as surprising as his suggestion to move me to the attic. As he led Catharina upstairs, Tanneke and I exchanged looks.
The next day the bakers daughter began to wear the wide white collar while modelling for the painting.
Maria Thins was not so easily fooled. When she heard from a gleeful Tanneke about her move to the cellar and mine to the attic she puffed on her pipe and frowned. You two could just switchshe pointed at us with the pipeso that Griet sleeps with the nurse and you go in the cellar. Then there is no need for anyone to move to the attic.
Tanneke was not listeningshe was too full of her victory to notice the logic in her mistresss words.
Mistress has agreed to it, I said simply.
Maria Thins gave me a long sideways look.