He thought once of Tennyson's "Dora," and of sketching his wife for the principal figure.

He did make a sketch, but he found that he could not paint Dora's face; he could not place the dimpling smiles and bright blushes on canvas, and they were the chief charm.

He therefore abandoned the idea.
Standing one day where the sunbeams fell lightly through the thick myrtles, an inspiration came to him.

He would paint a picture of Queen Guinevere in her gay sweet youth and bright innocent beauty--Guinevere with her lovely face and golden hair, the white plumes waving and jewels flashing; the bright figure on the milk-white palfrey shining in the mellow sunlight that came through the green trees.
Lancelot should ride by her side; he could see every detail of the picture; he knew just the noble, brave, tender face Sir Lancelot should have; but where could he find a model for Guinevere?
Where was there a face that would realize his artist dreams of her?
The painting was half completed before he thought of Valentine Charteris and her magnificent blonde beauty--the very ideal of Queen Guinevere.
With renewed energy Ronald set to work.

Every feature of that perfect face was engraved upon his mind.