After she leaves the abuse of a previous owner, Louise enters the Sumner household and immediately feels safe and content. Mr. Sumner goes on business trips out of town, and Louise must take responsibility for the care of Mrs. Sumner. Mrs. Sumner is an avid painter who often goes on “excitement spells” whenever her husband is gone. During one of Mr. Sumner’s business trips, Mrs. Sumner requests that Louise take off her clothes so that Mrs. Sumner can paint a portrait of her. Louise refuses modestly, and tells Mrs. Sumner that she must go take care of her half-sister, but Mrs. Sumner insists that Louise forgo dinner and playing care-taker for the evening. Two weeks of painting ensue, and Mrs. Sumner’s friend pays a visit due to concern for the quietness of the Sumner household. Mrs. Sumner brushes her off and continues to paint. Louise begins to feel uncomfortable sitting all day without work, but tells herself that she is doing this for the sake of her missus. As a religious woman, Louise also feels guilty for sitting nude in a portrait, and struggles to look at the finished painting.  Mr. Sumner returns back home with a man named Jackson who sees the portrait and comments that the subject is Louise. Louise feels intense shame, but Jackson calmly leads her to the kitchen with reassuring hands, and Louise serves him food.