The room , though very simply furnished , had a good deal of beauty in it , for the pictures were few and well chosen , the books such as never grow old , the music lying on the well-worn piano of the sort which is never out of fashion , and standing somewhat apart was one small statue in a recess full of flowers . Lovely in its simple grace and truth was the figure of a child looking upward as if watching the airy flight of some butterfly which had evidently escaped from the chrysalis still lying in the little hand . Paul was looking at it with approving eyes when Mrs. Dean appeared with his card in her hand , three shawls on her shoulders , and in her face a somewhat startled expression , as if she expected some novel demonstration from the man whose genius her daughter so much admired . `` I hope Miss Psyche is well , '' began Paul , with great discrimination if not originality . The delightfully commonplace remark tranquillized Mrs. Dean at once , and , taking off the upper shawl with a fussy gesture , she settled herself for a chat . `` Yes , thank heaven , Sy is well . I do n't know what would become of us if she was n't . It has been a hard and sorrowful year for us with Mr. Dean 's business embarrassments , my feeble health , and May 's death . I do n't know that you were aware of our loss , sir ; '' and unaffected maternal grief gave sudden dignity to the faded , fretful face of the speaker . Paul murmured his regrets , understanding better now the pathetic words on a certain tear-stained page of the little book still in his pocket . `` Poor dear , she suffered everything , and it came very hard upon Sy , for the child was n't happy with any one else , and almost lived in her arms , '' continued Mrs. Dean , dropping the second shawl to get her handkerchief . `` Miss Psyche has not had much time for art-studies this year , I suppose ? '' said Paul , hoping to arrest the shower , natural as it was . `` How could she with two invalids , the housekeeping , her father and the boys to attend to ? No , she gave that up last spring , and though it was a great disappointment to her at the time , she has got over it now , I hope , '' added her mother , remembering as she spoke that Psyche even now went about the house sometimes pale and silent , with a hungry look in her eyes . `` I am glad to hear it , '' though a little shadow passed over his face as Paul spoke , for he was too true an artist to believe that any work could be as happy as that which he loved and lived for . `` I thought there was much promise in Miss Psyche , and I sincerely believe that time will prove me a true prophet , '' he said , with mingled regret and hope in his voice , as he glanced about the room , which betrayed the tastes still cherished by the girl . `` I 'm afraid ambition is n't good for women ; I mean the sort that makes them known by coming before the public in any way . But Sy deserves some reward , I 'm sure , and I know she 'll have it , for a better daughter never lived . '' Here the third shawl was cast off , as if the thought of Psyche , or the presence of a genial guest had touched Mrs. Dean 's chilly nature with a comfortable warmth .
Further conversation was interrupted by the avalanche of boys which came tumbling down the front stairs , as Tom , Dick , and Harry shouted in a sort of chorus , -- `` XXXXX , my balloon has got away ; lend us a hand at catching him ! ''
Dean Paul Psyche Sy art-studies chrysalis embarrassments second third year