Of course you see what all that means ? As musical director I am also his confidante , and would like to know what advice to give , ' said Laurie soberly . ` Hush ! you forget that child , ' began Jo , nodding towards Bess , who was at work again . ` Bless you ! she 's in Athens , and does n't hear a word . She ought to leave off , though , and go out . My darling , put the baby to sleep , and go for a run . Aunt Meg is in the parlour ; go and show her the new pictures till we come , ' added Laurie , looking at his tall girl as Pygmalion might have looked at Galatea ; for he considered her the finest statue in the house . ` Yes , papa ; but please tell me if it is good ' ; and Bess obediently put down her tools , with a lingering glance at the bust . ` My cherished daughter , truth compels me to confess that one cheek is plumper than the other ; and the curls upon its infant brow are rather too much like horns for perfect grace ; otherwise it rivals Raphael 's Chanting Cherubs , and I 'm proud of it . ' Laurie was laughing as he spoke ; for these first attempts were so like Amy 's early ones , it was impossible to regard them as soberly as the enthusiastic mamma did . ` You ca n't see beauty in anything but music , ' answered Bess , shaking the golden head that made the one bright spot in the cool north lights of the great studio . ` Well , I see beauty in you , dear . And if you are not art , what is ? I wish to put a little more nature into you , and get you away from this cold clay and marble into the sunshine , to dance and laugh as the others do . I want a flesh-and-blood girl , not a sweet statue in a grey pinafore , who forgets everything but her work . ' As he spoke , two dusty hands came round his neck , and Bess said earnestly , punctuating her words with soft touches of her lips : ' I never forget you , papa ; but I do want to do something beautiful that you may be proud of me by and by . Mamma often tells me to stop ; but when we get in here we forget there is any world outside , we are so busy and so happy . Now I 'll go and run and sing , and be a girl to please you . '
And throwing away the apron , XXXXX vanished from the room , seeming to take all the light with her .
Amy Athens Bess Cherubs Galatea Jo Pygmalion Raphael parlour pinafore