All turned to Sy for help and consolation , and her strength seemed to increase with the demand upon it . Patience and cheerfulness , courage and skill came at her call like good fairies who had bided their time . Housekeeping ceased to be hateful , and peace reigned in parlor and kitchen while Mrs. Dean , shrouded in shawls , read Hahnemann 's Lesser Writings on her sofa . Mr. Dean sometimes forgot his mills when a bright face came to meet him , a gentle hand smoothed the wrinkles out of his anxious forehead , and a daughterly heart sympathized with all his cares . The boys found home very pleasant with Sy always there ready to `` lend a hand , '' whether it was to make fancy ties , help conjugate `` a confounded verb , '' pull candy , or sing sweetly in the twilight when all thought of little May and grew quiet . The studio door remained locked till her brothers begged Psyche to open it and make a bust of the child . A flush of joy swept over her face at the request , and her patient eyes grew bright and eager , as a thirsty traveller 's might at the sight or sound of water . Then it faded as she shook her head , saying with a regretful sigh , `` I 'm afraid I 've lost the little skill I ever had . '' But she tried , and with great wonder and delight discovered that she could work as she had never done before . She thought the newly found power lay in her longing to see the little face again ; for it grew like magic under her loving hands , while every tender memory , sweet thought , and devout hope she had ever cherished , seemed to lend their aid . But when it was done and welcomed with tears and smiles , and praise more precious than any the world could give , then Psyche said within herself , like one who saw light at last , -- `` He was right ; doing one 's duty is the way to feed heart , soul , and imagination ; for if one is good , one is happy , and if happy , one can work well . '' III `` She broke her head and went home to come no more , '' was Giovanni 's somewhat startling answer when Paul asked about Psyche , finding that he no longer met her on the stairs or in the halls . He understood what the boy meant , and with an approving nod turned to his work again , saying , `` I like that ! If there is any power in her , she has taken the right way to find it out , I suspect . '' How she prospered he never asked ; for , though he met her more than once that year , the interviews were brief ones in street , concert-room , or picture-gallery , and she carefully avoided speaking of herself . But , possessing the gifted eyes which can look below the surface of things , he detected in the girl 's face something better than beauty , though each time he saw it , it looked older and more thoughtful , often anxious and sad . `` She is getting on , '' he said to himself with a cordial satisfaction which gave his manner a friendliness as grateful to Psyche as his wise reticence . Adam was finished at last , proved a genuine success , and Paul heartily enjoyed the well-earned reward for years of honest work . One blithe May morning , he slipped early into the art-gallery , where the statue now stood , to look at his creation with paternal pride . He was quite alone with the stately figure that shone white against the purple draperies and seemed to offer him a voiceless welcome from its marble lips .
He gave it one loving look , and then forgot it , for at the feet of his XXXXX lay a handful of wild violets , with the dew still on them .
Adam Giovanni Hahnemann Paul art-gallery morning picture-gallery reticence twilight years