Her resistance melted away, and almost involuntarily she exclaimed, "Well, do what you feel to be right." Melissa flew into her arms again with a grateful sense of release from a load, and Berenike did all she could to smooth the thorny way for her.
She discussed every point with Philostratus as thoroughly as though for a child of her own; and, while the tumult came up from the banquet in the men's rooms, they settled that Berenike herself should conduct the girl to the wife of the high-priest of Serapis, the brother of Seleukus, and there await Melissa's return.

Philostratus named the hour and other details, and then made further inquiries concerning the young artist whose mocking spirit had brought so much trouble on his family.
On this the lady led him into an adjoining room, where the portrait of her adored daughter was hanging.

It was surrounded by a thick wreath of violets, the dead girl's favorite flower.

The beautiful picture was lighted up by two three-branched lamps on high stands; and Philostratus, a connoisseur who had described many paintings with great taste and vividness, gazed in absorbed silence at the lovely features, which were represented with rare mastery and the inspired devotion of loving admiration.

At last he turned to the mother, exclaiming: "Happy artist, to have such a subject! It is a work worthy of the early, best period, and of a master of the time of Apelies.