I was not quite sure how she would receive you." And lo! it seemed to Mr.Carlyon as though the divine orbs softened into a smile, such was the art of those old Greeks, who marred not the marble with pupil or iris, who stooped to no trick of simulation, but left the perfect modeling to speak for itself.
The eyes of this Aphrodite conveyed volumes of love, with her nobly planned brows and temples and her softly smooth cheeks.

The slight break of the nose even did not seem to spoil the perfect beauty of the whole.
Her mouth, tender and rather full, seemed to smile a welcome, and the patine, unspoiled by any casts having ever been taken, gleamed as the finest of skin.

It was in a wonderful state of preservation and not darkened to more than a soft cream color.
So there she lay at last! Goddess of Love still for all time.

The head was broken off at the base of the slender, rounded throat.
Halcyone perceived that Cheiron was appreciating her treasure in a proper spirit and spoke not a word while he examined it minutely, turning it in all lights.
"What consummate genius!" he almost whispered at last.

"You have truly a goddess here, child, and you do well to guard her as such,--Aphrodite you have named her well." "I am glad now that I have shown her to you--at first I was a little afraid--but you understand.