A closely shrouded bust stood on its pedestal in the light of the solitary window.
"That is my ideal personage," Clement said.

"Wait one moment, and you shall see how far I have caught the character of our uncrowned queen." The master expected, very naturally, to see the conventional young woman with classical wreath or feather headdress, whom we have placed upon our smallest coin, so that our children may all grow up loving Liberty.
As Clement withdrew the drapery that covered his work, the master stared at it in amazement.

He looked at it long and earnestly, and at length turned his eyes, a little moistened by some feeling which thus betrayed itself, upon his scholar.
"This is no ideal, Clement.

It is the portrait of a very young but very beautiful woman.

No common feeling could have guided your hand in shaping such a portrait from memory.