Father Rocco's countenance, on the other hand,
looked like the personification of absolute calmness and
invincible moderation; and his manner, which, in a very firm way,
was singularly quiet and deliberate, assisted in carrying out the
impression produced by his face. The daughter seemed as if she
could fly into a passion at a moment's notice, and forgive also
at a moment's notice. The father, appearing to be just as
irritable, had something in his face which said, as plainly as if
in words, "Anger me, and I never pardon." The priest looked as if
he need never be called on either to ask forgiveness or to grant
it, for the double reason that he could irritate nobody else, and
that nobody else could irritate him.
"Rocco," said Luca, looking at the face of his Minerva, which was
now finished, "this statue of mine will make a sensation."
"I am glad to hear it," rejoined the priest, dryly
"It is a new thing in art," continued Luca, enthusiastically.
"Other sculptors, with a classical subject like mine, limit
themselves to the ideal classical face, and never think of aiming
at individual character. Now I do precisely the reverse of that.
I get my handsome daughter, Maddalena, to sit for Minerva, and I
make an exact likeness of her. I may lose in ideal beauty, but I
gain in individual character. People may accuse me of
disregarding established rules; but my answer is, that I make my
own rules.
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