human
Is that like him?
gpt
I am glad you think it good. Please write underneath, 'The Artist at work.' Thank you. Is that it? We will now pin it on the canvas. Think what he will say when he wakes up and sees it.
human
Now you have seen the Twins. They are really very nice, but they drink too much wine, and sit up late. In the morning they are sometimes troublesome, when they won't take their breakfast; but in the evening, after dinner, they are quite tractable. And you see how they spend their day.
gpt
Do they never do any work at all?
human
I will tell you what I think, she replied gravely.
gpt
Mr. Dyson used to tell me of men who are so vain that they are ashamed to give the world anything but what they know to be the best. And the best only comes by successive effort. So they wait and wait, till the time goes by, and they cannot even produce second-rate work. I think the Twins belong to that class of people.
human
And now, said Phillis,
gpt
Tell me something more about yourself first, said Jack, not caring to bring Mr. Lawrence Colquhoun into the conversation just yet.
human
You said last night that you would show me your drawings.
gpt
They are only pencil and pen-and-ink sketches. Phillis put a small portfolio on the table and opened it.
human
This morning Mr. Joseph took me to see an exhibition of paintings. Most of the artists in that exhibition cannot draw, but some can--and then--Oh!
gpt
They cannot draw better than you, Miss Fleming, I am quite sure.
human
It seems so strange to be called Miss Fleming. Everybody used to call me Phillis.
gpt
Was--was everybody young?
human
No; everybody was old. I suppose young people always call each other by their christian names. Yours seems to be rather stiff. Ronald, Ronald--I am afraid I do not like it very much.
gpt
My brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, cousins and kinsfolk--the people who pay my debts and therefore love me most--call me Ronald. But everybody else calls me Jack.
human
Jack! she murmured.
gpt
What a pretty name Jack is! May I call you Jack?
human
If you only would! he cried, with a quick flushing of his cheek.
gpt
If you only would! Not when other people are present, but all to ourselves, when we are together like this. That is, if you do not mind.
human
I shall always call you Jack, then, unless when people like Mrs. Cassilis are present.
gpt
And what am I to call you?
human
My name is Phillis, you know.