human
To bring up the old German business!
gpt
To taunt me with the Roman girl!
human
Will you keep your engagement like a gentleman, and marry the girl?
gpt
Will you behave as a man of honour, and go to the Altar with Phillis Fleming?
human
I will not, said Cornelius.
gpt
Nothing shall induce me to get married.
human
Nor will I, said Humphrey.
gpt
I will see myself drawn and quartered first.
human
Then, said Cornelius,
gpt
Break what? asked Humphrey passionately.
human
Break her heart, when I tell her, if I must, that my brother repudiates his most sacred promises?
gpt
Can it be that she loves us both?
human
Can that be so, Cornelius?
gpt
Brother Humphrey, said Cornelius,
human
I see that we have mismanaged this affair. It will be a wrench to the poor girl, but it will have to be done. I thought you _wanted_ to marry her.
gpt
I thought _you_ did.
human
And so we each pleaded the other's cause. And the poor girl loves us both. Good heavens! What a dreadful thing for her.
gpt
I remember nothing in fiction so startling. To be sure, there is some excuse for her.
human
But she can't marry us both?
gpt
N--n--no. I suppose not. No--certainly not. Heaven forbid! And as you will not marry her----
human
And I will not----
gpt
Marry? interrupted Humphrey.
human
What! And give up this? Have to get up early; to take breakfast at nine; to be chained to work; to be inspected and interfered with while at work--Phillis drew me once, and pinned the portrait on my easel; to be restricted in the matter of port; to have to go to bed at eleven; perhaps, Cornelius, to have babies; and beside, if they should be Twins! Fancy being shaken out of your poetic dream by the cries of Twins!
gpt
No sitting up at night with pipes and brandy-and-water, echoed the Poet.
human
And, Humphrey --here he chuckled, and his face quite returned to its brotherly form--
gpt
Ho, ho, ho! laughed the Artist melodiously.
human
And no carrying milk-pails up the Heidelberg hills--eh, eh, eh?
gpt
Marriage be hanged! cried the Poet, starting up again.
human
We will preserve our independence, Humphrey. We will be free to woo, but not to wed.
gpt
We will, Cornelius--we will. _Vive la liberté!_
human
Quand on est a Paris On ecrit a son pere, Qui fait reponse, 'Brigand, Tu n'en as----'
gpt
We will go to Paris next week, brother.
human
We will, Humphrey, if we can get any more money. And now--how to get out of the mess?
gpt
Do you think Mrs. L'Estrange will interfere?
human
Or Colquhoun?
gpt
Or Joseph?
human
The best way would be to pretend it was all a mistake. Let us go to-morrow, and cry off as well as we can.
gpt
We will, Cornelius.
human
Poor little Phillis! said the Artist, filling his pipe.
gpt
I hope she won't pine much.
human
Ariadne, you know,
gpt
It isn't our fault, after all. Men of genius are always run after. Women are made to love men, and men are made to break their hearts. Law of nature, dear Cornelius--law of Nature. Perhaps the man is a fool who binds himself to one. Art alone should be our mistress--glorious Art!
human
Yes, said Cornelius;
gpt
What are we to do, Cornelius?
human
I don't know, Humphrey.
gpt
Will the Poem be finished?
human
No. Will the Picture?
gpt
Not a chance.
human
Had we not better, Humphrey, considering all the circumstances, make up our minds to throw over the engagement?
gpt
Tell me, Cornelius--how much of your Poem remains to be done?
human
Well, you see, there is not much actually written.
gpt
Will you show it to me--what there is of it?
human
It is all in my head, Humphrey. Nothing is written.
gpt
It is curious, Cornelius, that up to the present I have not actually drawn any of the groups. My figures are still in my head.