human
You are peaceful and happy here, Miss Fleming--may I call you Phillis?
gpt
Certainly, Mr. Humphrey. We are old friends, you know. And I am very happy here.
human
I am glad --he sighed heavily--
gpt
I am very glad indeed to hear that.
human
Are you not happy, Mr. Humphrey? Why do you look so gloomy? And how is the Great Picture getting on?
gpt
The 'Birth of the Renaissance' is advancing rapidly--rapidly, he said.
human
It will occupy a canvas fourteen feet long by six high.
gpt
If you have got the canvas, and the frame, and the purchaser, all you want now is the Picture.
human
True, as you say, the Picture. It is all that I want. And that is striding--literally striding, _I_ am happy, dear Miss Fleming, dear Phillis, since I may call you by your pretty Christian name. It is of my brother that I think. It is on his account that I feel unhappy.
gpt
What is the matter with him?
human
He is a great, a noble fellow, His life is made up of sacrifices and devoted to hard work. No one works so conscientiously as Cornelius. Now, at length the prospect opens up, and he will take immediately his true position among English poets.
gpt
Indeed, I am glad of it.
human
Thank you. Yet he is not happy. There is a secret sorrow in his life.
gpt
Oh, dear! Phillis cried impatiently,
human
A secret which no one has guessed but myself.
gpt
I know what it is.
human
Has he told you, Phillis? The secret of his life is that my brother Cornelius is attached to you with all the devotion of his grand poetic soul.
gpt
Why, that was what I thought you were going to say!
human
You knew it? Humphrey was as solemn as an eight-day clock, while Phillis's eyes danced with mirth.
gpt
And you feel the response of a passionate nature? He shall be your Petrarch. You shall read his very soul. But Cornelius brings you a virgin heart, a virgin heart, Phillis (O Humphrey! and after what you know about Gretchen!).
human
May he hope that----
gpt
Certainly he may hope, and so may you. And now we have had quite enough of devotion and secrets and great poetic souls. Come, Mr. Humphrey.