human
You didn't use, Philip, to care so much for pictures.
gpt
Oh, I've been seeing more.
human
But you don't say you like that? Look at the drawing.
gpt
Well, it tells the story.
human
A story is nothing; it's the way it's told. This is not well told.
gpt
It pleases me. Look at that girl.
human
Yes, she is domestic. I admit that. But I'm not sure I do not prefer an impressionistic girl, whom you can't half see, to such a thorough bread-and-butter miss as this.
gpt
Which would you rather live with?
human
I'm not obliged to live with either. In fact, I'd rather live with myself. If it's art, I want art; if it's cooking and sewing, I want cooking and sewing. If the artist knew enough, he'd paint a woman instead of a cook.
gpt
Then you don't care for real life?
human
Real life! There is no such thing. You are demonstrating that. You transform this uninteresting piece of domesticity into an ideal woman, ennobling her surroundings. She doesn't do it. She is level with them.
gpt
It would be a dreary world if we didn't idealize things.
human
So it would. And that is what I complain of in such 'art' as this. I don't know what has got into you, Phil. I never saw you so exuberant. You are pleased with everything. Have you had a rise in the office? Have you finished your novel?
gpt
Neither. No rise. No novel. But Tweedle is getting friendly. Threw an extra job in my way the other day. Do you think I'd better offer my novel, when it is done, to Tweedle?
human
Tweedle, indeed!
gpt
Well, one of our clients is one of the great publishing firms, and Tweedle often dines with the publisher.
human
For shame, Phil!
gpt
At any rate, that is no meaner than a suggestion of Brad's. He says if I will just weave into it a lot of line scenery, and set my people traveling on the great trunk, stopping off now and then at an attractive branch, the interested railroads would gladly print it and scatter it all over the country.
human
No doubt, said Celia, sinking down upon a convenient seat.
gpt
I begin to feel as if there were no protection for anything. And, Phil, that great monster of a Mavick, who is eating up the country, isn't he a client also?
human
Occasionally only. A man like Mavick has his own lawyers and judges.
gpt
Did you ever see him?
human
Just glimpses.
gpt
And that daughter of his, about whom such a fuss was made, I suppose you never met her?
human
Oh, as I wrote you, at the opera; saw her in her box.
gpt
And--?
human
Oh, she's rather a little thing; rather dark, I told you that; seems devoted to music.
gpt
And you didn't tell what she wore.
human
Why, what they all wear. Something light and rather fluffy.
gpt
Just like a man. Is she pretty?
human
Ye-e-s; has that effect. You'd notice her eyes.
gpt
I don't know. She's simply adorable,
human
And probably doesn't know anything. Yes, highly educated? I heard that. But I'm getting tired of 'highly educated'; I see so many of them. I've been making them now for years. Perhaps I'm one of them. And where am I? Don't interrupt. I tell you it is a relief to come across a sweet, womanly ignoramus. What church does she go to?
gpt
Who?
human
That Mavick girl.
gpt
St. Thomas', I believe.
human
That's good--that's devotional. I suppose you go there too, being brought up a Congregationalist?
gpt
At vespers, sometimes. But, Celia, what is the matter with you? I thought you didn't care--didn't care to belong to anything?
human
I? I belong to everything. Didn't I write you reams about my studies in psychology? I've come to one conclusion. There are only two persons in the world who stand on a solid foundation, the Roman Catholic and the Agnostic. The Roman Catholic knows everything, the Agnostic doesn't know anything.