human
I cannot tell you, Mr. Perkins, Elaine began,
gpt
There are few, Miss St. Clair, he said,
human
Yet it seems too bad, she went on,
gpt
she went on, rapidly,
human
Miss St. Clair! exclaimed the poet, deeply shocked;
gpt
Far from it, Mr. Perkins, Elaine reassured him.
human
I was only thinking that by having your work printed in a volume, or perhaps in the pages of a magazine, you could reach a wider audience, and thus accomplish your ideal of uplifting the multitude.
gpt
I am pained, breathed the poet;
human
Then I am sorry, answered Elaine.
gpt
I was only trying to help.
human
To think, continued Mr. Perkins, bitterly,
gpt
I see, murmured Elaine, duly impressed,
human
I have thought there might be, returned the poet, after a significant silence,
gpt
Dear Mr. Perkins, cried Elaine, ecstatically clapping her hands,
human
Additionally,
gpt
Yes, of course I mean additionally. One could smell the apple blossoms through the printed page. Oh, Mr. Perkins, if I only had the means, how gladly would I devote my all to this wonderful, uplifting work!
human
I may tell you, he murmured,
gpt
Indeed you may!
human
Then, whispered Mr. Perkins,
gpt
I am living in that hope. My dear Uncle Ebeneezer, though now departed, was a distinguished patron of the arts. Many a time have I read him my work, assured of his deep, though unexpressed sympathy, and, lulled by the rhythm of our spoken speech, he has passed without a jar from my dreamland to his own. I know he would never speak of it to any one--dear Uncle Ebeneezer was too finely grained for that--but still I feel assured that somewhere within the walls of that sorely afflicted house, a sum of--of money--has been placed, in the hope that I might find it and carry out this beautiful work.
human
Have you hunted?
gpt
No--not hunted. I beg you, do not use so coarse a word. It jars upon my poet's soul with almost physical pain.
human
I beg your pardon, returned Elaine,
gpt
Sometimes, interrupted the poet, in a low tone,
human
Some word--some clue--did he give you none?
gpt
None whatever, except that once or twice he said that he would see that I was suitably provided for. He intimated that he intended me to have a sum apportioned to my deserts.
human
Which would be a generous one; but now--Oh, Mr. Perkins, how can I help you?
gpt
You have never suspected, have you, asked Mr. Perkins, colouring to his temples,
human
Oh, Mr. Perkins, have I your room? I will so gladly give it up--I----
gpt
No. The place where you have walked is holy ground. Not for the world would I dispossess you, but----
human
I see, said Elaine, quickly guessing his thought,
gpt
My thoughts, breathed Mr. Perkins,
human
I see, she said, submissively,
gpt
I will hunt myself. I mean, I will glance about in the hope that the spirit of Uncle Ebeneezer may make plain to me what you seek. And----
human
And, interjected the poet, quite practical for the moment,
gpt
I will remember. You need not fear to trust me.
human
Then let us shake hands upon our compact. For a moment, Elaine's warm, rosy hand rested in the clammy, nerveless palm of Harold Vernon Perkins.
gpt
Last night, he sighed,
human
I could not sleep. I was distressed by noises which appeared to emanate from the apartment of Mr. Skiles. Did you hear nothing?
gpt
Nothing, returned Elaine;
human
I sleep very soundly.
gpt
The privilege of unpoetic souls, commented Mr. Perkins.
human
But, as usual, my restlessness was not without definite and beautiful result. In the still watches of the night, I achieved a--poem.
gpt
Read it, cried Elaine, rapturously.
human
Oh, if I might hear it!