human
I had a letter to-day from Mr. Gilead Beck,
gpt
So had I,
human
In answer to a note from me,
gpt
In reply to a letter of mine,
human
It is sometimes a little awkward, brother Humphrey, Cornelius remarked with a little temper,
gpt
I suppose then, Cornelius, that you asked him for money?
human
I did, Humphrey. How much has the Patron advanced you already on the great Picture?
gpt
Two hundred only. A mere trifle. And now he refuses to advance any more until the Picture is completed. Some enemy, some jealous brother artist, must have corrupted his mind.
human
My case, too. I asked for a simple fifty pounds. It is the end of May, and the country would be delightful if one could go there. I have already drawn four or five cheques of fifty each, on account of the Epic. He says, this mercenary and mechanical patron, that he will not lend me any more until the Poem is brought to him finished. Some carping critic has been talking to him.
gpt
How much of the Poem is finished?
human
How much of the Picture is done?
gpt
The end of May, murmured Humphrey.
human
We have to be ready by the beginning of October. June--July--only four months. My painting is designed for many hundreds of figures. Your poem for--how many lines, brother?
gpt
Twenty cantos of about five hundred lines each.
human
Twenty times five hundred is ten thousand.
gpt
Brother Cornelius, the Artist went on,
human
You, Cornelius, have engaged yourself to be married.
gpt
Pardon me, Humphrey; it is you that is engaged to Phillis Fleming.
human
I am nothing of the sort, Cornelius, the other returned sharply.
gpt
I am astonished that you should make such a statement.
human
One of us certainly is engaged to the young lady. And as certainly it is not I. 'Let your brother Humphrey hope,' she said. Those were her very words. I do think, brother, that it is a little ungenerous, a little ungenerous of you, after all the trouble I took on your behalf, to try to force this young lady on me.
gpt
I went down on purpose to tell Phillis about him. I spoke to her of his ardour. She said she appreciated--said she appreciated it, Cornelius. I even went so far as to say that you offered her a virgin heart--perilling my own soul by those very words--a virgin heart --he laughed melodramatically.
human
And after that German milkmaid! Ha, ha! The Poet and the milkmaid!