human
I don't know that,
gpt
Madretta, don't you agree with me?
human
No doubt you two would appreciate things differently.
gpt
But what I mean is that Mr. Heath in the things we should both appreciate could see more than I.
human
Pierce deeper into the heart of the charm? Perhaps he could. Oh, eat a little of this chicken!
gpt
No, dearest mother, I can't. I'm in a Nebuchadnezzar mood. Spinach for me.
human
Everything seems a little vague and Channelly to-night, even spinach.
gpt
You must forgive me if I'm tiresome to-night, and remember that while you and Madre have been sitting comfortably in Mullion House and Berkeley Square, I've been roaring across France and rolling on the sea. I hate to be a slave to my body. Nothing makes one feel so contemptible. But I haven't attained to the Susan Fleet stage yet. I'll tell you all about her some day, Mr. Heath, but not now. You would like her. I know that. But perhaps you'll refuse to meet her. Do you know my secret name for you? I call you--the Great Refuser.
human
I have my work, you see.
gpt
We heard such strange music in Algiers, she answered.
human
I suppose it was ugly. But it suggested all sorts of things to me. Adelaide wished Monsieur Rades was with us. He's clever, but he could never do a big thing. Could he, mother?
gpt
No, but he does little things beautifully.
human
What it must be to be able to do a big thing! said Charmian.
gpt
To draw in color and light and perfume and sound, and to know you will be able to weave them together, and transform them, and give them out again with you in them, making them more strange, more wonderful. We saw an island, Susan Fleet and I, that--well, if I had had genius I could have done something exquisite the day I saw it. It seemed to say to me: 'Tell them! Tell them! Make them feel me! Make them know me! All those who are far away, who will never see me, but who would love me as you do, if they knew me.' And--it was very absurd, I know!--but I felt as if it were disappointed with me because I had no power to obey it. Madre, don't you think that must be the greatest joy and privilege of genius, that capacity for getting into close relations with strange and beautiful things? I couldn't obey the little island, and I felt almost as if I had done it a wrong.
human
Where was it? In the sea?
gpt
No--oh, no! But I can't tell you! It has to be seen--