human
Darling little girl, he said,
gpt
Oh, Helena, he murmured, close beside her ear,
human
Don't say such awful things, Hugh,
gpt
I'd say them for ten years as penance if it did any good. But now you've told me, now I know you know, it's easier. When I get selfish, when I begin forgetting _your_ side of the thing, you'll have to tell me; see? And if you don't, well I've still got your copy of _The Confessions of_----
human
Hugh, she cried, going to the table and taking up the paper which had changed their lives,
gpt
--she tore the paper savagely across.
human
And you must _not_ say you are selfish. It's only that your work----
gpt
My work! interrupted Hubert, with a discordant laugh.
human
I've done none this last week. I've thought--thought about myself, and that's good when you're forty but it isn't pleasant. Do you know what is wrong with me?
gpt
Nothing,
human
I took a long time finding myself out, he answered.
gpt
That's all. Everybody starts, about eighteen, thinking he's a genius and bound to end up on Olympus; then about twenty-five, we settle we're just common fools and take a city job. But I did not. I've gone on in what they call a fool's paradise; feeding upon praise and threatening those who did the other thing, until I really thought that I was some one great! Boyd always _said_ that I was undeveloped; there was something lacking.... But I've got it now. I think I got it when you cut me out as author!
human
Don't, please, she cried,
gpt
I must, he answered gloomily.
human
I've given half my life to writing--and only just found out that I can't write!
gpt
Look here, dear, she said, taking his arm in quite a mother's way,
human
What? You and I collaborate?
gpt
No, she said quickly.
human
I shan't ever write again; that's done with; we'll just talk the stories over when we're out upon our dear old rambles, and then, you see, you'll get the woman's view as well. And possibly I may get plots sometimes, although I couldn't write them.
gpt
Then we'll sign Helena and Hubert Brett, he said in swift penitence, forcing himself to nobility.
human
That really does sound excellent!
gpt
No, she replied slowly,
human
My God, Helena, he cried passionately,
gpt
It's over now, she said:
human
And you won't ever long to--well, to be Zoë again?
gpt
No, she said,
human
The dearest woman in the whole world,