New Grub Street. George Gissing

sorry for it. I wish I had found some way of supporting myself. The end of mother’s life was made far more unhappy than it need have been. I should like you to understand all this.’

      The listener kept her eyes on the ground.

      ‘Perhaps the girls have hinted it to you?’ Jasper added.

      ‘No.’

      ‘Selfishness — that’s one of my faults. It isn’t a brutal kind of selfishness; the thought of it often enough troubles me. If I were rich, I should be a generous and good man; I know I should. So would many another poor fellow whose worst features come out under hardship. This isn’t a heroic type; of course not. I am a civilised man, that’s all.’

      Marian could say nothing.

      ‘You wonder why I am so impertinent as to talk about myself like this. I have gone through a good deal of mental pain these last few weeks, and somehow I can’t help showing you something of my real thoughts. Just because you are one of the few people I regard with sincere respect. I don’t know you very well, but quite well enough to respect you. My sisters think of you in the same way. I shall do many a base thing in life, just to get money and reputation; I tell you this that you mayn’t be surprised if anything of that kind comes to your ears. I can’t afford to live as I should like to.’

      She looked up at him with a smile.

      ‘People who are going to live unworthily don’t declare it in this way.’

      ‘I oughtn’t to; a few minutes ago I had no intention of saying such things. It means I am rather overstrung, I suppose; but it’s all true, unfortunately.’

      He rose, and began to run his eye along the shelves nearest to him.

      ‘Well, now I will go, Miss Yule.’

      Marian stood up as he approached.

      ‘It’s all very well,’ he said, smiling, ‘for me to encourage my sisters in the hope that they may earn a living; but suppose I can’t even do it myself? It’s by no means certain that I shall make ends meet this year.’

      ‘You have every reason to hope, I think.’

      ‘I like to hear people say that, but it’ll mean savage work. When we were all at Finden last year, I told the girls that it would be another twelve months before I could support myself. Now I am forced to do it. And I don’t like work; my nature is lazy. I shall never write for writing’s sake, only to make money. All my plans and efforts will have money in view — all. I shan’t allow anything to come in the way of my material advancement.’

      ‘I wish you every success,’ said Marian, without looking at him, and without a smile.

      ‘Thank you. But that sounds too much like good-bye. I trust we are to be friends, for all that?’

      ‘Indeed, I hope we may be.’

      They shook hands, and he went towards the door. But before opening it, he asked:

      ‘Did you read that thing of mine in The Current?’

      ‘Yes, I did.’

      ‘It wasn’t bad, I think?’

      ‘It seemed to me very clever.’

      ‘Clever — yes, that’s the word. It had a success, too. I have as good a thing half done for the April number, but I’ve felt too heavy-hearted to go on with it. The girls shall let you know when they are in town.’

      Marian followed him into the passage, and watched him as he opened the front door. When it had closed, she went back into the study for a few minutes before rejoining her mother.