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〃A woman that does not even wear the clothes of a lady。〃
〃It is the only genuine costume in these islands not beneath a painter's
notice。〃
〃Look at me； Charles； at your mother。〃
〃Yes； mother；〃 said he； nervously。
〃You must part with her； or kill me。〃
He started from his seat and began to flutter up and down the room； poor
excitable creature。 〃Part with her！〃 cried he； 〃I shall never be a
painter if I do； what is to keep my heart warm when the sun is hid； when
the birds are silent； when difficulty looks a mountain and success a
molehill？ What is an artist without love？ How is he to bear up against
his disappointments from within； his mortification from without？ the
great ideas he has and cannot grasp； and all the forms of ignorance that
sting him； from stupid insensibility down to clever； shallow criticism？〃
〃Come back to common sense；〃 said the old lady； coldly and grimly。
He looked uneasy。 Common sense had often been quoted against him； and
common sense had always proved right。
〃Come back to common sense。 She shall not be your mistress； and she
cannot bear your name； you must part some day； because you cannot come
together； and now is the best time。〃
〃Not be together？ all our lives； all our lives； ay；〃 cried he； rising
into enthusiasm； 〃hundreds of years to come will we two be together
before men's eyesI will be an immortal painter； that the world and time
may cherish the features I have loved。 I love her； mother；〃 added he；
with a tearful tenderness that ought to have reached a woman's heart；
then flushing； trembling； and inspired； he burst out； 〃And I wish I was a
sculptor and a poet too； that Christie might live in stone and verse； as
well as colors； and all who love an art might say； 'This woman cannot
die； Charles Gatty loved her。'〃
He looked in her face； he could not believe any creature could be
insensible to his love； and persist to rob him of it。
The old woman paused； to let his eloquence evaporate。
The pause chilled him； then gently and slowly； but emphatically； she
spoke to him thus：
〃Who has kept you on her small means ever since you were ten years and
seven months old？〃
〃You should know； mother； dear mother。〃
〃Answer me； Charles。〃
〃My mother。〃
〃Who has pinched herself； in every earthly thing； to make you an immortal
painter； and； above all； a gentleman？〃
〃My mother。〃
〃Who forgave you the little faults of youth； before you could ask
pardon？〃
〃My mother！ Oh； mother； I ask pardon now for all the trouble I ever gave
the best； the dearest； the tenderest of mothers。〃
〃Who will go home to Newcastle； a broken…hearted woman； with the one hope
gone that has kept her up in poverty and sorrow so many weary years； if
this goes on？〃
〃Nobody； I hope。〃
〃Yes； Charles； your mother。〃
〃Oh； mother； you have been always my best friend。〃
〃And am this day。〃
〃Do not be my worst enemy now。 It is for me to obey you； but it is for
you to think well before you drive me to despair。〃
And the poor womanish heart leaned his head on the table； and began to
sorrow over his hard fate。
Mrs。 Gatty soothed him。 〃It need not be done all in a moment。 It must be
done kindly； but firmly。 I will give you as much time as you like。〃
This bait took； the weak love to temporize。
It is doubtful whether he honestly intended to part with Christie
Johnstone； but to pacify his mother he promised to begin and gradually
untie the knot。
〃My mother will go；〃 whispered his deceitful heart； 〃and； when she is
away； perhaps I shall find out that in spite of every effort I cannot
resign my treasure。〃
He gave a sort of half…promise for the sake of peace。
His mother instantly sent to the inn for her boxes。
〃There is a room in this same house；〃 said she； 〃I will take it； I will
not hurry you； but until it is done； I stay here； if it is a twelvemonth
about。〃
He turned pale。
〃And now hear the good news I have brought you from Newcastle。〃
Oh！ these little iron wills； how is a great artist to fight three hundred
and sixty…five days against such an antagonist？
Every day saw a repetition of these dialogues； in which genius made
gallant bursts into the air； and strong； hard sense caught him on his
descent； and dabbed glue on his gauzy wings。
Old age and youth see life so differently。 To youth； it is a story…book；
in which we are to command the incidents； and be the bright exceptions to
one rule after another。
To age it is an almanac； in which everything will happen just as it has
happened so many times。
To youth； it is a path through a sunny meadow。
To age； a hard turnpike：
Whose travelers must be all sweat and dust； when they are not in mud and
drenched：
Which wants mending in many places； and is mended with sharp stones。
Gatty would not yield to go down to Newhaven and take a step against his
love； but he yielded so far as to remain passive； and see whether this
creature was necessary to his existence or not。 Mrs。 G。 scouted the idea。
〃He was to work； and he would soon forget her。〃 Poor boy！ he wanted to
work； his debt weighed on him； a week's resolute labor might finish his
first picture and satisfy his creditor。 The subject was an interior。 He
set to work； he stuck to work； he glued to work； his bodybut his heart？
Ah； my poor fellow； a much slower horse than Gatty will go by you； ridden
as you are by a leaden heart。
Tu nihil invita facies pingesve Minerva。
It would not lower a mechanical dog's efforts； but it must yours。
He was unhappy。 He heard only one side for days； that side was
recommended by his duty； filial affection； and diffidence of his own good
sense。
He was brought to see his proceedings were eccentric； and that it is
destruction to be eccentric。
He was made a little ashamed of what he had been proud of。
He was confused and perplexed； he hardly knew what to think or do； he
collapsed； and all his spirit was fast leaving him； and then he felt
inclined to lean on the first thing he could find； and nothing came to
hand but his mother。
Meantime； Christie Johnstone was also thinking of him； but her single
anxiety was to find this eighty pounds for him。
It is a Newhaven idea that the female is the natural protector of the
male； and this idea was strengthened in her case。
She did not fully comprehend his character and temperament； but she saw；
by instinct； that she was to be the protector。 Besides； as she was
twenty…one； and he only twenty…two； she felt the difference between
herself； a woman； and him； a boy； and to leave him to struggle unaided
out of his difficulties seemed to her heartless。
Twice she opened her lips to engage the charitable 〃vile count〃 in his
cause； but shame closed them again； this would be asking a personal
favor； and one on so large a scale。
Several days passed thus； she had determined not to visit him without
good news。
She then began to be surprised； she heard nothing from him。
And now she felt something that prevented her calling on him。
But Jean Carnie was to be married； and the next day the wedding party
were to spend in festivity upon the island of Inch Coombe。
She bade Jean call on him； and； without me