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'Now steer wherever you will；' he said； in a low voice。 'Never mind
the directness of the coursewherever you will。'
'Shall it be Creston Shore？' she said； pointing to a stretch of
beach northward from Budmouth Esplanade。
'Creston Shore certainly；' he responded； grasping the sculls。 She
took the strings daintily； and they wound away to the left。
For a long time nothing was audible in the boat but the regular dip
of the oars； and their movement in the rowlocks。 Springrove at
length spoke。
'I must go away to…morrow；' he said tentatively。
'Yes；' she replied faintly。
'To endeavour to advance a little in my profession in London。'
'Yes；' she said again； with the same preoccupied softness。
'But I shan't advance。'
'Why not？ Architecture is a bewitching profession。 They say that
an architect's work is another man's play。'
'Yes。 But worldly advantage from an art doesn't depend upon
mastering it。 I used to think it did； but it doesn't。 Those who
get rich need have no skill at all as artists。'
'What need they have？'
'A certain kind of energy which men with any fondness for art
possess very seldom indeedan earnestness in making acquaintances；
and a love for using them。 They give their whole attention to the
art of dining out； after mastering a few rudimentary facts to serve
up in conversation。 Now after saying that； do I seem a man likely
to make a name？'
'You seem a man likely to make a mistake。'
'What's that？'
'To give too much room to the latent feeling which is rather common
in these days among the unappreciated； that because some remarkably
successful men are fools； all remarkably unsuccessful men are
geniuses。'
'Pretty subtle for a young lady；' he said slowly。 'From that remark
I should fancy you had bought experience。'
She passed over the idea。 'Do try to succeed；' she said； with
wistful thoughtfulness； leaving her eyes on him。
Springrove flushed a little at the earnestness of her words； and
mused。 'Then； like Cato the Censor； I shall do what I despise； to
be in the fashion；' he said at last。 。 。 'Well； when I found all
this out that I was speaking of； what ever do you think I did？ From
having already loved verse passionately； I went on to read it
continually； then I went rhyming myself。 If anything on earth ruins
a man for useful occupation； and for content with reasonable success
in a profession or trade； it is the habit of writing verses on
emotional subjects； which had much better be left to die from want
of nourishment。'
'Do you write poems now？' she said。
'None。 Poetical days are getting past with me； according to the
usual rule。 Writing rhymes is a stage people of my sort pass
through； as they pass through the stage of shaving for a beard； or
thinking they are ill…used； or saying there's nothing in the world
worth living for。'
'Then the difference between a common man and a recognized poet is；
that one has been deluded； and cured of his delusion； and the other
continues deluded all his days。'
'Well； there's just enough truth in what you say； to make the remark
unbearable。 However； it doesn't matter to me now that I 〃meditate
the thankless Muse〃 no longer； but。 。 。' He paused； as if
endeavouring to think what better thing he did。
Cytherea's mind ran on to the succeeding lines of the poem； and
their startling harmony with the present situation suggested the
fancy that he was 'sporting' with her； and brought an awkward
contemplativeness to her face。
Springrove guessed her thoughts； and in answer to them simply said
'Yes。' Then they were silent again。
'If I had known an Amaryllis was coming here； I should not have made
arrangements for leaving；' he resumed。
Such levity； superimposed on the notion of 'sport'； was intolerable
to Cytherea； for a woman seems never to see any but the serious side
of her attachment； though the most devoted lover has all the time a
vague and dim perception that he is losing his old dignity and
frittering away his time。
'But will you not try again to get on in your profession？ Try once
more； do try once more；' she murmured。 'I am going to try again。 I
have advertised for something to do。'
'Of course I will；' he said； with an eager gesture and smile。 'But
we must remember that the fame of Christopher Wren himself depended
upon the accident of a fire in Pudding Lane。 My successes seem to
come very slowly。 I often think； that before I am ready to live； it
will be time for me to die。 However； I am tryingnot for fame now；
but for an easy life of reasonable comfort。'
It is a melancholy truth for the middle classes； that in proportion
as they develop； by the study of poetry and art； their capacity for
conjugal love of the highest and purest kind； they limit the
possibility of their being able to exercise itthe very act putting
out of their power the attainment of means sufficient for marriage。
The man who works up a good income has had no time to learn love to
its solemn extreme； the man who has learnt that has had no time to
get rich。
'And if you should failutterly fail to get that reasonable
wealth；' she said earnestly； 'don't be perturbed。 The truly great
stand upon no middle ledge； they are either famous or unknown。'
'Unknown；' he said； 'if their ideas have been allowed to flow with a
sympathetic breadth。 Famous only if they have been convergent and
exclusive。'
'Yes； and I am afraid from that； that my remark was but
discouragement； wearing the dress of comfort。 Perhaps I was not
quite right in'
'It depends entirely upon what is meant by being truly great。 But
the long and the short of the matter is； that men must stick to a
thing if they want to succeed in itnot giving way to over…much
admiration for the flowers they see growing in other people's
borders； which I am afraid has been my case。' He looked into the
far distance and paused。
Adherence to a course with persistence sufficient to ensure success
is possible to widely appreciative minds only when there is also
found in them a powercommonplace in its nature； but rare in such
combinationthe power of assuming to conviction that in the
outlying paths which appear so much more brilliant than their own；
there are bitternesses equally greatunperceived simply on account
of their remoteness。
They were opposite Ringsworth Shore。 The cliffs here were formed of
strata completely contrasting with those of the further side of the
Bay； whilst in and beneath the water hard boulders had taken the
place of sand and shingle； between which； however； the sea glided
noiselessly； without breaking the crest of a single wave； so
strikingly calm was the air。 The breeze had entirely died away；
leaving the water of that rare glassy smoothness which is unmarked
even by the small dimples of the least aerial movement。 Purples and
blues of divers shades were reflected from this mirror accordingly
as each undulation sloped east or west。 They could see the rocky
bottom some twenty feet beneath them； luxuriant with weeds of
various growths； and dotted with pulpy creatures reflecting a
silvery and spangled radiance upwards to their eyes。
At length she looked