Page:Gissing - The Emancipated, vol. I, 1890.djvu/108

100 see me when you have had do dinner to-day, and are feeling very uncertain about breakfast in the morning, and I will say, 'Pooh! your talk about art was after all nothing but talk; you are a sham!'"

Marsh's leg began to ache. He rose and moved about the room. Madeline at length turned her eyes to him ; he was brooding genuinely, and not for effect. Her glance discerned this.

"Well, and what are you going to do, in fact?" she asked.

"I'm hanged if I know, Mad; and there's the truth."

He turned and regarded her with wide eyes, seriously perceptive of a blank horizon.

"I've asked Mm to let me have half the money, but lie refuses even that. His object is, of course, to compel me into the life of a Philistine. I believe the fellow thinks it's kindness; I know my mother does. She. of course, has as little faith in me as you have."

Madeline did not resent this. She re-