Page:The Light That Failed (1891).pdf/188

174 'A little. I am sorry I spoke. There are pictures in it. What has taken her fancy?'

'The description of the Melancolia—

And here again. (Maisie, get the tea, dear.)

There was no attempt to conceal the scorn of the lazy voice. Dick winced.

'But that has been done already by an obscure artist of the name of Dürer,' said he. 'How does the poem run?—

You might as well try to rewrite Hamlet. It will be waste of time.'

'No, it won't,' said Maisie, putting down the teacups with clatter to reassure herself. 'And I mean to do it. Can't you see what a beautiful thing it would make?'

'How in perdition can one do work when one