getting a fortune, which I never did; for I felt always like an intruder
and a bondswoman, and had wished myself out of the Petherwin family a
hundred times, with my crust of bread and liberty. For one thing, I was
always forbidden to see my relatives, and it pained me much. Now I am
going to move for myself, and consider that I have a good chance of
success in what I may undertake, because of an indifference I feel about
succeeding which gives the necessary coolness that any great task
requires.'

'I presume you mean to write more poems?'

'I cannot--that is, I can write no more that satisfy me. To blossom into
rhyme on the sparkling pleasures of life, you must be under the influence
of those pleasures, and I am at present quite removed from
them--surrounded by gaunt realities of a very different description.'

'Then try the mournful. Trade upon your sufferings: many do, and
thrive.'

'It is no use to say that--no use at all. I cannot write a line of
verse. And yet the others flowed from my heart like a stream. But
nothing is so easy as to seem clever when you have money.'

'Except to seem stupid when you have none,' said Christopher, looking at
the dead leaves.

Ethelberta allowed herself to linger on that thought for a few seconds;
and continued, 'Then the question arose, what was I to do? I felt that
to write prose would be an uncongenial occupation, and altogether a poor
prospect for a woman like me. Finally I have decided to appear in