family may represent a dozen relatives."

"Then you don't allow him the common passions and affections of men?"
Paul asked.

"Hasn't he a passion, an affection, which includes all the rest? Besides,
let him have all the passions he likes--if he only keeps his
independence. He must be able to be poor."

Paul slowly got up. "Why then did you advise me to make up to her?"

St. George laid his hand on his shoulder. "Because she'd make a splendid
wife! And I hadn't read you then."

The young man had a strained smile. "I wish you had left me alone!"

"I didn't know that that wasn't good enough for you," his host returned.

"What a false position, what a condemnation of the artist, that he's a
mere disfranchised monk and can produce his effect only by giving up
personal happiness. What an arraignment of art!" Paul went on with a
trembling voice.

"Ah you don't imagine by chance that I'm defending art? 'Arraignment'--I
should think so! Happy the societies in which it hasn't made its
appearance, for from the moment it comes they have a consuming ache, they
have an incurable corruption, in their breast. Most assuredly is the
artist in a false position! But I thought we were taking him for
granted. Pardon me," St. George continued: "'Ginistrella' made me!"