'I told you that you'd do no good by going to France.' 'I learnt a good deal there. Every one cannot learn by themselves as you did. Only genius can do that.' 'Genius! A few little pictures ... I think I might have done something if I had got the chance. I should have liked to have finished that picture. It is a good beginning. I never did better.' 'Dearest, you will live to paint your picture. I want you to finish it. I want you to: live for my sake. ... I will buy that picture.' 'There's only one thing I should care to live for.' 'And that you shall have.' 'Then I'll try to live.' He raised himself a little in bed. His eyes were fixed on her and he tried hard to believe. 'I'm afraid,' he said, 'it's too late now.' She watched him with the eyes she knew he loved, and though ashamed of the question, she could not put it back, and it slipped through her lips. 'Would you sooner live for me than for that picture?' 'One never knows what one would choose,' he said. 'Such speculations are always vain, and never were they vainer than now. ... But I'm glad you like that movement. It doesn't matter even if I never finish it, I don't think it looks bad in its present state, does it?' 'It is a sketch, one of those things that could not be finished. ... I recognise the model. _She_ sat for it, didn't she?' 'Yes.' 'You seem very intimate. ... She seems very devoted.' 'She has been very good to me. ... Don't say anything against her. I've nothing to conceal, Mildred. It is an old story. It began long before I knew you.' 'And continued while you knew me?' 'Yes.' 'And you never told me. Oh, Ralph, while you were telling me you loved me you were living with this woman.' 'It happened so. Things don't come out as straight or as nice as we'd like them to--that's the way things come out in life--a bit crooked, tangled, cracked. I only know that I loved you, I couldn't have done otherwise. That's the way things happened to come out. There's no other explanation.' 'And if I had consented to marry you, you'd have put her away.' 'Mildred, don't scold me. Things happened that way.' Mildred did not answer and Ralph said: 'What are you thinking of?' 'Of the cruelty, of the wretchedness of it all.' 'Why look at that side of it? If I did wrong, I've been punished. She knows all. She has forgiven me. You can do as much? Forgive me, kiss me. I've never kissed you.' 'I cannot kiss you now. I hear her coming. Wipe those tears away. The doctor said that you were to be kept quiet.' 'Shall I see you again?' 'I don't think I can come again. She'll be here.' 'Mildred! What difference can it make?' 'We shall see. ...' The door opened. Ellen came in, and Mildred got up to go. 'I hope you've enjoyed your walk, Miss Gibbs.' 'Yes, thank you. I haven't been out for some days.' 'Nursing is very fatiguing. ... Good-bye, Mr. Hoskin. I hope I shall soon hear that you're better. Perhaps Miss Gibbs will write.'