The Whirlpool

Name: The Whirlpool
Author: Gissing, George

Gissing, George

England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; English fiction -- 19th century

'Hughie will soon be able to talk,' fell from Alma, her look no longer
that of ingenuous sweetness, but of virtue just a trifle
self-conscious. And her husband, though he read this meaning in the
change, was yet pleased by the words that accompanied it.

'Yes; and then there will be more for you to do, you were going to say.
But that won't occupy you entirely, and it doesn't bind you to any
particular spot.'

'Perhaps not.'

She had become almost demure. Harvey took his eyes away.

'It comes to this--you're not to subordinate your life to mine. That's
the old idea, and it still works well with some people. Yet I don't
know; perhaps it doesn't, really; one knows little enough about
people's lives. At all events, it won't work in our case, and remember
that we never thought it would. We talked it all over, with no humbug
on either side--rather an unusual sort of talk, when one comes to think
of it. I liked you for the common-sense you showed, and I remember
patting myself on the back for a rational bit of behaviour at a time
when I felt rather crazy.'

Alma laughed in her gayest key.

'You were delicious. I didn't quite know what to make of you. And
perhaps that was the very reason----'

'Reason for what?' asked Harvey, when she broke off and looked not
quite so pale as a moment before.

'I forget what I was going to say. But please go on. It's very
interesting--as your talk always is.'

'I've said about all. You're not to be dutiful and commonplace; that's
the matter in a nutshell.'

'I don't think you can accuse me of ever being commonplace.'

'Perhaps not,' said Harvey.

'And as for dutiful, our duty is to be consistent, don't you think?'

'Yes--if by consistency you mean the steady resolve to make the most of
yourself. That's what you had in mind when you came here. As soon as
you begin to grow limp, it's time to ask what is the matter. I don't
offer any advice; you know yourself better than I can know you. It's
for you to tell me what goes on in your mind. What's the use of our
living together if you keep your most serious thoughts to yourself?'

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The WhirlpoolGissing, George

General

The Whirlpool

Gissing, George

England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; English fiction -- 19th century

'Hughie will soon be able to talk,' fell from Alma, her look no longer
that of ingenuous sweetness, but of virtue just a trifle
self-conscious. And her husband, though he read this meaning in the
change, was yet pleased by the words that accompanied it.

'Yes; and then there will be more for you to do, you were going to say.
But that won't occupy you entirely, and it doesn't bind you to any
particular spot.'

'Perhaps not.'

She had become almost demure. Harvey took his eyes away.

'It comes to this--you're not to subordinate your life to mine. That's
the old idea, and it still works well with some people. Yet I don't
know; perhaps it doesn't, really; one knows little enough about
people's lives. At all events, it won't work in our case, and remember
that we never thought it would. We talked it all over, with no humbug
on either side--rather an unusual sort of talk, when one comes to think
of it. I liked you for the common-sense you showed, and I remember
patting myself on the back for a rational bit of behaviour at a time
when I felt rather crazy.'

Alma laughed in her gayest key.

'You were delicious. I didn't quite know what to make of you. And
perhaps that was the very reason----'

'Reason for what?' asked Harvey, when she broke off and looked not
quite so pale as a moment before.

'I forget what I was going to say. But please go on. It's very
interesting--as your talk always is.'

'I've said about all. You're not to be dutiful and commonplace; that's
the matter in a nutshell.'

'I don't think you can accuse me of ever being commonplace.'

'Perhaps not,' said Harvey.

'And as for dutiful, our duty is to be consistent, don't you think?'

'Yes--if by consistency you mean the steady resolve to make the most of
yourself. That's what you had in mind when you came here. As soon as
you begin to grow limp, it's time to ask what is the matter. I don't
offer any advice; you know yourself better than I can know you. It's
for you to tell me what goes on in your mind. What's the use of our
living together if you keep your most serious thoughts to yourself?'

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Whirlpool

The Whirlpool

No reviews yet