 It's dreadful to
me to think of what they will say in the reviews.«
    »Curse the reviews!«
    His mood had changed on the instant. He stood up with darkened face,
trembling angrily.
    »I want you to promise me something, Amy. You won't read a single one of the
notices unless it is forced upon your attention. Now, promise me that. Neglect
them absolutely, as I do. They're not worth a glance of your eyes. And I shan't
be able to bear it if I know you read all the contempt that will be poured on
me.«
    »I'm sure I shall be glad enough to avoid it; but other people, our friends,
read it. That's the worst.«
    »You know that their praise would be valueless, so have strength to
disregard the blame. Let our friends read and talk as much as they like. Can't
you console yourself with the thought that I am not contemptible, though I may
have been forced to do poor work?«
    »People don't look at it in that way.«
    »But, darling,« he took her hands strongly in his own, »I want you to
disregard other people. You and I are surely everything to each other? Are you
ashamed of me, of me myself?«
    »No, not ashamed of you. But I am sensitive to people's talk and opinions.«
    »But that means they make you feel ashamed of me. What else?«
    There was silence.
    »Edwin, if you find you are unable to do good work, you mustn't do bad. We
must think of some other way of making a living.«
    »Have you forgotten that you urged me to write a trashy sensational story?«
    She coloured and looked annoyed.
    »You misunderstood me. A sensational story needn't be trash. And then, you
know, if you had tried something entirely unlike your usual work that would have
been excuse enough if people had called it a failure.«
    »People! People!«
    »We can't live in solitude, Edwin, though really we are not far from it.«
    He did not dare to make any reply to this. Amy was so exasperatingly
womanlike in avoiding the important issue to which he tried to confine her;
another moment, and his tone would be that of irritation. So he turned away and
sat down to his desk, as if he had some thought of resuming work.
