Free New Grub Street by George Gissing

to
literary merit. And if I speak bitterly, well, I am suffering from
my powerlessness. I am a failure, my poor girl, and it isn't easy
for me to look with charity on the success of men who deserved it
far less than I did, when I was still able to work.'
    'Of course, Edwin, if you make up your mind that you are a
failure, you will end by being so. But I'm convinced there's no
reason that you should fail to make a living with your pen. Now let
me advise you; put aside all your strict ideas about what is worthy
and what is unworthy, and just act upon my advice. It's impossible
for you to write a three-volume novel; very well, then do a short
story of a kind that's likely to be popular. You know Mr Milvain is
always saying that the long novel has had its day, and that in
future people will write shilling books. Why not try?
    Give yourself a week to invent a sensational plot, and then a
fortnight for the writing. Have it ready for the new season at the
end of October. If you like, don't put your name to it; your name
certainly would have no weight with this sort of public. Just make
it a matter of business, as Mr Milvain says, and see if you can't
earn some money.'
    He stood and regarded her. His expression was one of pained
perplexity.
    'You mustn't forget, Amy, that it needs a particular kind of
faculty to write stories of this sort. The invention of a plot is
just the thing I find most difficult.'
    'But the plot may be as silly as you like, providing it holds
the attention of vulgar readers. Think of "The Hollow Statue", what
could be more idiotic? Yet it sells by thousands.'
    'I don't think I can bring myself to that,' Reardon said, in a
low voice.
    'Very well, then will you tell me what you propose to do?'
    'I might perhaps manage a novel in two volumes, instead of
three.'
    He seated himself at the writing-table, and stared at the blank
sheets of paper in an anguish of hopelessness.
    'It will take you till Christmas,' said Amy, 'and then you will
get perhaps fifty pounds for it.'
    'I must do my best. I'll go out and try to get some ideas.
I—'
    He broke off and looked steadily at his wife.
    'What is it?' she asked.
    'Suppose I were to propose to you to leave this flat and take
cheaper rooms?'
    He uttered it in a shamefaced way, his eyes falling. Amy kept
silence.
    'We might sublet it,' he continued, in the same tone, 'for the
last year of the lease.'
    'And where do you propose to live?' Amy inquired, coldly.
    'There's no need to be in such a dear neighbourhood. We could go
to one of the outer districts. One might find three unfurnished
rooms for about eight-and-sixpence a week—less than half our rent
here.'
    'You must do as seems good to you.'
    'For Heaven's sake, Amy, don't speak to me in that way! I can't
stand that! Surely you can see that I am driven to think of every
possible resource. To speak like that is to abandon me. Say you
can't or won't do it, but don't treat me as if you had no share in
my miseries!'
    She was touched for the moment.
    'I didn't mean to speak unkindly, dear. But think what it means,
to give up our home and position. That is open confession of
failure. It would be horrible.'
    'I won't think of it. I have three months before Christmas, and
I will finish a book!'
    'I really can't see why you shouldn't. Just do a certain number
of pages every day. Good or bad, never mind; let the pages be
finished. Now you have got two chapters—'
    'No; that won't do. I must think of a better subject.'
    Amy made a gesture of impatience.
    'There you are! What does the subject matter? Get this book
finished and sold, and then do something better next time.'
    'Give me to-night, just to think. Perhaps one of the old stories
I have thrown aside will come back in a clearer light. I'll go out
for an hour; you don't mind being left alone?'
    'You mustn't think of such trifles as that.'
    'But nothing that concerns you in the slightest way is a trifle
to me—nothing! I can't bear that you should forget that. Have
patience