John Oliver Hobbes

“ Poor dear old Godfrey—hardly! He's an awfully good sort, but really—you know—he's got no more poetry about him than—than a whale."
"You shall not make me laugh!" and then she began a series of rather musical giggles. George noticed that she had a dimple in her cheek.
"You must admit it's the truth," he said; "he is a stick, isn't he? Bless him!"
"How can you? He's a kind, excellent husband—mama says so." At this she laughed till the tears came. A cold-blooded observer would have said she was inclined to be hysterical. [13]
"I like to see a man with some passion about him," said George. ”

“ She was tired of Montague Street, tired of her child, tired of Godfrey, tired of herself—above all, tired of being poor. "There is nothing else to do," she repeated, "is there? As you say, it is best to face facts. People would talk a little at first, no doubt, but they would soon get used to it. ”

“ But the song itself easily passes for passion, on paper.
When she had finished, George cast about him for something to say. "That is Art," he got out at last, "the real thing. Thank you."
"It is a man's song really," said Grace.
"Why?"
"Well, I think a man ought to sing it. Of course it is a man speaking. A woman wouldn't make love quite—quite that way. She wouldn't like to. You see it is rather—you know—rather—"
"Oh, yes, of course, it is rather—"
"It is very like Shelley, in fact."
"One can't help thinking," said George, after another long pause, "that Shelley knew what he was writing about. ”