One afternoon, in the Metropolitan Picture-Gallery, Philip had been expressing enthusiasm for some paintings that Celia thought more sentimental than artistic, and this reminded her that he was getting into a general way of admiring everything.
“You didn't use, Philip, to care so much for pictures.”
“Oh, I've been seeing more.”
“But you don't say you like that? Look at the drawing.”
“Well, it tells the story.”
“A story is nothing; it's the way it's told. This is not well told.”
“It pleases me. Look at that girl.”
“Yes, she is domestic. I admit that. But I'm not sure I do not prefer an impressionistic girl, whom you can't half see, to such a thorough bread-and-butter miss as this.”
“Which would you rather live with?”
“I'm not obliged to live with either. In fact, I'd rather live with myself. If it's art, I want art; if it's cooking and sewing, I want cooking and sewing. If the artist knew enough, he'd paint a woman instead of a cook.”