A frank surprise was in his friend's brown eyes. He replied doubtfully, "Write what?"
"I don't know," said Cleaver despondently.
"And suppose we had the talent to project 'something' and the energy to complete it, who would publish it?"
"I don't know," said the doctor, more hopelessly still.
Another pause. The foxes were barking in the moonlight, in the red autumn woods. That a man should feel less lonely for the sound of a wild thing's voice!
"My dear fellow," said John Cleaver, a certain passion of despair welling up in his tones,—he leaned forward and laid his hand on his friend's knee,—"it won't do for us to spend our lives here. We must turn about and get back into the world of men and action. Don't think I'm ungrateful for this haven,—you are the only one who held out a hand,—but we must get back, and go on with the rest. Help me, Trelawney,—help me think out some way. I'm losing faith in myself alone. Let us help each other. Many a man has made his pen his strongest friend; they were only men at last, just such as we are. Many of them were poor; the best of them were poor. We can try nothing else, Fred,—so little chance is left to us."
Trelawney laid his warm strong hand upon the cold nervous hand trembling on his knee. "Jack," he said, "I have given it all up. I am through forever with those cursed alternations of hope and despair. I don't believe we could write anything that would do—do any good, I mean. I wore out all energy and afflatus—the best part of me—waiting for the clients who never came. And all the time my appropriate sphere, my sheep-farm, was waiting for me here. I have found contentment, the manna from heaven, while you are still sighing for the flesh-pots of Egypt. Ambition has thrown me once; I sha'n't back the jade again. I am a shepherd, Jack, a shepherd.
'Pastorem, Tityre, pingues
Pascere oportet oves, deductum dicere carmen.'
That's it, my dear old boy. Sing a slender song! We've pitched our voices on too high a key for our style of vocalization. We must sing small, Jack,—sing a slender song!"