“It is not to be supposed that you would feel it,” said the other—“not at this early stage. You must wait.”
“But I don’t like the method, sir.”
“What’s wrong with the method?”
Thyrsis was embarrassed. He was not sure, he said; but he did not think that writing could be taught. Anyway, one had first to have something worth saying—
“Are you laboring under the delusion that you know anything about writing?” demanded the professor. (He had written across Thyrsis’ last composition the words, “Feeble and trivial”.)
“Why, no,” began the boy.
“Because if you are, let me disabuse your mind at once. There is no one in the class who knows less about writing than yourself.”
“I think,” said Thyrsis, “it’s because I can’t bring myself to write in cold blood. I have to be interested. I’m sure that is the trouble.”
“I’m sure,” said the other, “that the trouble is that you think you know too much.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” said Thyrsis, humbly. “I’ve tried my best—-”