"He means us to laugh, but he is quite serious.

Amias and I just know how he feels.

It must be so sad to love the beautiful with all one's heart and not have the power to create--to be just a thought and word painter and nothing else." "Perhaps if Malcolm took lessons he might be able to paint in time," suggested Anna.

She felt rather culpable, as though all these years she had not sympathised enough with him; but then it was so difficult for any one to know when he was serious.
It was evident that Verity understood him.
"Oh no, it is too late now," she remarked; "besides, the gift has been denied him.

But he helps Amias so much by his clever suggestions.