'It will help to build up the character of Jimson,' Gideon remarked, and again waited on the muse, in various keys and on divers sheets of paper, but all with results so inconsiderable that he stood aghast.

'It's very odd,' thought he.

'I seem to have less fancy than I thought, or this is an off-day with me; yet Jimson must leave something.' And again he bent himself to the task.
Presently the penetrating chill of the houseboat began to attack the very seat of life.

He desisted from his unremunerative trial, and, to the audible annoyance of the rats, walked briskly up and down the cabin.
Still he was cold.

'This is all nonsense,' said he.