Anything but that," he answered.
"What then ?" "'Maud.'" "Oh, 'Maud.' It is very beautiful, but I could never imagine why the poet gave such a sad ending to an idyllic love story." "They too often end that way.

Moreover, 'Enoch Arden' is not what you might call exhilarating." "No.

It is sad.

I have often thought he had the 'Sonata Pathetique' in his mind when he wrote it.

But the note is mournful all through.