Chapter 4: April 1895 Summary

Henry writes in his notebook of an orphaned brother and sister who share each other's feelings and perceptions, a connection that will lead to tragedy. The idea intrigues him, but he does not know a plot to go along with these characters. Soon, the idea combines with the ghost story. The concept inspires him to return to writing with full vigor, lifting him out of his previous failure.

Despite his new dedication, Henry still entertains a few visitors, most frequently, Jonathan Sturges and Edmund Gosse. Both men carry news of Oscar Wilde with each visit, and Henry could not let whichever one arrived later in the week discover that he had already learned the gossip from the other. The news is more scandalous each successive week. With the resounding success of his plays, Wilde is openly conducting a relationship with the...