Hello everyone. I would like to know what "though I should do so as a rule." means in the following sentences:
‘I knew that the ash was late; some lines of Tennyson come to my memory.’
‘Which are those?’
‘Delaying, as the tender ash delays
To clothe herself when all the woods are green,
somewhere in the “Idylls.”’
‘I don’t remember; so I won’t pretend to—though I should do so as a rule.’
- George Gissing, New Grub Street, Chapter 3
In this novel, which was published in 1891 in the United Kingdom, Jasper Milvain, the protagonist who was aspiring to become a literary critic, met Marian Yule, the daughter of the established literary critic Alfred Yule, on the walk. When Jasper noted that there was an ash nearby, but it was yet to become lush with leaves when all the other trees were green, Marian remembered some lines of Tennyson and recited them.
In this part, I am confused why Jasper said the underlined part.
Does it mean that, an aspirant to become a literary critic, he must pretend that he knew all the literary sentences at normal times, say, in front of other people?
Or that, because of his boastful personality, he is usually inclined to pretend to know all the things regardless of his career pursuit?
In short, I would like to know the tone contained in this expression.
I would very much appreciate your help.
‘I knew that the ash was late; some lines of Tennyson come to my memory.’
‘Which are those?’
‘Delaying, as the tender ash delays
To clothe herself when all the woods are green,
somewhere in the “Idylls.”’
‘I don’t remember; so I won’t pretend to—though I should do so as a rule.’
- George Gissing, New Grub Street, Chapter 3
In this novel, which was published in 1891 in the United Kingdom, Jasper Milvain, the protagonist who was aspiring to become a literary critic, met Marian Yule, the daughter of the established literary critic Alfred Yule, on the walk. When Jasper noted that there was an ash nearby, but it was yet to become lush with leaves when all the other trees were green, Marian remembered some lines of Tennyson and recited them.
In this part, I am confused why Jasper said the underlined part.
Does it mean that, an aspirant to become a literary critic, he must pretend that he knew all the literary sentences at normal times, say, in front of other people?
Or that, because of his boastful personality, he is usually inclined to pretend to know all the things regardless of his career pursuit?
In short, I would like to know the tone contained in this expression.
I would very much appreciate your help.