human
Now! (after all salutations and inquiries have been gone through),
gpt
Excuse my rising, said he, holding out a left hand, for the right was busy.
human
A single jar will give me ten minutes' work to do again. I am delighted to meet you: Mellot has often spoken to me of you as a man who has seen more, and faced death more carelessly, than most men.
gpt
Mellot flatters, sir. Whatsoever I have done, I have given up being careless about death; for I have some one beside myself to live for.
human
Married at last? has Diogenes found his Aspasia?
gpt
Since my brothers died, Claude, the old gentleman has only me to look to. You seem to be a naturalist, sir.
human
A dabbler,
gpt
I ought not to begin our acquaintance by doubting your word: but these things are no dabbler's work;
human
They are Mellot's.
gpt
Mellot turned man of science? Impossible!
human
No; only photographer. I am tired of painting nature clumsily, and then seeing a sun-picture out-do all my efforts--so I am turned photographer, and have made a vow against painting for three years and a day.
gpt
Why, the photographs only give you light and shade.
human
They will give you colour, too, before seven years are over--and that is more than I can do, or any one else. No; I yield to the new dynasty. The artist's occupation is gone henceforth, and the painter's studio, like 'all charms, must fly, at the mere touch of cold philosophy.' So Major Campbell prepares the charming little cockyoly birds, and I call in the sun to immortalise them.
gpt
And perfectly you are succeeding! They are quite new to me, recollect. When I left Melbourne, the art had hardly risen there above guinea portraits of bearded desperadoes, a nugget in one hand and a £50 note in the other: but this is a new, and what a forward step for science!
human
You are a naturalist, then?
gpt
All my profession are, more or less, said Tom, carelessly;
human
Really? You can tell one where to search then, and where to dredge, I hope. I have set my heart on a fortnight's work here, and have been dreaming at night, like a child before a Twelfth-night party, of all sorts of impossible hydras, gorgons and chimaeras dire, fished up from your western deeps.
gpt
I have none of them; but I can give you Turbinolia Milletiana and Zoanthus Couchii. I have a party of the last gentlemen alive on shore.
human
But I shall be robbing you.
gpt
They cost me nothing, my dear sir. I did very well, moreover, without them, for five-and-thirty years; and I may do equally well for five-and-thirty more.
human
I ought to be able to say the same, surely, answered the Major, composing his face again, and rising carefully.
gpt
I have to thank you, exceedingly, my dear sir, for your prompt generosity: but it is better discipline for a man, in many ways, to find things for himself than to have them put into his hands. So, with a thousand thanks, you shall let me see if I can dredge a Turbinolia for myself.