human
What a silent, peaceful evening, Pickle, said Uncle Paul.
gpt
Look yonder in the east; the moon will be up soon, and then it will be night, and we have done no work. How do you feel, my boy?
human
Tired and stupid, uncle. My legs ache right down to the ankles.
gpt
No wonder, hopping about amongst those granite boulders. My back's a bit stiff too. There, let's go into the parlour, light up, and then you shall fetch down the microscope.
human
Oh, not yet, uncle!--I say, have another pipe.
gpt
A vaunt, you young tempter! Trying to lead me astray into idleness! No, let's get in. We have been playing all day; now let's go and get a bit of work done before we lie down to sleep.
human
But I say, uncle, do you think that Napoleon will ever start another war in France?
gpt
Who knows, boy? His goings-on have brought nearly everything to a standstill, and there has been war enough to last for a hundred years.
human
Yes, uncle; but do you think that Napoleon and the war put a stop to your expedition that you were to make in a vessel of your own?
gpt
Of course I do, Pickle, said Uncle Paul, smoking very slowly now, with his eyes shut, so as to make the little incandescent mass at the bottom of his bowl last for a few minutes longer.
human
Government promised me and my friends to make a grant for the fitting out of a small vessel, and for the payment of a captain and crew, and it was voted that we should have it; but do what we might, my friends and I could never get the cash, and it has always been put off, put off, on account of the expenses of the war.
gpt
But, uncle--
human
No, you don't, sir, said Uncle Paul, with a soft chuckle.
gpt
None of your artfulness! You are trying to lead me on to prattle about Bony, so as to avoid my lecture upon the fresh-water polypes I have taken to-day. Get out, you transparent young scrub! In with you, and fetch down the case, and light the two candles on the parlour table. Nice innocent way of doing it. Think I couldn't see through you, sir? Be off!