human
I am ashamed to make use of you the first moment that you become my guest.
gpt
I shall enjoy the mere handling of your tackle,
human
You seem to have devoted money, as well as thought, plentifully to the pursuit.
gpt
I have little else to which to devote either; and more of both than is, perhaps, safe for me.
human
I should hardly complain of a superfluity of thought, if superfluity of money was the condition of it.
gpt
Pray understand me. I am no Dives; but I have learned to want so little, that I hardly know how to spend the little which I have.
human
I should hardly have called that an unsafe state.
gpt
The penniless Faquir who lives on chance handfuls of rice has his dangers, as well as the rich Parsee who has his ventures out from Madagascar to Canton. Yes, I have often envied the schemer, the man of business, almost the man of pleasure; their many wants at least absorb them in outward objects, instead of leaving them too easily satisfied, to sink in upon themselves, and waste away in useless dreams.
human
You found out the best cure for that malady when you took up the microscope and the collecting-box.
gpt
So I fancied once. I took up natural history in India years ago to drive away thought, as other men might take to opium, or to brandy-pawnee: but, like them, it has become a passion now and a tyranny; and I go on hunting, discovering, wondering, craving for more knowledge; and--_cui bono_? I sometimes ask--
human
Why, this at least, sir; that, without such men as you, who work for mere love, science would be now fifty years behind her present standing-point; and we doctors should not know a thousand important facts, which you have been kind enough to tell us, while we have not time to find them out for ourselves.
gpt
Yes, you have the work, and we have the pay; which is a very fair division of labour, considering the world we live in.
human
And have you been skilful enough to make science pay you here, in such an out-of-the-way little world as that of Aberalva must be?
gpt
She is a good stalking-horse anywhere;