The discussion arose one morning some weeks after the ascent to the crater, and when, after a tremendous amount of collecting, the three naturalists had owned that it was getting on toward the time for helping Mr Rimmer a little over the preparations for getting away from the island.
“Really, Mr Rimmer,” Oliver said, “I am ashamed of my selfishness.”
“Eh? What have you been doing selfish, my dear sir?” was the reply.
“Thinking of nothing but my own pleasure.”
“Pleasure, sir? Why, I haven’t seen you playing any games but a bit or two of chess with Mr Panton.”
“I mean in thinking of nothing else but my collecting.”
“Why, that was your work, sir.”
“It is a pleasure to me, and I have thought of nothing else.”
“And quite right too, my lad. You came out on purpose to make a collection, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes.”