April 4 + 

“May I use your microscope?” he asked. + 

“By all means,” I said with a gesture of elaborate politeness. + 

He sat down at my table, in my chair, and used my instrument⁠—becoming at once absorbed and oblivious to my banter as per below: + 

“As Scotchmen,” I said, “are monuments rather than men, this latest raid on Edinboro’s worthy inhabitants must be called vandalism rather than murder.” + 

No answer. I continued to stand by my chair. + 

“How pleased Swift, Johnson, Lamb, and other anti-Caledonians would be.⁠ ⁠…” + 

“Hope you don’t mind my occupying your chair a little longer,” the Scotchman said, “but this is a larva, has curious maxillae.⁠ ⁠…” and his voice faded away in abstraction. + 

“Oh! no⁠—go on,” I said, “I fear it is a grievous absence of hospitality on my part in not providing you with a glass of whiskey. Can I offer you water, Sir?” + 

No answer. + 

Another enthusiast ushered himself in, was greeted with delight by the first and invited to sit down. I pulled out a chair for him and said: + 

“Shave, sir, or hair cut?” + 

“If you follow along to the top of the galea,” No. I droned on imperturbably, “you will.⁠ ⁠…” etc. + 

I got tired of standing and talking to an empty house but at last they got up, apologising and making for the door. + 

I entreated them not to mention the matter⁠—my fee should be nominal⁠—I did it out of sheer love, etc. + 

They thanked me again and would have said more but I added blandly: + 

“You know your way out?” They assured me they did (having worked in the place for 30 years and more)⁠—I thanked God⁠—and sat down to my table once more. + 

(These reports of conversations are rather fatuous: yet they give an idea of the sort of person I have to deal with, and also the sort of person I am among this sort of person.) + 