He is simply an enthusiast.
"It is good for mankind that there should be some enthusiasts. I
grant that it would be an unpleasant world if we were all enthusiasts,
but the sight of a man like him throwing his whole life and energy
into his work, and wearing himself out trying to lessen the evils he
sees around him, ought to do good to us all. Look at these boys,"
and he apostrophized Wilson and Richards, as they appeared together
at the door. "What do they think of but amusing themselves and
shirking their duties as far as possible?"
"Oh, I say, Doctor," Wilson exclaimed, astonished at this sudden
attack, "what are you pitching into us like that for? That is
not fair, is it, Major? We amuse ourselves, of course, when there
is nothing else to do, but I am sure we don't shirk our work. You
don't want us to spend our spare time in reading Greek, I suppose?"
"No; but you might spend some of it very profitably in learning
some of these native languages," the Doctor said. "I don't believe
that you know above a dozen native words now. You can shout for
brandy and water, and for a light for your cigars, but I fancy that
that is about the extent of it."
"We are going to have a moonshee next week, Doctor," Wilson said,
a little crestfallen, "and a horrid nuisance it will be."
"That is only because you are obliged to pass in the vernacular,
Wilson. So you need not take any credit to yourself on that account."
"Doctor, you are in one of your worst possible tempers this morning,"
Isobel said.
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