Therefore These Questions Ceased To Occupy Him.
He Dismissed Them From His Mind Completely, And Gave Himself Over
To Light-Hearted Frivolity.
His disposition was flighty but full of elusive charm.
You
deprecated his lack of serious purpose in life, disapproved
heartily of his irresponsibility, but you fell to his engaging
qualities. He was a typical example of the lovable
good-for-naught. Nothing retained his attention for two
consecutive minutes. If he seized a nut and started for his chop
box with it, the chances were he would drop it and forget all
about it in the interest excited by a crawling ant or the colour
of a flower. His elfish face was always alight with the play of
emotions and of flashing changing interests. He was greatly given
to starting off on very important errands, which he forgot before
he arrived.
In this he contrasted strangely with his friend Darwin. Darwin
was another monkey of the same species, caught about a week
later. Darwin's face was sober and pondering, and his methods
direct and effective. No side excursions into the brilliant
though evanescent fields of fancy diverted him from his ends.
These were, generally, to get the most and best food and the
warmest corner for sleep. When he had acquired a nut, a kernel of
corn, or a piece of fruit, he sat him down and examined it
thoroughly and conscientiously and then, conscientiously and
thoroughly, he devoured it. No extraneous interest could distract
his attention; not for a moment.
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