Shadow of great britain

In a tavern by the pier, Arthur and others had a few simple meals in front of them, including some stewed fruits, a plate of sliced ​​freshly baked bread, heated bacon and a pot. coffee.

Elder and Darwin briefly exchanged some information about the Beagle, and also gave instructions for subsequent precautions and itinerary arrangements.

After chatting for a short time, the three of them quickly changed the topic to other places.

Between talking and laughing, everyone quickly became familiar with each other. Friendship among young people always comes so quickly.

Elder asked carelessly: "I heard that you come from a medical family. Your father and grandfather are both surgeons?"

Darwin picked up the tea cup and took a sip of coffee. He nodded and said, "Yes, our family has a clinic that has been open for fifty or sixty years in Shrewsbury, Shawshire. It is somewhat famous in the local area. My father originally He planned for me to inherit the family business, so he sent me to the University of Edinburgh to study medicine."

Arthur took a piece of bread, tore it open, put some bacon in it, and took a light bite.

He asked while eating: "Then why did you go to Cambridge to study theology? Although Cambridge is good, Edinburgh is not much worse than it! David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Bayes , these famous figures all graduated from the University of Edinburgh. It’s a pity that you transferred to Cambridge, otherwise the University of Edinburgh would have another famous alumnus.”

When Darwin heard this, he quickly waved his hand and said: "Arthur, you praise me too much. Compared with the people you mentioned, I am far behind. I only dare to raise my head and look up at them. How dare I compare myself to them?" Where are they put together?”

When Elder heard this, he put one hand on the back of the chair and nodded to retort to Arthur.

"That's it! Arthur, what are you talking about? What do you mean the University of Edinburgh is no worse than Cambridge? Edinburgh is obviously much better than Cambridge! Only idiots go to Cambridge!"

Darwin was obviously stunned when he heard this.

Elder also noticed his gaffe, and he quickly clarified: "Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean to attack your alma mater. Cambridge is at least better than Oxford. Just randomly select ten Oxford graduates and drag them out for target practice. No one is wrongly shot. In Cambridge, if you shoot ten people, you may still kill one or two good people by mistake."

Arthur joked: "Elder, you can't kill like this. If you kill according to your standards, there will be very few people left in the parliament. Seventy to eighty percent of the members are Oxbridge graduates."

Elder slammed his fist on the table: "Really? That would be great. With these people dead, Britain's future will be bright."

Darwin wondered: "Why do you have such a strong opinion against Oxford and Cambridge?"

Arthur couldn't help but laugh and said: "Charles, you really can't blame us. Who allowed these two schools to keep trying to persuade the parliament not to issue a teaching charter to our school.

You may not know that although the University of London has been established for four years, it has not received a royal charter until now.

Look at Elder, there is obviously a major general uncle who is protecting him, but now he can't just go to the ship and work as a draftsman. Unless you promote him to admiral right now, his resentment will not be easily eliminated. "

Darwin couldn't help feeling embarrassed when he heard this. He touched the back of his head and said, "Really? I didn't know there was such a complicated relationship here."

Arthur turned to ask: "By the way, you haven't told us why you transferred to Cambridge later."

Darwin replied: "I finished a semester at the University of Edinburgh and went home to help in the clinic during the holidays, but I really couldn't bear the bloody scenes during the operation. You may not know that using a saw to cut off the patient's necrotic leg is What a torturous thing, I will never forget that scene for the rest of my life..."

Having said this, Darwin couldn't help but shuddered: "After that operation, I was no longer willing to go to the clinic to help.

I preferred hunting and collecting minerals and plant and animal specimens to performing surgery, but my father considered these hobbies of mine to be purely unprofessional.

But no matter what, he finally saw that I was not suitable to be a surgeon. He thought I was idle and cowardly, while my mother thought my lack of desire to have surgery was a sign of my kindness.

Therefore, my family finally unanimously decided to send me to Cambridge to study theology. On the one hand, it can correct my thoughts, and on the other hand, it can also conform to my kind heart.

Most importantly, my family felt that being a pastor was a very respectable job and paid well. "

Arthur asked: "Have your thoughts been corrected after you finished studying theology?"

"Correction?"

Darwin rolled his eyes, waved his hand and said: "To hell with him! There is nothing wrong with me to begin with, what should I correct?

My family asked me to study theology, and I followed their arrangements. But if they want to change my hobbies, there is no way!

Not long after I entered university, I joined the Briny Society, a group of natural history enthusiasts. Our leader was Professor Robert Grant, a well-known Lamarckian. He took great care and guidance, and later I was fortunate enough to join their research group.

At Cambridge, I spent all my spare time outside of class studying natural history.

Once, I followed a research team to the Firth of Forth, where we studied the life cycles of marine animals in the intertidal zone.

After the event, I also published a paper at the Briny Society about a common black object found in oyster shells. do you know? That black object is actually not a mysterious creature, but the egg of a leech. "

Elder was originally rocking his chair leisurely, but when he heard this, his expression changed drastically and he covered his mouth.

He cursed: "Fuck! Charles, why did you have to tell me this?"

Darwin scratched his head and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Arthur laughed and explained: "You don't know, Elder likes to eat oysters, especially the leech eggs in the oysters. He always told me that the stuff bounces when chewed, just like eating pudding. .”

Elder covered his mouth and said angrily: "Arthur! Stop fucking talking, I'm going to vomit!"

Arthur shrugged: "Elder, I told you to eat less of that food, because it is neither clean nor hygienic."

After saying this, Arthur stood up and waved to the waiter: "Do you have any oysters here? Remember to remove the eggs."

Darwin also said with relief: "Elder, it's okay to eat a little occasionally. It's not poisonous."

But Elder couldn't listen to the advice. He just felt uncomfortable all over.

He leaned on the table and cursed: "It's not a question of whether it's poisonous or not, but it's too disgusting. Charles, only the French can swallow leech eggs. After all, they even eat snails."

Seeing his appearance, Arthur didn't bother to tease him anymore.

So he turned to Darwin and asked: "By the way, you said that you are a follower of Professor Grant, a Lamarckian, but I heard that Lamarckists all advocate that living things are constantly evolving. But you just He’s a priest again, and priests usually say that humans are God’s creation, what do you think about this?”

When Darwin heard this, he couldn't help but put down the bread in his hand. He first made a cross on his chest, and then lowered his voice and said to Arthur.

"I am a devout believer and I believe in God."

"Really?" Arthur was a little disappointed.

But then, Darwin leaned closer to Arthur: "But what the priests said is all fart!"