“There are two other points,” said Mr. Lorry, “on which I am
anxious to be instructed. I may go on?”
“You cannot do your friend a better service.” The Doctor gave
him his hand.
“To the first, then. He is of a studious habit, and unusually
energetic; he applies himself with great ardour to the acquisition
of professional knowledge, to the conducting of experiments, to
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many things. Now, does he do too much?”
“I think not. It may be the character of his mind, to be always in
singular need of occupation. That may be, in part, natural to it; in
part, the result of affliction. The less it was occupied with healthy
things, the more it would be in danger of turning in the unhealthy
direction. He may have observed himself, and made the
discovery.”
“You are sure that he is not under too great a strain?”
“I think I am quite sure of it.”
“My dear Manette, if he were overworked now”
“My dear Lorry, I doubt if that could easily be. There has been
a violent stress in one direction, and it needs a counterweight.”
“Excuse me, as a persistent man of business. Assuming, for a
moment, that he was overworked; it would show itself in some
renewal of this disorder?”
“I do not think so. I do not think,” said Doctor Manette with the
firmness of self-conviction, “that anything but the one train of