But somehow, Thomas Thurnall is an old friend of mine, the first I ever had; and I should be sorry to lose his company." "I don't think you need fear doing so.

You have seen an insect go through strange metamorphoses, and yet remain the same individual; why should not you and I do so likewise ?" "Well ?" "Well--There are some points about you, I suppose, which you would not be sorry to have altered ?" "A few," quoth Tom, laughing.

"I do not consider myself quite perfect yet." "What if those points were not really any part of your character, but mere excrescences of disease: or if that be too degrading a notion, mere scars of old wounds, and of the wear and tear of life; and what if, in some future life, all those disappeared, and the true Mr.Thomas Thurnall, pure and simple, were alone left ?" "It is a very hopeful notion.

Only, my dear sir, one is quite self-conceited enough in this imperfect state.

What intolerable coxcombs we should all be if we were perfect, and could sit admiring ourselves for ever and ever!" "But what if that self-conceit and self-dependence were the very root of all the disease, the cause of all the scars, the very thing which will have to be got rid of, before our true character and true manhood can be developed ?" "Yes, I understand.