WhenEarnsclifffoundhisgifthadbeenreceived，hesoonafterwardspaidthehermitavisit。Theoldmanwasseatedanabroadflatstonenearhisgardendoor，whichwastheseatofscienceheusuallyoccupiedwhendisposedtoreceivehispatientsorclients。Theinsideofhishut，andthatofhisgarden，hekeptassacredfromhumanintrusionasthenativesofOtaheitedotheirMorai；——apparentlyhewouldhavedeemeditpollutedbythestepofanyhumanbeing。Whenheshuthimselfupinhishabitation，noentreatycouldprevailuponhimtomakehimselfvisible，ortogiveaudiencetoanyonewhomsoever。
Earnscliffhadbeenfishinginasmallriveratsomedistance。
Hehadhisrodinhishand，andhisbasket，filledwithtrout，athisshoulder。HesatedownuponastonenearlyoppositetotheDwarfwho，familiarizedwithhispresence，tooknofarthernoticeofhimthanbyelevatinghishugemis-shapenheadforthepurposeofstaringathim，andthenagainsinkingituponhisbosom，asifinprofoundmeditation。Earnsclifflookedaroundhim，andobservedthatthehermithadincreasedhisaccommodationsbytheconstructionofashedforthereceptionofhisgoats。
Youlabourhard，Elshie，\"hesaid，willingtoleadthissingularbeingintoconversation。
\"Labour，\"re-echoedtheDwarf，\"isthemildestevilofalotsomiserableasthatofmankind；bettertolabourlikeme，thansportlikeyou。\"