here from Letherington,’ his father would say, in a tone of deprecation and appeal. ‘Don’t you think the poor fellow might keep on a little longer. I always fancied he did very well.’

‘I’ve got a man in his place now, father. He’ll be happier out of it, believe me. You think his allowance is plenty, don’t you?’

‘It is not the allowance that he wants, poor man. He feels it very much, that he is superannuated. Says he thought he had twenty more years of work in him yet.’

‘Not of this kind of work I want. He doesn’t understand.’

The father sighed. He wanted not to know any more. He believed the pits would have to be overhauled if they were