thinks about tops and marbles now? Why, I
haven't touched such a thing for two years."

"So I suppose you and I will have to part," continued Gwyn.

Joe glanced at him sidewise.

"It's no use for us to be companions if it means always getting into
scapes at home."

Joe began to whistle. His face became perfectly smooth, and he watched
his companion, as he picked away at the crystal, while Gwyn looked
puzzled.

"I say, you'll break the point of your knife directly," said Joe.

"Well, suppose I do?"

"Be a pity. It's a good knife."

"Well, you won't see it when it's broken if we're going to part."

"Of course not; and you could get to the big grindstone they've set up
under that shed for the men to grind their picks. Soon give it a fresh
point. I say, how jolly that is--only to put on the band over the wheel
shaft from the engine, and the stone goes spinning round! I tried it
one day on my knife. It was splendid."

"You seem precious glad that we've got to part," said Gwyn.

"Not a bit of it. It's all gammon."

"Eh? What is?"

"Talking about separating. It doesn't mean anything. I know better
than that. Come, let's talk sense."

"That's what I have been doing," said Gwyn, stiffly.

"Not you; been bantering all the time. They didn't mean it, and you
didn't mean it. We're to be partners over the mine some of these days,
Ydoll, when we grow up, and they're tired of it. I say, though, I don't
think I shall like having that Tom Dinass here."

"No," said Gwyn, thoughtfully. "He looks as if he could bite. Think
what he said about getting work was all true?"

"I suppose so. Seems reasonable. I don't like to disbelieve people
when they speak out plainly to you."

"No," said Gwyn, thoughtfully. "If they've told you a crammer at some
time, it makes all the difference, and you don't feel disposed to
believe them again. Perhaps it's all right, and when he's taken on, he
may turn out a very good sort of fellow."

"Yes; we shall have to chance it. I say, though, Ydoll, we must be more
careful for the future about not getting into scrapes together."

"Won't matter if we're not to be companions any more. We can't get into
any, can we?"

"Gammon! They didn't mean it, I tell you. We've only got to mind."

"And we begin by getting up here, and running the risk of breaking our
legs or wings."

"Well, it was stupid, certainly," said Joe, thoughtfully. "But then,
you see, we were so used