The young man rose—
"Jack Simpson, sir. I work below, but when it's my night-shift Mr. Williams allows me to help him here by day."
"Ah! I remember you now," Mr. Brook said. "Let me see what you are doing. That's a creditable piece of work for a working collier, is it not?" he said, holding up a beautifully executed plan.
Mr. Hardinge looked with surprise at the draughtsman, a young man of some one or two-and-twenty, with a frank, open, pleasant face.
"Why, you don't look or talk like a miner," he said.
"Mr. Merton, the schoolmaster here, was kind enough to take a great deal of pains with me, sir."
"Have you been doing this sort of work long?" Mr. Hardinge asked, pointing to the plan.
"About three or four years," Mr. Brook said promptly.
Jack looked immensely surprised.
Mr. Brook smiled.