“It was higher than this when we were here, Joe,” exclaimed Gwyn.
“Yes, right over the floor.”
“Pressed up by the confined air, perhaps, gentlemen,” said Vores; and with this explanation they had to be content.
“But about how high above the sea are we here, Vores?” said Gwyn.
“No height at all, sir. According to my calculation, as we came down, we are about sea-level, and the mine must be full.”
They returned, bringing a few crystals as mementoes of their adventure; and that evening, when the Major was at the Cove house, Gwyn was about to bring the specimens out and relate where they had been that day, when the servant announced the comma of two visitors, and Messrs Dix and Brownson, the solicitors, who seemed to be now on the most friendly terms, were shown in.
Their visit was soon explained. They had seen the announcement, they said, of the sale, and they thought it, would be a pity to remove all the machinery, as it was in position for carrying out the working of the mine.
Finally, they were there for the purpose of making the Colonel a liberal offer for the estate, house, mine, machinery, everything, as it stood.
Mr Dix was the chief speaker; and when he had finished, and stood smilingly expectant that the Colonel would jump at the offer, he was somewhat taken aback by the reply,—
“But I do not want to sell my estate. This has been my home, sir, for years.”