“Oh, no, father, there was plenty of water, and he got out through a passage on to the cliffs, and Sam and I had to pull him up again.”
“What mad recklessness!”
“He wasn’t hurt, father, only got very wet; and since then the Colonel has been to have a look at the place and had a talk or two with Sam Hardock, and Ydoll—”
“What!” cried the Major, fiercely.
“Gwyn thinks his father is going to have machinery down, and the mine pumped out.”
“Madness! Going to throw all his money away. He sha’n’t do it. I won’t have it. What does Mrs Pendarve say?”
“Gwyn says she doesn’t like it at all.”
“I should think not, sir. It means ruin spelt with a big letter. Why can’t he be contented with his half-pay?”
“I dunno, father. I suppose he feels as if he’d like more.”
“Yes, and get less. You never knew me tempted by these wretched mining schemes, did you, sir?”