Part 34 (2/2)
”Something of the kind. He said it was getting time for me to be thinking of something else beside tops and marbles.”
”Well, so we do. Whoever 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 Dina.s.s 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 sc.r.a.pes 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.”
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