Lancelot said nothing for a few minutes; but the giant seemed so little inclined to open the conversation, that he was forced at last to ask him what he thought of it.
'It isn't a matter for thinking, sir, to my mind--There's a nice fish on the feed there, just over-right that alder.' 'Hang the fish! Why not a matter for thinking ?' 'To my mind, sir, a man may think a deal too much about many matters that come in his way.' 'What should he do with them, then ?' 'Mind his own business.' 'Pleasant for those whom they concern!--That's rather a cold-blooded speech for you, Tregarva!' The Cornishman looked up at him earnestly.

His eyes were glittering--was it with tears?
'Don't fancy I don't feel for the poor young gentleman--God help him!--I've been through it all--or not through it, that's to say.

I had a brother once, as fine a young fellow as ever handled pick, as kind-hearted as a woman, and as honest as the sun in Heaven .-- But he would drink, sir;--that one temptation, he never could stand it.

And one day at the shaft's mouth, reaching after the kibble-chain-- maybe he was in liquor, maybe not--the Lord knows; but--' 'I didn't know him again, sir, when we picked him up, any more than- -' and the strong man shuddered from head to foot, and beat impatiently on the ground with his heavy heel, as if to crush down the rising horror.
'Where is he, sir ?' A long pause.
'Do you think I didn't ask that, sir, for years and years after, of God, and my own soul, and heaven and earth, and the things under the earth, too?
For many a night did I go down that mine out of my turn, and sat for hours in that level, watching and watching, if perhaps the spirit of him might haunt about, and tell his poor brother one word of news--one way or the other--anything would have been a comfort--but the doubt I couldn't bear.

And yet at last I learnt to bear it--and what's more, I learnt not to care for it.