As a topic of conversation it was as useful to master and servant as the weather is to most English people.

That is to say, it helped them when they were wordbound.
"Going down fast," replied Thalassa.
"Then I suppose we are in for another rough night." "The glass is always going down in Cornwall, and we are always in for another rough night," responded the servitor curtly.

"Are you going to stay much longer in the forsaken hole ?" "Not much longer," replied his master in a mild tone.
"It is, perhaps, a dreary spot to you, but not to me--no, never to me.

The last link in my long search has been found here--hidden away in this little out-of-the-way Cornish place.

Think of that, Thalassa! I shall be Lord Turrald." "I don't see what good it will do you," retorted the man austerely.
"You've spent a mint of money over it.