'Mr.
Tooder'll be at the foot of the next set before this.' Mr.Neverbend wished that Mr.Tudor's journey might still be down, and down, and down, till he reached the globe's centre, in which conflicting attractions might keep him for ever fixed.

In his despair he essayed to put one foot upon the ladder, and then looked piteously up to the guide's face.

Even in that dark, dingy atmosphere the light of the farthing candle on his head revealed the agony of his heart.

His companions, though they were miners, were still men.

They saw his misery, and relented.
'Maybe thee be afeared ?' said the working miner, 'and if so be thee bee'st, thee'd better bide.' 'I am sure I should never come up again,' said Neverbend, with a voice pleading for mercy, but with all the submission of one prepared to suffer without resistance if mercy should not be forthcoming.
'Thee bee'st for sartan too thick and weazy like for them stairs,' said the miner.
'I am, I am,' said Neverbend, turning on the man a look of the warmest affection, and shoving the horrid, heavy, encumbered cap from off his spectacles; 'yes, I am too fat.' How would he have answered, with what aspect would he have annihilated the sinner, had such a man dared to call him weazy up above, on _terra firma_, under the canopy of heaven?
His troubles, however, or at any rate his dangers, were brought to an end.