Their lives not only are made hideous, but are also shortened, by the nature of their toil.

Do you know what the average life of a miner is ?" "Of course I do: twenty-one years." Alan frowned; he disapproved of jokes even more than of creeds, and understood them equally.

"Miss Farringdon, you are not behaving fairly to me.

You know what I mean well enough, but you wilfully misunderstand my words for the sake of laughing at them.

But I will make you listen, all the same.