"I don't know what business it is of yours what I am doing. If you want
to know what I am here for, I'll tell you. I am thinking how I can cheat
the Conservancy men to-night. I wish you good-day."
The tall man was not by any means surprised by the uncourteous answer.
He was used to the homely insolence of the fishermen. So he said--
"Well, Thomas, I was young myself once, and I liked to lounge on the
Sunday as well as anybody; but it's God's Sabbath, and after all, you
know, my lad, you are not a pig, and I think you might be doing ever so
much better things than lying here. I am not a bit of a saint, and I am
not going to bother you about religion, but it struck me, as I came
across the moor, that I was happy, and you are not. Now I'll tell you
what I am going to do, Thomas--you won't throw me over the rock-edge,
because I am rather an awkward hand at that sort of thing. I am going to
sit down and have a pipe beside you. Will you give me a light?"