MRS. HOLROYD (_turning her face aside from the corpse_) Lay him on the rug. MANAGER Steady now, do it steady. SECOND BEARER (_rising and pressing back his shoulders_) By Guy, but 'e 'ings heavy. MANAGER Yi, Joe, I'll back my life o' that. GRANDMOTHER Eh, Mr. Chambers, what's this affliction on my old age. You kept your sons out o' the pit, but all mine's in. And to think of the trouble I've had--to think o' the trouble that's come out of Brinsley pit to me. MANAGER It has that, it 'as that, missis. You seem to have had more 'n your share; I'll admit it, you have. MRS. HOLROYD (_who has been staring at the men_) It is too much! [_Blackmore frowns; Rigley glowers at her._ MANAGER You never knowed such a thing in your life. Here's a man, holin' a stint, just finishin' (_He puts himself as if in the holer's position, gesticulating freely_) An' a lot o' stuff falls behind him, clean as a whistle, shuts him up safe as a worm in a nut and niver touches him--niver knowed such a thing in your life. MRS. HOLROYD Ugh! MANAGER It niver hurt him--niver touched him. MRS. HOLROYD Yes, but--but how long would he _be_ (_she makes a sweeping gesture; the Manager looks at her and will not help her out_)--how long would it take--oh--to--to kill him? MANAGER Nay, I canna tell ye. 'E didna seem to ha' strived much to get out--did he, Joe? SECOND BEARER No, not as far as Ah 'n seen. FIRST BEARER You look at 'is 'ands, you'll see then. 'E'd non ha'e room to swing the pick. [_The Manager goes on his knees._ MRS. HOLROYD (_shuddering_) Oh, don't! MANAGER Ay, th' nails is broken a bit-- MRS. HOLROYD (_clenching her fists_) Don't! MANAGER 'E'd be sure ter ma'e a bit of a fight. But th' gas 'ud soon get hold on 'im. Ay, it's an awful thing to think of, it is indeed. MRS. HOLROYD (_her voice breaking_) I can't bear it! MANAGER Eh, dear, we none on us know what's comin' next. MRS. HOLROYD (_getting hysterical_) Oh, it's too awful, it's too awful! BLACKMORE You'll disturb the children. GRANDMOTHER And you don't want _them_ down here. MANAGER 'E'd no business to ha' been left, you know. RIGLEY An' what man, dost think, wor goin' to sit him down on his hams an' wait for a chap as wouldna say "thank yer" for his cump'ny? 'E'd bin ready to fall out wi' a flicker o' the candle, so who dost think wor goin' ter stop when we knowed 'e on'y kep on so's to get shut on us. MANAGER Tha'rt quite right, Bill, quite right. But theer you are. RIGLEY An' if we'd stopped, what good would it ha' done-- MANAGER No, 'appen not, 'appen not. RIGLEY For, not known-- MANAGER I'm sayin' nowt agen thee, neither one road nor t'other. (_There is general silence--then, to Mrs. Holroyd_) I should think th' inquest'll be at th' New Inn to-morrow, missis. I'll let you know. MRS. HOLROYD Will there have to be an inquest? MANAGER Yes--there'll have to be an inquest. Shall you want anybody in, to stop with you to-night? MRS. HOLROYD No.