in the house； and died very gradually。 I asked her if his death
wasn't a great trouble to her。 'Well；' she said； 'he was very
fretful towards the last； never satisfied； never easy； always
fret…fretting； an' never knowing what would satisfy him。 So in
one way it was a relief when it was over……for him and for
everybody。' They had only been married two years； and she has
one boy。 I asked her if she hadn't been very happy。 'Oh； yes；
sir； we was very fortable at first； till he took
bad……oh； we was very fortable……oh； yes……but；
you see； you get used to it。 I've had my father and two brothers
go off just the same。 You get used to it'。〃
〃It's a horrible thing to get used to；〃 said Winifred Inger；
with a shudder。
〃Yes；〃 he said； still smiling。 〃But that's how they are。
She'll be getting married again directly。 One man or
another……it does not matter very much。 They're all
colliers。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Ursula。 〃They're all colliers？〃
〃It is with the women as with us；〃 he replied。 〃Her husband
was John Smith； loader。 We reckoned him as a loader； he reckoned
himself as a loader； and so she knew he represented his job。
Marriage and home is a little side…show。
〃The women know it right enough； and take it for what it's
worth。 One man or another； it doesn't matter all the world。 The
pit matters。 Round the pit there wi