'Hear him laughin'?
Now, don't you be so ready to laugh with him.

Let him see as it ain't such good fun to everybody.' Heavy feet tramped down the stone stairs, amid a sound of loud laughter and excited talk.

The next moment the kitchen door was thrown open, and two young men appeared.

The one in advance was Richard Mutimer; behind him came a friend of the family, Daniel Dabbs.
'Well, what do you think of this ?' Richard exclaimed as he shook Emma's hands rather carelessly.

'Mother been putting you out of spirits, I suppose?
Why, it's grand; the best thing that could have happened! What a meeting we've had to-night! What do _you_ say, Dan ?' Richard represented--too favourably to make him anything but an exception--the best qualities his class can show.