This conversation brought Warburton a short relief.

Laughter, even though it come from the throat rather than the midriff, tends to dispel morbid humours, and when he woke next morning, after unusually sound sleep, Will had a pleasure in the sunlight such as he had not known for a long time.

He thought of Norbert Franks, and chuckled; of Bertha Cross, and smiled.

For a day or two the toil of the shop was less irksome.

Then came sordid troubles which again overcast the sky.