The next moment the door flew open and a young woman, who looked to be about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, burst into the room.
"Mother, only think, I've--" She stopped, and drew back a little.
Her startled eyes went from one face to another, then dropped to the Lowestoft teapot in the man's hands.

Her expression changed at once.

She shut the door quickly and hurried forward.
"Mother, what is it?
Who are these people ?" she asked sharply.
Billy lifted her chin the least bit.

She was conscious of a feeling which she could not name: Billy was not used to being called "these people" in precisely that tone of voice.

William Henshaw, too, raised his chin.