But for that last glass of cordial on the way home he could scarcely have enjoyed so thoroughly the dramatic flavour of the situation.

Joseph was neither a bully nor a man of courage; the joke with which he was delighting himself was certainly a rich one, but it had its element of danger, and only by abandoning himself to riotous mirth could he overcome the nervousness with which Clem's fury threatened to affect him.

She, coming forward in the attitude of an enraged fishwife, for a few moments made the room ring with foul abuse, that vituperative vernacular of the nether world, which has never yet been exhibited by typography, and presumably never will be.
'Go it, Clem!' cried her husband, pushing his chair a little back.

'Go it, my angel! When you've eased your mind a little, I'll explain how it happens.' She became silent, glaring at him with murderous eyes.

But just at that moment Mrs.Peckover put her head in at the door, inquiring 'What's up ?' 'Come in, if you want to know,' cried her daughter.