The lady seated near and listening to the young man's chatter saw it, but pretended she did not, and, therefore, made no effort to save her new friend from his impending catastrophe.

It was the same with a dozen other persons.
There is no form of practical joking more to be condemned than that of taking a chair from under a person when he is about to sit down.

Lasting injury has resulted in more than one instance, and no person should ever do it himself or permit it to be done by another.

Possibly, however, the case now in hand was an exception; for it was evident that the principal performer was so soft that no harm could come to him from the fall.

No spectator felt any misgiving on that score.
Finding his companion did not rise as he had requested, the young man began slowly to sit down.