Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 271: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“HE LAUGHS LOUDEST WHO LAUGHS LAST.” 263 CHAPTER XXXII. ‘‘HR LAUGHS LOUDEST WHO LAUGHS LAST!”? At this sudden interruption Monsieur Merle and his employer look daggers, but they are like desper- ate fighters, driven into the last ditch; they will not give up so long as the faintest hope remains. They have secured the squire. ‘Away with him, doctor!’’ cries the colonel, with a dramatic wave of his hand. The physician turns to his men. ‘“To the carriage with him.”? ‘No, you don’t.”’ This last comes from Bob, who springs forward to bar the passage of the men with their prisoner. It does not matter to him that his single arm is opposed to half a dozen, not counting the leaders. His heart urges him to the deed, his love for Gypsy, and his Ainerican liking for fair play. Still clasped in her mother’s arms, Mrs. Bob sees the action of her husband, and appreciates the pluck he shows. She even claps her little hands vigorously and cries: “Good, Bob; don’t let them take him away toa mad-house. I’m proud of you, Bob, indéed I am.”’ The spectators say nothing, but look on, intensely pleased. It is as if the drama were transferred from the opera house to the yestibule, and it costs them nothing, Gomicbookssco in