They all laughed.
“Collection comes later,” said Mr. Williams, smiling.
“A good, rousing article is our best collection,” said the stout president. “Ever been to a meeting before, sir?”
“No,” said Malone.
“Don’t know much about it, I expect.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, well, we must expect a slating. They get it from the humorous angle at first. We’ll have you writing a very comic account. I never could see anything very funny in the spirit of one’s dead wife, but it’s a matter of taste and of knowledge also. If they don’t know, how can they take it seriously? I don’t blame them. We were mostly like that ourselves once. I was one of Bradlaugh’s men, and sat under Joseph MacCabe until my old Dad came and pulled me out.”
“Good for him!” said the Liverpool medium.
“It was the first time I found I had powers of my own. I saw him like I see you now.”
“Was he one of us in the body?”