Final answer:
A person who is larking along is conveyed as happy and carefree, based on the context of the excerpts provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the context provided in the various story excerpts, a person who is larking along is best described as happy and carefree. The phrases used such as pranced off wildly, joyous over freedom and smilingly about the business paint a picture of a person who is lighthearted and not burdened by worry or sadness. Therefore, the correct answer is a. Happy and carefree.