Her back was to him at the moment.
"Does he?" she asked quietly. "What about me and my children?"
"That's what I says to him."
"What did he say?"
"Said he'd look after you and them."
Ruth was still as a mouse awaiting the cat's pounce.
"And what did you say to that?"
"Told him to go to hell."
Ruth stirred again and resumed her quiet busyness.
"Alf's been up again," she told him. "Messin round."