"She won't come on you now," she said with a white sneer. "You needn't worry no more."
Ernie was taken aback.
"Who won't come on me?" he asked.
"That girl you got into trouble."
Ern turned ghastly. His mother's eyes held his face with cruel tenacity, although she was trembling.
"She's gone away to London," Anne continued,—"with her child."
Ernie threw back his head with a little hoary smile.
"Ah," he said, "Alf," and went out slowly.
His mother's voice pursued him, dreadful in its caressing cruelty.
"I shan't tell dad," she said.