They heard him ricochet down the passage and bawl up the area steps.
“Naow you’ve done it, ’Arriet,” breathed Uncle Tom.
Bob heard him bawl, too, and stopped in his tracks. He was on the pavement perhaps two houses away.
Ann heard the challenge, too, and lost her nerve.
She caught at Bob’s arm and tried to pull him along.
“Come on, Bob! Come along. Don’t take any notice of him.” Bob resisting, she tried to drag him with her. “For God’s sake, Bob . . .”
Before the terror in her voice the last vestige of her authority collapsed. She became again the weaker vessel, meet to be protected—and avenged.
Bob shook her off and turned.
She flung herself upon him, but he tore her hands away.
She reeled against the railings, shaken and fainting. . . .