“‘And why, when he turned you out, did you come in here?’ he asked finally.
“He had never before listened for an answer as he listened for that one.
“‘I came because you were here,’ she said.
“Well, people—I began to see then what he was up against in the way of intoxication. He had not touched her; it had been all very aloof, but when she told him why she had come, he said he would have been wooden if he had not gathered her close and held her tight.
“Then, through the slackening rainfall, he heard footsteps outside their shelter, heard them on the soft ground close by, saw a stooped figure straighten under their tipped roof. It was one of the all-alike, brown-gray men with jammed-shut mouth and slashes down from it; with hate-filled eyes.
“This man levelled his finger at Eric. ‘Now ye kin have her,’ he said harshly. ‘Ye kin take her along o’ ye. There’s no door open in this town for such as her. They’re shut against her for ever. This is no place for her ever again. We’re done. All o’ us.’
“She sprang forward. ‘Father!’ she cried.
“He struck her with his open hand straight across the mouth.
“‘Harlot! Plaything o’ strange men!’ he accused, scornfully.
“Eric said that he reached for the man, but that she spread her arms between them.