"Who's that? Who's that?"
Her voice was sharp with fear.
"Is that Muriel?"
Connie's hand gripped her like a vice. Connie screamed in sudden terror.
"Muriel, it's Ben. Don't let him hurt me! Don't!"
Muriel stood up. "Ben, what do you want?"
The lantern swayed and stopped. In that moment Muriel thought that Ben had come to kill his wife.
"Is Connie there?"
"Yes." Connie's voice was calm now.
"Ben, you shan't hurt her," cried Muriel.