'Well, I never!' she cried, wrathfully, rushing upon Bob. 'Now you
just stop that, young man! I thought it 'ud be comin' to this before
long. I saw you was goin' that way.'
The mildness of her expressions was partly a personal
characteristic, partly due to Mrs. Griffin's very large experience
of such scenes as this. Indignant she might be, but the situation
could not move her to any unwonted force of utterance. Enough that
Bob drew back as soon as he was bidden, and seemed from his silence
to be half-ashamed of himself.
Pennyloaf let herself lie at full length on the floor, her hands
clutched protectingly about her head; she sobbed in a quick,
terrified way, and appeared powerless to stop, even when Mrs.
Griffin tried to raise her.
'What's he been a-usin' you like this for?' the woman kept asking.
'There, there now! He shan't hit you no more, he shan't!'
Whilst she spoke Bob turned away and went from the room.
From Merlin Place he struck off into Pentonville and walked towards
King's Cross at his utmost speed. Not that he had any object in
hastening, but a frenzy goaded him along, faster, faster, till the
sweat poured from him.
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