With glad unanimity they broke their restraint one upon
the other; crushed pell-mell, hustling up the narrow stairs.
Mrs. Chater plumped back into a chair; with huge hands fanned her
heated face. "Fetch a policeman!"
They plunged for the door.
Bob's swollen countenance came over the banisters. He roared "Stop!"
Kate, Jane and Susan swung between the conflicting authorities.
"Call a policeman! Summon a constable! Fetch an officer!" In gusty
breaths from behind Mrs. Chater's hands, working like a red paddle-
wheel, came the commands.
"Stop!" roared Bob; and to enforce pushed forward the battered face
till it stuck out flat over the hall.
His alarmed mother screamed: "Bob, you'll fall over the banisters!"
The two kept up a battledore and shuttlecock of agitated conversation.
"Well, stop those women!" Bob cried; "for God's sake, stop them,
mother! What on earth are you thinking of?"
"I'll give her in charge!"
"You can't, you can't. Oh, my God, what a house this is!"
"She called me a liar!"
"You can't charge her for that."
"She half murdered you!"
"She never touched me. Why don't you do as I told you? Why don't you
send her away?"
"Mercy, Bob! you'll fall and kill yourself!"
"Do as I say, then! Do as I say!"
"Well, put back your head! Put back your head.
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