She would have the law on them if they tried.

Bad enough it was for her husband to come home after a year's desertion, leaving her penniless, and the moment he set eyes on her begin to knock her about; but for sergeants suffering under a blight and characterless females masquerading as hospital nurses to come and ride rough-shod over an honest working woman was past endurance.

Thus I paraphrase my memory of the lady's torrential speech.
"Lay your hand on me," she cried, "and I'll summons you for assault." As Marigold could not pass her without laying hands on her, and as the laying of hands on her, no matter how lightly, would indubitably have constituted an assault in the eyes of the law, Marigold stiffly confronted her and tried to argue.
The neighbours listened in sardonic amusement.

Betty stood by, with the spots burning on her cheek, clenching her slender capable fingers, furious at defeat.

I was condemned to sit in the car a few yards off, an anxious spectator.