The light frame house leaked the noise hideously, and Saxon knew that the houses on either side were hearing, and the street itself and the houses across the street.

Her fear was that Billy should arrive in the midst of it.

Further, she was incensed, violated.

Every fiber rebelled, almost in a nausea; yet she maintained cool control and stroked Sarah's forehead and hair with slow, soothing movements.

Soon, with one arm around her, she managed to win the first diminution in the strident, atrocious, unceasing scream.