He must home with her.

But the door was locked, and she could only go in as he had come out.

Still, she must go.
He thought all this between one stride and another--and other thoughts thick as leaves falling in a wind.

Then, "Fools!" he thundered, and had her down the steps, and was dragging her towards her door before they awoke from their surprise, or thought of attacking him.

The woman with the big Bible had had her fill--though he had not struck her but her stick--and sat where she had fallen in the mud.