When it was Macon’s turn to do this, he had to use the hall table to pull himself back on his feet. ‘This is very difficult. I don’t suppose you ever broke a leg, ‘he said accusingly.
‘I broke an arm once, ‘Muriel said.
‘An arm is no comparison.’
‘I did it training dog, in fact. A big German guard dog. He knocked me off a porch, and then stood over me, showing all his teeth. But only one of you can be boss. So I tell him. “Absolutely not”, and hold out my left hand and stare into his eye.’