`` my mother cried , for it was all the food there was , a bit o ' bread and milk , and now the milk was gone-but he shouted that he couldna bear the noise , for joan and i were both howling , too ... and then he slapped my face , and mam went for him bald-heided , and he pushed her so she fell against the hearth and smacked her face on the chimney-i could see the blood running from her nose . ''