"No, he hadn't changed. He had not changed at all. In fact, he had at one time become worse before she had ended it. He had still upbraided, and cursed at them to no end, but he never hit them anymore, because she finally stood up to him two years before. He had slapped her for forcing him to stop hitting her mother.
That last time when he hit her was the last straw. She had slapped him back, on both cheeks, and hard. A lot harder than he had ever slapped her. She told him that if he ever hit either one of them again, she would put a hole into him with the gun.
She meant it then, and...

"No, he hadn't changed. He had not changed at all. In fact, he had at one time become worse before she had ended it. He had still upbraided, and cursed at them to no end, but he never hit them anymore, because she finally stood up to him two years before. He had slapped her for forcing him to stop hitting her mother.
That last time when he hit her was the last straw. She had slapped him back, on both cheeks, and hard. A lot harder than he had ever slapped her. She told him that if he ever hit either one of them again, she would put a hole into him with the gun.
She meant it then, and...