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heconcertina,singing,joking,andfinally,onthedriveback,shefelttheheavyformbyherside,andthebig,roughhandholdinghers,whileTom'sarmwasroundherwaist.Tom!Thatwasthefirsttimehehadenteredhermind,andhesankintoashadowbesidetheother.Lastofallsherememberedthewalkhomefromthepub,thegoodnights,andtherapidfootstepsasJimcaughtherup,andthekiss.Sheblushedandlookedupquicklytoseewhetheranyofthegirlswerelookingathershecouldnothelpthinkingofthatmomentwhenhetookherinhisarmsshestillfelttheroughnessofhisbeardpressingonhermouth.Herheartseemedtogrowlargerinherbreast,andshecaughtforbreathasshethrewbackherheadasiftoreceivehislipsagain.Ashudderranthroughherfromthevividnessofthethought. 'Wotareyoushiverin'for,Liza?'askedoneofthegirls.'Youain'tcold.' 'Notmuch,'answeredLiza,blushingawkwardlyonhermeditationsbeingbrokeninto.'Why,I'msweatin'so—I'mdrippin'wet.' 'IexpectyercaughtcoldintheFaurestyesterday.' 'IseeyourmashasIwascomin'alongthismornin'.' Lizastaredalittle. 'Iain'tgotone,'ood'yermean,ay?' 'YeronlyTom,ofcourse.'Edidlookwashedaht.Wotwasyerdoin'with'imyesterday?' ''Eain'tgotnothin'terdowithme,'eain't.' 'Garn,don'tyoutellme!' Thebellrang,and,throwingovertheirwork,thegirlstroopedoff,andafterchatteringingroupsoutsidethefactorygatesforawhile,madetheirwayindifferentdirectionstotheirrespectivehomes.LizaandSallywentalongtogether. 'Isy,wearecomin'aht!'criedSally,seeingtheadvertisementofaplaybeingactedattheneighbouringtheatre. 'Ishouldliketerseethet!'saidLiza,astheystoodarm-in-arminfrontoftheflaringposter.Itrepresentedtworoomsandapassageinbetweeninoneroomadeadmanwaslyingonthefloor,whiletwootherswerestandinghorror-stricken,listeningtoayouthwhowasinthepassage,knockingatthedoor. 'Yousee,they've'killedim,'saidSally,excitedly. 'Yus,anyfoolcanseethet!an'theoneahtside,wot's'edoin'of?' 'Ain't'ebeautiful?I'llgitmy'Arrytertikeme,Iwill.Ishouldliketerseeit.'Esaid'e'dtikemetotheply.' Theystrolledonagain,andLiza,leavingSally,madeherwaytohermother's.SheknewshemustpassJim'shouse,andwonderedwhethershewouldseehim.ButasshewalkedalongthestreetshesawTomcomingtheoppositewaywithasuddenimpulsesheturnedbacksoasnottomeethim,andbeganwalkingthewayshehadcome.Thenthinkingherselfafoolforwhatshehaddone,sheturnedagainandwalkedtowardshim.Shewonderedifshehadseenherornoticedhermovement,butwhenshelookeddownthestreethewasnowheretobeseenhehadnotcaughtsightofher,andhadevidentlygoneintoseeamateinoneorotherofthehouses.Shequickenedherstep,andpassingthehousewherelivedJim,couldnothelplookinguphewasstandingatthedoorwatchingher,withasmileonhislips. 'Ididn'tseeyer,Mr.Blakeston,'shesaid,ashecameuptoher. 'Didn'tyer?Well,Iknewyerwouldan'Iwaswi