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rpitch.Takingofftheircoatstheypiledthemupatthetwoends,andwerereadytobegin. 'Isay,oldgal,'saidoneofthemtoLiza,'comean'haveagimeofcricket,willyer?' 'Na,Bob,I'mtired.' 'Comeon!' 'Na,ItellyouIwon't.' 'Shewasontheboozeyesterday,an'sheain'tgotoverit,'criedanotherboy. 'I'llswipeyeroverthesnitch!'repliedLizatohim,andthenonbeingaskedagain,said: 'Leavemealone,won'tyer?' 'Liza'sgottheneedleter-night,thet'sflat,'commentedathirdmemberoftheteam. 'Iwouldn'tdrinkifIwasyou,Liza,'addedanother,withmockgravity.'It'sabad'abittergitinto,'andhebeganrollingandswayingaboutlikeadrunkenman. IfLizahadbeen'inform'shewouldhavegonestraightawayandgiventhewholelotofthemasampleofherstrengthbutshewasonlyratherboredandvexedthattheyshoulddisturbherquietness,sosheletthemtalk.Theysawshewasnottobedrawn,andleavingher,settotheirgame.Shewatchedthemforsometime,butherthoughtsgraduallylostthemselves,andinsensiblyhermindwasfilledwithaburlyform,andshewasagainthinkingofJim. ''Eisagoodsortterwanttertikemetertheply,'shesaidtoherself.'Tomneverarstme!' Jimhadsaidhewouldcomeoutintheeveningheoughttobeheresoon,shethought.Ofcourseshewasn'tgoingtothetheatrewithhim,butshedidn'tmindtalkingtohimsheratherenjoyedbeingaskedtodoathingandrefusing,andshewouldhavelikedanotheropportunityofdoingso.Buthedidn'tcomeandhehadsaidhewould! 'Isay,Bill,'shesaidatlasttooneoftheboyswhowasfieldingclosebesideher,'thatthereBlakeston—d'youknow'im?' 'Yes,ratherwhy,heworksatthesimepliceasme.' 'Wot's'edowith'isselfintheeveningIneversee'imabaht?' 'Idunno.Isee'imthisevenin'gointothe"RedLion".Isuppose'e'sthere,butIdunno.' Thenhewasn'tcoming.Ofcourseshehadtoldhimshewasgoingtostayindoors,buthemighthavecomeallthesame—justtosee. 'IknowTom'ud'avecome,'shesaidtoherself,rathersulkily. 'Liza!Liza!'sheheardhermother'svoicecallingher. 'Arright,I'mcomin','saidLiza. 'I'vebeenwitin'foryouthislast'alf-hourterrubme.' 'Whydidn'tyercall?'askedLiza. 'Ididcall.I'vebeencallin'thislastIdunno'owlongit'sgivemequiteasorethroat.' 'Inever'eardyer.' 'Na,yerdidn'twantter'earme,didyer?Yerdon'tmindifIdieswithrheumatics,doyer?Iknow.' Lizadidnotanswer,buttookthebottle,and,pouringsomeofthelinimentonherhand,begantorubitintoMrs.Kemp'srheumaticjoints,whiletheinvalidkeptcomplainingandgrumblingateverythingLizadid. 'Don'trubso'ard,Liza,you'llruballtheskinoff.' ThenwhenLizadiditasgentlyasshecould,shegrumbledagain. 'Ifyerdoitlikethet,itwon'tdonogoodatall.Youwanttersiveyerselftrouble—Iknowyer.WhenIwasyounggirlsdidn'tmindalittlebitof'ardwork—but,lawblessyer,youdon'tcareabahtmyrheumatics,doyer?' Atlastshefinished,andLizawenttobedbyhermother'sside.