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ItwasNovember.Thefineweatherhadquitegonenow,andwithitmuchofthesweetpleasureofJimandLiza'slove.WhentheycameoutatnightontheEmbankmenttheyfounditcoldanddrearysometimesalightfogcoveredtheriver-banks,andmadethelampsglowoutdimandlargealightrainwouldbefalling,whichsentachillintotheirverysoulsfootpassengerscamealongatrareintervals,holdingupumbrellas,andstaringstraightinfrontofthemastheyhurriedalonginthedampandcoldacabwouldpassrapidlyby,splashingupthemudoneachside.Thebenchesweredeserted,except,perhaps,forsomepoorhomelesswretchwhocouldaffordnoshelter,and,huddledupinacorner,withhisheadburiedinhisbreast,wassleepingheavily,likeadeadman.ThewetmudmadeLiza'sskirtsclingaboutherfeet,andthedampwouldcomeinandchillherlegsandcreepupherbody,tillsheshivered,andforwarmthpressedherselfcloseagainstJim.Sometimestheywouldgointothethird-classwaiting-roomsatWaterlooorCharingCrossandsitthere,butitwasnotliketheparkortheEmbankmentonsummernightstheyhadwarmth,buttheheatmadetheirwetclothessteamandsmell,andthegasflaredintheireyes,andtheyhatedthepeopleperpetuallycominginandout,openingthedoorsandlettinginablastofcoldairtheyhatedthenoiseoftheguardsandportersshoutingoutthedepartureofthetrains,theshrillwhistlingofthesteam-engine,thehurryandbustleandconfusion.Abouteleveno'clock,whenthetrainsgrewlessfrequent,theygotsomequietnessbutthentheirmindsweretroubled,andtheyfeltheavy,sadandmiserable.
OneeveningtheyhadbeensittingatWaterlooStationitwasfoggyoutside—athick,yellowNovemberfog,whichfilledthewaiting-room,enteringthelungs,andmakingthemouthtastenastyandtheeyessmart.Itwasabouthalf-pasteleven,andthestationwasunusuallyquietafewpassengers,inwrapsandovercoats,werewalkingtoandfro,waitingforthelasttrain,andoneortwoporterswerestandingaboutyawning.LizaandJimhadremainedforanhourinperfectsilence,filledwithagloomyunhappiness,asofagreatweightontheirbrains.Lizawassittingforward,withherelbowsonherknees,restingherfaceonherhands.
'IwishIwasstraight,'shesaidatlast,notlookingup.
'Well,whywon'tyercomealongofmealtogether,an'you'llbearrightthen?'heanswered.
'Na,that'snogoIcan'tdothet.'Hehadoftenaskedhertolivewithhimentirely,butshehadalwaysrefused.
'Youcancomealongofme,an'I'lltikearoominalodgin''ousein'Olloway,an'wecanlivethereasifwewasmarried.'
'Wotabahtyerwork?'
'IcangetworkovertheothersideaswellasIcan'ere.I'mabahtsickofthewythingsisgoin'on.'
'SoamIbutIcan'tleavemother.'
'Shecancome,too.'
'NotwhenI'mnotmarried.Ishouldn'tlike'erterknowasI'd—asI'dgonewrong.'
'Well,I'llmarryyer.Swopmebob,Iwantsterbadlyenough.'
'Yercan'tyermarriedalready.'
'Thetdon'tmatter!IfIgivethemissussomuchaweekahtofmyscrew,she'llsignapipertergiveupallclimeterme,an'thenwecangetspliced.OneofthemenasIworkswithdonethet,an'itwasarright.'
Lizashookherhead.
'Na,yercan'tdothetnowit'sbigamy,an'thecoptikesyer,an'yergitstwelvemonths''ardforit.'
'Butswopmebob,Liza,Ican'tgoonlikethis.Yerknowsthemissus—well,thereain'tnobloomin'doubtabahtit,sheknowsasyouan'mearecarryin'on,an'shemikesnobonesabahtlettin'meseeit