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AboutthemiddleofthenightLizawokehermouthwashotanddry,andasharp,cuttingpainpassedthroughherheadasshemoved.Hermotherhadevidentlyrousedherself,forshewaslyinginbedbyherside,partiallyundressed,withallthebedclothesrolledroundher.Lizashiveredinthecoldnight,andtakingoffsomeofherthings—herboots,herskirt,andjacket—gotrightintobedshetriedtogetsomeoftheblanketfromhermother,butasshepulledMrs.Kempgaveagrowlinhersleepanddrewtheclothesmoretightlyroundher.SoLizaputoverherselfherskirtandashawl,whichwaslyingovertheendofthebed,andtriedtogotosleep.
Butshecouldnotherheadandhandswerebroilinghot,andshewasterriblythirstywhensheliftedherselfuptogetadrinkofwatersuchapangwentthroughherheadthatshefellbackonthebedgroaning,andlaytherewithbeatingheart.Andstrangepainsthatshedidnotknowwentthroughher.Thenacoldshiverseemedtoriseintheverymarrowofherbonesandrundowneveryarteryandvein,freezingthebloodherskinpuckeredup,anddrawingupherlegsshelayhuddledtogetherinaheap,theshawlwrappedtightlyroundher,andherteethchattering.Shivering,shewhispered:
'Oh,I'msocold,socold.Mother,givemesomeclothesIshalldieofthecold.Oh,I'mfreezing!'
Butafterawhilethecoldseemedtogiveway,andasuddenheatseizedher,flushingherface,makingherbreakoutintoperspiration,sothatshethreweverythingoffandloosenedthethingsaboutherneck.
'Giveusadrink,'shesaid.'Oh,I'dgiveanythin'foralittledropofwater!'
TherewasnoonetohearMrs.Kempcontinuedtosleepheavily,occasionallybreakingoutintoalittlesnore.
Lizaremainedthere,nowshiveringwithcold,nowpantingforbreath,listeningtotheregular,heavybreathingbyherside,andinherpainshesobbed.Shepulledatherpillowandsaid:
'Whycan'tIgotosleep?Whycan'tIsleeplike'er?'
Andthedarknesswasawfulitwasaheavy,ghastlyblackness,thatseemedpalpable,sothatitfrightenedherandshelookedforreliefatthefaintlightglimmeringthroughthewindowfromadistantstreet-lamp.Shethoughtthenightwouldneverend—theminutesseemedlikehours,andshewonderedhowsheshouldlivethroughtillmorning.Andstrangepainsthatshedidnotknowwentthroughher.
Stillthenightwenton,thedarknesscontinued,coldandhorrible,andhermotherbreathedloudlyandsteadilybyherside.
Atlastwiththemorningsleepcamebutthesleepwasalmostworsethanthewakefulness,foritwasaccompaniedbyugly,disturbingdreams.Lizathoughtshewasgoingthroughthefightwithherenemy,andMrs.Blakestongrewenormousinsize,andmultiplied,sothateverywaysheturnedthefigureconfrontedher.Andshebeganrunningaway,andsheranandrantillshefoundherselfreckoningupanaccountshehadpuzzledoverinthemorning,andshediditbackwardsandforwards,upwardsanddownwards,startinghere,startingthere,andthefiguresgotmixedupwithotherthings,andshehadtobeginoveragain,andeverythingjumbledup,andherheadwhirled,tillfinally,withastart,shewoke.
Thedarknesshadgivenwaytoacold,greydawn,heruncoveredlegswerechilledtothebone,andbyhersidesheheardagaintheregular,nasalbreathingofthedrunkard.
Foralongwhileshelaywhereshewas,feelingverysickandill,butbetterthaninthenight.Atlasthermotherwoke.
'Liza!'shecalled.
'Yus,mother,'sheansweredfeebly.
'Gitusacupoftea,willyer?'
'Ican't,mother,I'mill.'
'Garn!'saidMrs.Kemp,insurprise.Thenlookingather:'Swopmebob,wot'supwithyer?Why,yercheeksisflushed,an'yerforehead—itis'ot!Wot'sthematterwithyer,gal?'
'Idunno,'saidLiza.'I'vebeenthetbadallnight,IthoughtIwasgoin'terdie.'
'Iknowwotitis,'saidMrs.Kemp,shakingherhead'thefactis,youain'tusedterdrinkin',an'ofcourseit'supsetyer.Nowme,