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whyI'masfreshasadisy.Tikemyword,thereain'tnogoodinteetotalismitfindsyerahtintheend,an'it'sfoundyouaht.' Mrs.KempconsidereditajudgmentofProvidence.Shegotupandmixedsomewhiskyandwater. ''Ere,drinkthis,'shesaid.'Whenone's'adadroptoomuchatnight,there'snothin'likehavin'adropmoreinthemornin'terputoneright.Itjustactslikemagic.' 'Tikeitawy,'saidLiza,turningfromitindisgust'thesmellofitgivesmethesick.I'llnevertouchspiritsagain.' 'Ah,thet'swotweallsayssometimeinourlives,butwedoes,an'wot'smorewecan'tdowithahtit.Why,me,the'ardlifeI've'ad—'ItisunnecessarytorepeatMrs.Kemp'srepetitions. Lizadidnotgetupallday.Tomcametoinquireafterher,andwastoldshewasveryill.Lizaplaintivelyaskedwhetheranyoneelsehadbeen,andsighedalittlewhenhermotheransweredno.Butshefelttooilltothinkmuchortroublemuchaboutanything.Thefevercameagainasthedayworeon,andthepainsinherheadgrewworse.Hermothercametobed,andquicklywentofftosleep,leavingLizatobearheragonyalone.Shebegantohavefrightfulpainsalloverher,andsheheldherbreathtopreventherselffromcryingoutandwakinghermother.Sheclutchedthesheetsinheragony,andatlast,aboutsixo'clockinthemorning,shecouldbearitnolonger,andintheanguishoflabourscreamedout,andwokehermother. Mrs.Kempwasfrightenedoutofherwits.Goingupstairsshewokethewomanwholivedontheflooraboveher.Withouthesitating,thegoodladyputonaskirtandcamedown. 'She's'adamiss,'shesaid,afterlookingatLiza.'Isthereanyoneyoucouldsendtothe'orspital?' 'Na,Idunno'ooIcouldgetatthishour?' 'Well,I'llgitmyoldmantergo.' Shecalledherhusband,andsenthimoff.Shewasastout,middle-agedwoman,rough-visagedandstrong-armed.HernamewasMrs.Hodges. 'It'sluckyyoucameterme,'shesaid,whenshehadsettleddown.'Igoahtnursin',yerknow,soIknowallabahtit.' 'Well,yousurpriseme,'saidMrs.Kemp.'Ididn'tknowasLizawasthetway.Shenevertoldmenothin'abahtit.' 'D'yerknow'ooitis'asdoneit?' 'Nowyouaskmesomethin'Idon'tknow,'repliedMrs.Kemp.'ButnowIcometerthinkofit,itmustbethetthereTom.'E'sbeenkeepin'companywithLiza.'E'sasingleman,sothey'llbeabletergetmarried—thet'ssomethin'.' 'Itain'tTom,'feeblysaidLiza. 'Not'im'ooisit,then?' Lizadidnotanswer. 'Eh?'repeatedthemother,''ooisit?' Lizalaystillwithoutspeaking. 'Nevermind,Mrs.Kemp,'saidMrs.Hodges,'don'tworry'ernowyou'llbeableterfindahtallabahtitwhenshegitsbetter.' Forawhilethetwowomensatstill,waitingthedoctor'scoming,andLizalaygazingvacantlyatthewall,pantingforbreath.SometimesJimcrossedhermind,andsheopenedhermouthtocallforhim,butinherdespairsherestrainedherself. Thedoctorcame. 'D'youthinkshe'sbad,doctor?'askedMrs.Hodges. 'I'mafraidsheisrather,'heanswered.'I'llcomeinagainthisevening.' 'Oh,doctor,'saidMrs.Kemp,ashewasgoing,'couldyergivemesomethin'formyrheumatics?I'mamartyrtorheumatism,an'thesecolddaysI'ardlyknowswotterdowithmyself.An',doctor,couldyouletme'avesomebeef-tea?My'usbind'sdead,an'ofcourseIcan'tdonoworkwithmydaughterilllikethis,an'we'reveryshort—' Thedaypassed,andintheeveningMrs.Hodges,whohadbeenattendingtoherowndomesticduties,camedownstairsagain.Mrs.Kempwasonthebedsleeping. 'Iwasjust'avin'alittlenap,'shesaidtoMrs.Hodges,onwaking. ''Owisthegirl?'askedthatlady. 'Oh,'answeredMrs.Kemp,'myrheumatics'asbeenthetbadIreally'aven'tknownwotterdowithmyself,an'nowLizacan'trubmeI'mworsethanever.ItisunfortunatethetsheshouldgetilljustnowwhenIwantsomuchattendin'termyself,butthere,it'sjustmyluck!' Mrs.Hodge