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swentoverandlookedatLizashewaslyingjustaswhensheleftinthemorning,hercheeksflushed,hermouthopenforbreath,andtinybeadsofsweatstoodonherforehead. ''Owareyer,ducky?'askedMrs.HodgesbutLizadidnotanswer. 'It'smybeliefshe'sunconscious,'saidMrs.Kemp.'I'vebeenaskin''er'ooitwasasdoneit,butshedon'tseemto'earwotIsay.It'sbeenagreatshockterme,Mrs.'Odges.' 'Ibelieveyou,'repliedthatlady,sympathetically. 'Well,whenyoucomeinandsaidwotitwas,yermight'aveknockedmedahnwithafeather.Iknewnomorethanthedeadwot'ad'appened.' 'Isawatoncewotitwas,'saidMrs.Hodges,noddingherhead. 'Yus,ofcourse,youknew.Iexpectyou've'adagreatdealofpracticeonewayan'another.' 'You'reright,Mrs.Kemp,you'reright.I'vebeenonthejobnowfornearlytwentyyears,an'ifIdon'tknowsomethin'abahtitIought.' 'D'yerfindsitpayswell?' 'Well,Mrs.Kemp,tikeitallinall,Iain'tgotnogroundsforcomplaint.I'minthe'abitofaskin'fiveshillings,an'Iwillsaythis,Idon'tthinkit'stoomuchforwotIdo.' ThenewsofLiza'sillnesshadquicklyspread,andmorethanonceinthecourseofthedayaneighbourhadcometoaskafterher.Therewasaknockatthedoornow,andMrs.Hodgesopenedit.Tomstoodonthethresholdaskingtocomein. 'Yus,youcancome,'saidMrs.Kemp. Headvancedontiptoe,soastomakenonoise,andforawhilestoodsilentlylookingatLiza.Mrs.Hodgeswasbyhisside. 'CanIspeakto'er?'hewhispered. 'Shecan't'earyou.' Hegroaned. 'D'yerthinkshe'llgetarright?'heasked. Mrs.Hodgesshruggedhershoulders. 'Ishouldn'tliketergiveanopinion,'shesaid,cautiously. TombentoverLiza,and,blushing,kissedherthen,withoutspeakingfurther,wentoutoftheroom. 'Thet'stheyoungmanaswascourtin''er,'saidMrs.Kemp,pointingoverhershoulderwithherthumb. SoonaftertheDoctorcame. 'Wotdoyerthinkof'er,doctor?'saidMrs.Hodges,bustlingforwardsauthoritativelyinherpositionofmidwifeandsick-nurse. 'I'mafraidshe'sverybad.' 'D'yerthinkshe'sgoin'terdie?'sheasked,droppinghervoicetoawhisper. 'I'mafraidso!' AsthedoctorsatdownbyLiza'ssideMrs.HodgesturnedroundandsignificantlynoddedtoMrs.Kemp,whoputherhandkerchieftohereyes.Thenshewentoutsidetothelittlegroupwaitingatthedoor. 'Wotdoesthedoctorsy?'theyasked,amongthemTom. ''EsaysjustwotI'vebeensayin'allalongIknewshewouldn'tlive.' AndTomburstout:'Oh,Liza!' Assheretiredawomanremarked: 'Mrs.'Odgesisveryclever,Ithink.' 'Yus,'remarkedanother,'shegotmethroughmylastconfinementsimplywonderful.Ifitcometochoosin'between'emI'dbackMrs.'Odgesagainstfortydoctors.' 'Tertellyerthetruth,sowouldI.I'veneverknown'erwrongyet.' Mrs.HodgessatdownbesideMrs.Kempandproceededtocomforther. 'Whydon'tyertikealittledropofbrandytercalmyernerves,Mrs.Kemp?'shesaid,'youwantit.' 'Iwasjustfeelin'ratherfaint,an'Icouldn't'elpthinkin'as'owtwopennethofwhisky'uddomegood.' 'Na,Mrs.Kemp,'saidMrs.Hodges,earnestly,puttingherhandontheother'sarm.'Youtikemytip—whenyou'requeerthere'snothin'likebrandyforpullin'yertogither.Idon'tobjecttowhiskymyself,butasamedicineyercan'tbeatbrandy.' 'Well,Iwon'tsetupmyselfasknowin'betterthanyouMrs.'OdgesI'lldowotyouthinkright.' Quiteaccidentallytherewassomeintheroom,andMrs.Kemppoureditoutforherselfandherfriend. 'I'mnotinthe'abitoftikin'anythin'whenI'mahtonbusiness,'sheapologized,'butjustterkeepyoucompanyIdon'tmindifIdo.' 'Your'ealth.Mrs.'Odges.' 'Simeteryou,an'thankyer,Mrs.Kemp.' Lizalaystill,breathingveryquietly,hereyesclosed.Thedoctorkepthisfingersonherpulse.