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'I'vebeenveryunfortunateoflite,'remarkedMrs.Hodges,asshelickedherlips,'thismikestheseconddeathI've'adinthelasttendays—women,Imean,ofcourseIdon'tcountbibies.' 'Yerdon'tsyso.' 'Ofcoursetheotherone—well,shewasonlyaprostitute,soitdidn'tsomuchmatter.Itain'tlikeanotherwomanisit?' 'Na,you'reright.' 'Still,onedon'tlike'emterdie,eveniftheyarethet.Onemustn'tbetoo'ardon'em.' 'Strikesmeyou'vegotaverykind'eart,Mrs.'Odges,'saidMrs.Kemp. 'I'avethetan'Ioftensaysit'udbebetterformypeaceofmindan'mybusinessifI'adn't.I'avetergothroughalot,IdobutIcansaythisformyself,Ialwaysgivessatisfaction,an'thet'ssomethin'asalllidiesinmylinecan'tsay.' Theysippedtheirbrandyforawhile. 'It'sagreattrialtermethatthisshould'ave'appened,'saidMrs.Kemp,comingtothesubjectthathadbeendisturbingherforsometime.'Mine'salwaysbeenaveryrespectablefamily,an'suchathingasthis'asnever'appenedbefore.No,Mrs.'Odges,Iwaslawfullymarriedinchurch,an'I'vegotmymarriagelinesnowtershowIwas,an'thetoneofmydaughtersshould'avegonewronginthisway—well,Ican'tunderstandit.Igive'eragoodeducation,an'she'adallthecomfortsofa'ome.Sheneverwantedfornothin'Iworkedmyselftotheboneterkeep'erinluxury,an'thenthetsheshouldgoan'disgracemelikethis!' 'Iunderstandwotyermean.Mrs.Kemp.' 'Icantellyoumyfamilywasveryrespectablean'my'usband,'eearnedtwenty-fiveshillingsaweek,an'wasinthesimepliceseventeenyearsan''isemployerssentabeautifulwreathterputon'iscoffinan'theytellmetheynever'adsuchagoodworkmanan'sichan'onestmanbefore.An'me!Well,Icansythis—I'vedonemydutybythegirl,an'she'sneverlearntanythin'butgoodfromme.OfcourseIain'talwaysbeeninwotyermightcallflourishingcircumstances,butI'vealwayssetheragoodexample,asshecouldtellyerso'erselfifshewasn'tspeechless.' Mrs.Kemppausedforamoment'sreflection. 'AstheysyintheBible,'shefinished,'it'senoughtermikeone'sgrey'airsgodahnintothegroundinsorrer.Icanshowyermymarriagecertificate.Ofcourseonedoesn'tliketersaymuch,becauseofcourseshe'sverybadbutifshegotwellIshould'avegiven'eratalkin'ter.' Therewasanotherknock. 'Dogoan'see'oothetisIcan't,onaccountofmyrheumatics.' Mrs.Hodgesopenedthedoor.ItwasJim. Hewasverywhite,andtheblacknessofhishairandbeard,contrastingwiththedeathlypallorofhisface,madehimlookghastly.Mrs.Hodgessteppedback. ''Oo's'e?'shesaid,turningtoMrs.Kemp. Jimpushedherasideandwentuptothebed. 'Doctor,issheverybad?'heasked. Thedoctorlookedathimquestioningly. Jimwhispered:'Itwasmeasdoneit.Sheain'tgoin'terdie,isshe?' Thedoctornodded. 'OGod!wotshallIdo?Itwasmyfault!IwishIwasdead!' Jimtookthegirl'sheadinhishands,andthetearsburstfromhiseyes. 'Sheain'tdeadyet,isshe?' 'She'sjustliving,'saidthedoctor. Jimbentdown. 'Liza,Liza,speakterme!Liza,sayyouforgiveme!Oh,speakterme!' Hisvoicewasfullofagony.Thedoctorspoke. 'Shecan'thearyou.' 'Oh,shemusthearme!Liza!Liza!' Hesankonhiskneesbythebedside. Theyallremainedsilent:Lizalyingstillerthanever,herbreastunmovedbythefeeblerespiration,Jimlookingatherverymournfullythedoctorgrave,withhisfingersonthepulse.ThetwowomenlookedatJim. 'Fancyitbein''im!'saidMrs.Kemp.'Strikemelucky,ain't'easight!' 'You'avegot'erinsured,Mrs.Kemp?'askedthemidwife.Shecouldbearthesilencenolonger. 'Trustmefurthet!'repliedthegoodlady.'I've'ad'erinsuredeversinceshewasborn.Why,onlytheotherdyIwassayin'termyselfthetallthetmoney'adbeenwisted,butyouseeitwasn'tyerneverknowyerluc