Lizaandhermotherwerehavingsupper.Mrs.Kempwasanelderlywoman,short,andratherstout,witharedface,andgreyhairbrushedtightbackoverherforehead.Shehadbeenawidowformanyyears,andsinceherhusband'sdeathhadlivedwithLizaintheground-floorfrontroominwhichtheywerenowsitting.Herhusbandhadbeenasoldier,andfromagratefulcountryshereceivedapensionlargeenoughtokeepherfromstarvation,andbycharringanddoingsuchoddjobsasshecouldgetsheearnedalittleextratosupplyherselfwithliquor.Lizawasabletomakeherownlivingbyworkingatafactory.
Mrs.Kempwasrathersulkythisevening.
'Wotwasyerdoin'thisafternoon,Liza?'sheasked.
'Iwasinthestreet.'
'You'realwaysinthestreetwhenIwantyer.'
'Ididn'tknowas'owyerwantedme,mother,'answeredLiza.
'Well,yermight'avecometersee!Imight'avebeendead,forallyouknew.'
Lizasaidnothing.
'Myrheumaticswasthetbadto-dy,thetIdidn'tknowwotterdowithmyself.ThedoctorsaidIwastoberubbedwiththatstuff'egiveme,butyerwon'tneverdonothin'forme.'
'Well,mother,'saidLiza,'yourrheumaticswasallrightyesterday.'
'Iknowwotyouwasdoin'youwasshowin'offthetnewdressofyours.Prettywasteofmoneythetis,insteadofgivin'itmetersiveup.An'forthematterofthet,Iwantedanewdressfarworsethanyoudid.But,ofcourse,Idon'tmatter.'
Lizadidnotanswer,andMrs.Kemp,havingnothingmoretosay,continuedhersupperinsilence.
ItwasLizawhospokenext.
'There'ssomenewpeoplemovedinthestreet.'Aveyouseen'em?'sheasked.
'No,wotarethey?'
'IdunnoI'veseenachap,abigchapwithabeard.Ithink'elivesupattheotherend.'
Shefeltherselfblushingalittle.
'Nooneanygoodyoubesure,'saidMrs.Kemp.'Ican'tswallerthesenewpeopleasarecomin'inthestreetain'twotitwaswhenIfustcome.'
Whentheyhaddone,Mrs.Kempgotup,andhavingfinishedherhalf-pintofbeer,saidtoherdaughter:
'Putthethingsawy,Liza.I'mjustgoin'roundtoseeMrs.Claytonshe'sjust'adtwins,andshe'adninebeforethesecome.It'sapitytheLorddon'tseefittertikesomeon'em—thet'swotIsay.'
AfterwhichpiousremarkMrs.Kempwentoutofthehouseandturnedintoanotherafewdoorsup.