Lizadidnotclearthesupperthingsawayasshewastold,butopenedthewindowanddrewherchairtoit.Sheleantonthesill,lookingoutintothestreet.Thesunhadset,anditwastwilight,theskywasgrowingdark,bringingtoviewthetwinklingstarstherewasnobreeze,butitwaspleasantlyandrestfullycool.Thegoodfolkstillsatattheirdoorsteps,talkingasbeforeonthesameinexhaustiblesubjects,butalittlesubduedwiththeapproachofnight.Theboyswerestillplayingcricket,buttheyweremostlyattheotherendofthestreet,andtheirshoutsweremuffledbeforetheyreachedLiza'sears.
Shesat,leaningherheadonherhands,breathinginthefreshairandfeelingacertainexquisitesenseofpeacefulnesswhichshewasnotusedto.ItwasSaturdayevening,andshethankfullyrememberedthattherewouldbenofactoryonthemorrowshewasgladtorest.Somehowshefeltalittletired,perhapsitwasthroughtheexcitementoftheafternoon,andsheenjoyedthequietnessoftheevening.Itseemedsotranquilandstillthesilencefilledherwithastrangedelight,shefeltasifshecouldsitthereallthroughthenightlookingoutintothecool,darkstreet,andupheavenwardsatthestars.Shewasveryhappy,butyetatthesametimeexperiencedastrangenewsensationofmelancholy,andshealmostwishedtocry.
Suddenlyadarkformsteppedinfrontoftheopenwindow.Shegavealittleshriek.
''Oo'sthet?'sheasked,foritwasquitedark,andshedidnotrecognizethemanstandinginfrontofher.
'Me,Liza,'wastheanswer.
'Tom?'
'Yus!'
Itwasayoungmanwithlightyellowhairandalittlefairmoustache,whichmadehimappearalmostboyishhewaslight-complexionedandblue-eyed,andhadafrankandpleasantlookmingledwithacuriousbashfulnessthatmadehimblushwhenpeoplespoketohim.
'Wot'sup?'askedLiza.
'Comeahtforawalk,Liza,willyer?'
'No!'sheanswereddecisively.
'Youpromisedteryesterday,Liza.'
'Yesterdayan'ter-day'stwodifferentthings,'washerwisereply.
'Yus,comeon,Liza.'
'Na,Itellyer,Iwon't.'
'Iwanttertalkteryer,Liza.'Herhandwasrestingonthewindow-sill,andheputhisuponit.Shequicklydrewitback.
'Well,Idon'twantyertertalkterme.'
Butshedid,foritwasshewhobrokethesilenc