.
''I!'I!'I!Sally!'
'Garn!'saidLiza,lookingroundatthem.
Sallydidnotappearandsherepeatedhercall.Themenimitatedher,andhalfadozentookitup,sothattherewasenoughnoisetowakethesevensleepers.
''I!'I!'I!Sally!'
Aheadwasputoutofatopwindow,andLiza,takingoffherhat,wavedit,crying:
'Comeondahn,Sally!'
'Arright,oldgal!'shoutedtheother.'I'mcomin'!'
'So'sChristmas!'wasLiza'srepartee.
Therewasaclatterdownthestairs,andSally,rushingthroughthepassage,threwherselfontoherfriend.Theybeganfooling,inreminiscenceofamelodramatheyhadlatelyseentogether.
'Oh,mydarlin'duck!'saidLiza,kissingherandpressingher,withaffectedrapture,toherbosom.
'Mysweetestsweet!'repliedSally,copyingher.
'An''owdoesyourlidyshipter-day?'
'Oh!'—withimmenselanguor—'fustclassandisyourroyal'ighnessquitewell?'
'Ideeplyregret,'answeredLiza,'butmyroyal'ighness'asgotthecollywobbles.'
Sallywasasmall,thingirl,withsandyhairandblueeyes,andaveryfreckledcomplexion.Shehadanenormousmouth,withterrible,squareteethsetwideapart,whichlookedasiftheycouldmasticateanironbar.ShewasdressedlikeLiza,inashortishblackskirtandanold-fashionedbodice,greenandgreyandyellowwithagehersleevesweretuckeduptotheelbow,andsheworeasingularlydirtyapron,thathadoncebeenwhite.
'Wot'aveyougotyer'airinthemthingsfor?'askedLiza,pointingtothecurl-papers.'Goin'ahtwithyeryoungmanter-day?'
'No,I'mgoingterstay'ereallday.'
'Wotfor,then?'
'Why,'Arry'sgoingtertikemeterChingfordter-morrer.'
'Oh?Inthe"RedLion"brake?'
'Yus.Areyougoin'?'
'Na!'
'Not!Well,whydon'tyougetroundTom?'E'lltikeyer,andjollyglad'e'llbe,too.'
''Earstmetergowith'im,butIwouldn't.'
'Swopmebob—whynot?'
'Iain'tkeepingcompanywith'im.'
'Yermight