BankHolidaywasabeautifulday:thecloudlessskythreatenedastiflingheatfornoontide,butearlyinthemorning,whenLizagotoutofbedandthrewopenthewindow,itwasfreshandcool.Shedressedherself,wonderinghowsheshouldspendherdayshethoughtofSallygoingofftoChingfordwithherlover,andofherselfremainingaloneinthedullstreetwithhalfthepeopleaway.Shealmostwisheditwereanordinarywork-day,andthattherewerenosuchthingsasbankholidays.AnditseemedtobealittleliketwoSundaysrunning,butwiththesecondratherworsethanthefirst.Hermotherwasstillsleeping,andshewasinnogreathurryaboutgettingthebreakfast,butstoodquietlylookingoutofthewindowatthehouseopposite.
InalittlewhileshesawSallycomingalong.Shewasarrayedinpurpleandfinelinen—averysmartreddress,trimmedwithvelveteen,andatremendoushatcoveredwithfeathers.Shehadreapedthebenefitofkeepingherhairincurl-paperssinceSaturday,andhersandyfringestretchedfromeartoear.Shewasinenormousspirits.
''Ulloa,Liza!'shecalledassoonasshesawheratthewindow.
Lizalookedatheralittleenviously.
''Ulloa!'sheansweredquietly.
'I'mjustgoin'tothe"RedLion"tomeet'Arry.'
'Atwhattimed'yerstart?'
'Thebrakeleavesat'alf-pasteightsharp.'
'Why,it'sonlyeightit'sonlyjuststruckatthechurch.'Arrywon'tbethereyet,willhe?'
'Oh,'e'ssureterbeearly.Icouldn'twite.I'vebeenwitin'abahtsince'alf-pastsix.I'vebeenupsincefivethismorning.'
'Sincefive!What'aveyoubeendoin'?'
'Dressin'myselfanddoin'my'air.Iwokeupsoearly.I'vebeendreamin'allthenightabahtit.Isimplycouldn'tsleep.'
'Well,youareacaution!'saidLiza.
'Bustit,Idon'tgoonthespreeeveryday!Oh,Ido'opeIshallenjoymyself.'
'Why,yousimplydunnowhereyouare!'saidLiza,