dwhentheycamenearLizasawthattheywereJimBlakestonandawomanwhomshesupposedtobehiswife.
'Areyoucomin',Liza?'Jimsaidtoher.
'No,'sheanswered.'Ididn'tknowyouwasgoin'.'
'Iwishyouwascomin','hereplied,'weshall'aveagame.'
Shecouldonlyjustkeepbackthesobsshesowishedsheweregoing.Itdidseemhardthatshemustremainbehindandallbecauseshewasn'tgoingtomarryTom.Afterall,shedidn'tseewhythatshouldpreventhertherereallywasnoneedtorefuseforthat.Shebegantothinkshehadactedfoolishly:itdidn'tdoanyoneanygoodthatsherefusedtogooutwithTom,andnoonethoughtitanythingspeciallyfinethatsheshouldrenounceherpleasure.Sallymerelythoughtherafool.
Tomwasstandingbyherside,silent,andlookingdisappointedandratherunhappy.Jimsaidtoher,inalowvoice:
'Iamsorryyou'renotcomin'!'
Itwastoomuch.Shedidwanttogosobadly,andshereallycouldn'tresistanylonger.IfTomwouldonlyaskheroncemore,andifshecouldonlychangehermindreasonablyanddecently,shewouldacceptbuthestoodsilent,andshehadtospeakherself.Itwasveryundignified.
'Yerknow,Tom.'shesaid,'Idon'twantterspoilyourday.'
'Well,Idon'tthinkIshallgoaloneit'udbesopreciousslow.'
Supposinghedidn'taskheragain!Whatshouldshedo?Shelookedupattheclockonthefrontofthepub,andnoticedthatitonlywantedfiveminutestothehalf-hour.Howterribleitwouldbeifthebrakestartedandhedidn'taskher!Herheartbeatviolentlyagainstherchest,andinheragitationshefumbledwiththecornerofherapron.
'Well,whatcanIdo,Tomdear?'
'Why,comewithme,ofcourse.Oh.Liza,dosayyes.'
Shehadgottheofferagain,anditonlywantedalittleseemlyhesitation,andthethingwasdone.
'Ishouldliketer,Tom,'shesaid.'Butd'youthinkit'udbearright?'
'Yus,ofcour