AssoonasLizahadrecoveredherselfshestartedexaminingthepeopleonthebrakeandfirstofallshetookstockofthewomanwhomJimBlakestonhadwithhim.
'Thisismymissus!'saidJim,pointingtoherwithhisthumb.
'Youain'tbeendahninthestreetmuch,'aveyer?'saidLiza,bywayofmakingtheacquaintance.
'Na,'answeredMrs.Blakeston,'myyoungster'sbeendahnwiththemeasles,an'I've'admyworkcutoutlookin'after'im.'
'Oh,an'is'eallrightnow?'
'Yus,'e'sgettin'onfine,an'JimwantedtergoterChingfordter-day,an''esaysterme,well,'esays,"YoucomealongterChingford,tooit'lldoyougood."An''esays,"YoucanleavePolly"—she'smyeldest,yerknow—"youcanleavePolly,"says'e,"terlookafterthekids."SoIsays,"Well,Idon'tmindifIdo,"saysI.'
MeanwhileLizawaslookingather.Firstshenoticedherdress:sheworeablackcloakandafunny,old-fashionedblackbonnetthenexaminingthewomanherself,shesawamiddle-sized,stoutpersonanywherebetweenthirtyandfortyyearsold.Shehadalarge,fatfacewithabigmouth,andherhairwascuriouslydone,partedinthemiddleandplastereddownoneachsideoftheheadinlittleplaits.Onecouldseethatshewasawomanofgreatstrength,notwithstandingevidenttracesofhardworkandmuchchild-bearing.
Lizaknewalltheotherpassengers,andnowthateveryonewassettleddownandhadgotovertheexcitementofdeparture,theyhadtimetogreetoneanother.TheyweredelightedtohaveLizaamongthem,forwhereshewastherewasnodullness.Herattentionwasfirstofalltakenupbyayoungcosterwhohadarrayedhimselfinthetraditionalcostume—greysuit,tighttrousers,andshinybuttonsinprofusion.
'Wotcheer,Bill!'shecriedtohim.
'Wotcheer,Liza!'heanswered.
'Youaregotupdossy,you'llknock'em.'
'Nathen,LizaKemp,'saidhiscompanion,turningroundwithmockindignation,'youletmyJohnnyalone.Ifyoucomegettin'round'imI'llgiveyouwotfor.'
'Arright,ClarySharp,Idon'twant'im,'answeredLiza.'I'vegotoneofmyown,an'thet'sagood'andful—ain'tit,Tom?'
Tomwasdelighted,and,unabletofindarepartee,inhispleasuregaveLizaagreatnudgewithhiselbow.
''Oo,Isay,'saidLiza,puttingherhandtoherside.'Tikecareofmyribsyou'llbrike'em.'
'Them'snotyerribs,'shoutedacandidfriend—'them'syerwhale-bonesyerafraidofbreakin'.'
'Garn!'