leepingstreet.
ThehousewhereSallylivedcamefirst,andsheleftthemthen,walkingafewyardsmore,theycametotheBlakestons',andafteralittletalkatthedoorLizabadethecouplegoodnight,andwaslefttowalktherestofthewayhome.Thestreetwasperfectlysilent,andthelamp-posts,farapart,threwadimlightwhichonlyservedtomakeLisarealizehersolitude.Therewassuchadifferencebetweenthestreetatmidday,withitsswarmsofpeople,andnow,whentherewasneithersoundnorsoulbesidesherself,thatevenshewasstruckbyit.Theregularlineofhousesoneitherside,withtheevenpavementsandstraight,cementedroad,seemedtoherlikesomedesertplace,asifeveryoneweredead,orafirehadragedandleftitalldesolate.Suddenlysheheardafootstep,shestartedandlookedback.Itwasamanhurryingbehindher,andinamomentshehadrecognizedJim.Hebeckonedtoher,andinalowvoicecalled:
'Liza!'
Shestoppedtillhehadcomeuptoher.
'Wot'aveyercomeahtagainfor?'shesaid.
'I'vecomeahttersaygoodnighttoyou,Liza,'heanswered.
'Butyersaidgoodnightamomentago.'
'Iwantedtosayitagain—properly.'
'Where'syermissus?'
'Oh,she'sgonein.IsaidIwasdryandwasgoin'ter'aveadrinkafterall.'
'Butshe'llknowyerdidn'tgoterthepub.'
'Na,shewon't,she'sgonestraightupstairstoseeafterthekid.Iwantedterseeyeralone,Liza.'
'Why?'
Hedidn'tanswer,buttriedtotakeholdofherhand.Shedrewitawayquickly.TheywalkedinsilencetilltheycametoLiza'shouse.
'Goodnight,'saidLiza.
'Won'tyoucomeforalittlewalk,Liza?'
'Tikecarenoone'earsyou,'sheadded,inawhisper,thoughwhyshewhisperedshedidnotknow.
'Willyer?'heaskedagain.
'Na—you'vegottogetupatfive.'
'Oh,Ionlysaidthetnottergointerthepubwiththem.'
'Soasyermightcome'erewithme?'askedLiza.
'Yus!'
'No,I'mnotcomin'.Goodnight.'
'Well,saygoodnightnicely.'
'Wotd'yermean?'
'Tomsaidyoudidkissnice.'
Shelookedathimwithoutspeaking,andinamomenthehadclaspedhisarmsroundher,almostliftingheroffherfeet,andkissedher.Sheturnedherfaceaway.
'Giveusyerlips,Liza,'hewhispered—'giveusyerlips.'
Heturnedherfacewithoutresistanceandkissedheronthemouth.
Atlastshetoreherselffromhim,andopeningthedoorslidawayintothehouse.