iscourseoftheirlovesanddigesttheirdinner.TomhadallthemorningbeenwaitingforthishappymomenthehadcountedontheexpansiveeffectofafullstomachtothawhisLiza'scoldness,andhehadpicturedhimselfsittingonthegrasswithhisbackagainstthetrunkofaspreadingchestnut-tree,withhisarmroundhisLiza'swaist,andherheadrestingaffectionatelyonhismanlybosom.Liza,too,hadforeseentheseparationintocouplesafterdinner,andhadbeenrackingherbrainstofindameansofgettingoutofit.
'Idon'twant'imslobberin'abahtme,'shesaid'itgivesmethesick,allthiskissin'an'cuddlin'!'
Shescarcelyknewwhysheobjectedtohiscaressesbuttheyboredherandmadehercross.Butluckilytheblessedinstitutionofmarriagecametoherrescue,forJimandhiswifenaturallyhadnoparticulardesiretospendtheafternoontogether,andLiza,seeingalittleembarrassmentontheirpart,proposedthattheyshouldgoforawalktogetherintheforest.
Jimagreedatonce,andwithpleasure,butTomwasdreadfullydisappointed.Hehadn'tthecouragetosayanything,butheglaredatBlakeston.Jimsmiledbenignlyathim,andTombegantosulk.Thentheybeganafunnywalkthroughthewoods.JimtriedtogoonwithLiza,andLizawasnotatalldisinclinedtothis,forshehadcometotheconclusionthatJim,notwithstandinghis'cheek',wasnot''alfabadsort'.ButTomkeptwalkingalongsideofthem,andasJimslightlyquickenedhispacesoastogetLizaoninfront,Tomquickenedhis,andMrs.Blakeston,whodidn'twanttobeleftbehind,hadtobreakintoalittletrottokeepupwiththem.JimtriedalsotogetLizaalltohimselfintheconversation,andletTomseethathewasoutinthecold,butTomwouldbreakinwithcross,sulkyremarks,justtomaketheothersuncomfortable.Lizaatlastgotrathervexedwithhim.
'Strikesmeyougotahtofbedthewrongwaythismornin','shesaidtohim.
'Yerdidn'tthinkthetwhenyersaidyou'dcomeahtwithme.'Heemphasizedthe'me'.
Lizashruggedhershoulders.
'Yougivemethe'ump,'shesaid.'Ifyerwantstermikeafoolofyerself,youcangoelsewherean'doit.'
'Isupposeyerwantmetergoawynow,'hesaidangrily.
'Ididn'tsayIdid.'
'Arright,Liza,Iwon'tstaywhereI'mnotwanted.'Andturningonhisheelhemarchedoff,strikingthroughtheunderwoodintothemidstoftheforest.
Hefeltextremelyunhappyashewanderedon,andtherewasa