chokyfeelinginhisthroatashethoughtofLiza:shewasveryunkindandungrateful,andhewishedhehadnevercometoChingford.ShemightsoeasilyhavecomeforawalkwithhiminsteadofgoingwiththatbeastofaBlakestonshewouldn'teverdoanythingforhim,andhehatedher—butallthesame,hewasapoorfoolishthinginlove,andhebegantofeelthatperhapshehadbeenalittleexactingandalittleforwardtotakeoffence.Andthenhewishedhehadneversaidanything,andhewantedsomuchtoseeherandmakeitup.HemadehiswaybacktoChingford,hopingshewouldnotmakehimwaittoolong.
LizawasalittlesurprisedwhenTomturnedandleftthem.
'Wot'as'egottheneedleabaht?'shesaid.
'Why,'e'sjealous,'answeredJim,withalaugh.
'Tomjealous?'
'Yus'e'sjealousofme.'
'Well,'eain'tgotnocauseterbejealousofanyone—that'eain't!'saidLiza,andcontinuedbytellinghimallaboutTom:howhehadwantedtomarryherandshewouldn'thavehim,andhowshehadonlyagreedtocometoChingfordwithhimontheunderstandingthatsheshouldpreserveherentirefreedom.Jimlistenedsympathetically,buthiswifepaidnoattentionshewasdoubtlessengagedinthoughtrespectingherhouseholdorherfamily.
WhentheygotbacktoChingfordtheysawTomstandinginsolitudelookingatthem.Lizawasstruckbythewoebegoneexpressiononhisfaceshefeltshehadbeencrueltohim,andleavingtheBlakestonswentuptohim.
'Isay,Tom,'shesaid,'don'ttikeonsoIdidn'tmeanit.'
Hewasburstingtoapologizeforhisbehaviour.
'Yerknow,Tom,'shewenton,'I'mrather'asty,an'I'msorryIsaidwotIdid.'
'Oh,Liza,youaregood!Youain'tcrosswithme?'
'Me?Nait'syouthetoughterbecross.'
'Youareagoodsort,Liza!'
'Youain'tvexedwithme?'
'GivemeLizaeverytimethat'swotIsay,'heanswered,ashisfacelitup.'Comealongan''avetea,an'thenwe'llgoforadonkey-ride.'
Thedonkey-ridewasagreatsuccess.Lizawasalittleafraidatfirst,soTomwalkedbyhersidetotakecareofher,shescreamedthemomentthebeastbegantotrot,andclutchedholdofTomtosaveherselffromfalling,andashefeltherhandonhisshoulder,andheardherappealingcry:'Oh,do'oldme!I'mfallin'!'hefeltthathehadneverinhislifebeensodeliciouslyhappy.Thewholepartyjoinedin,anditwasproposedthattheyshouldhaveracesbutinthefirstheat,whenthedonkeysbrokeintoacanter,L