hoplayedasolothentherewasacallforasong,andJimstoodupandsangthatancientditty,'OdemGoldenKippers,O'.Therewasnoshynessinthecompany,andLiza,almostwithoutbeingasked,gaveanotherpopularcomicsong.Thentherewasmoreconcertinaplaying,andanotherdemandforasong.LizaturnedtoTom,whowassittingquietlybyherside.
'Giveusasong,oldcock,'shesaid.
'Ican't,'heanswered.'I'mnotasingin'sort.'AtwhichBlakestongotupandofferedtosingagain.
'Tomisratherasoft,'saidLizatoherself,'notlikethatcoveBlakeston.'
Theyrepairedtothepublic-housetohaveafewlastdrinksbeforethebrakestarted,andwhenthehornblewtowarnthem,ratherunsteadily,theyproceededtotaketheirplaces.
Liza,asshescrambledupthesteps,said:'Well,IbelieveI'mboozed.'
Thecoachmanhadarrivedatthemelancholystageofintoxication,andwassittingonhisboxholdinghisreins,withhisheadbentonhischest.Hewasthinkingsadlyofthelong-lostdaysofhisyouth,andwishinghehadbeenabetterman.
Lizahadnorespectforsuchholyemotions,andshebroughtdownherfistonthecrownofhishat,andbasheditoverhiseyes.
'Nathen,oldjellybelly,'shesaid,'wot'sthegoodof'avin'aficeaslongasakite?'
Heturnedroundandsmoteher.
'Jellybellyyerself!'saidhe.
'Puddin'fice!'shecried.
'Kitefice!'
'Bosseye!'
Shewastremendouslyexcited,laughingandsinging,keepingthewholecompanyinanuproar.InherjollityshehadchangedhatswithTom,andheinherbigfeathersmadehershriekwithlaughter.Whentheystartedtheybegantosing'For'e'sajollygoodfeller',makingthenightresoundwiththeirnoisyvoices.
LizaandTomandtheBlakestonshadgotaseattogether,Lizabeingbetweenthetwomen.Tomwasperfectlyhappy,andonlywishedthattheymightgoonsoforever.Graduallyastheydrovealongtheybecamequieter,theirsingingceased,andtheytalkedinundertones.SomeofthemsleptSallyandheryoungmanwereleaningupagainstoneanother,slumberingquitepeacefully.Thenightwasbeautiful,theskystillblue,verydark,scatteredoverwithcountlessbrilliantstars,andLiza,asshelookedupattheheavens,feltacertainemotion,asifshewishedtobetakeninsomeone'sarms,orfeelsomestrongman'scaressandtherewasinherheartastrangesensationasthoughitweregrowingbig.Shestoppedspeaking,andallf