ort.'Shewasquitepatronizing.
'I'mgoin'tertike'ooIlikean'itain'tnobody'sbusinessbutmine.'
'Arright,Liza,don'tgetshirtyoveritIdon'tmeannooffence.'
'Whatd'yersayitforthen?'
'Well,Ithoughtasseeingasyer'dgoneahtwith'imyesterdaythetyermeantterafterall.'
''EwantedtertikemeIdidn'tarsk'im.'
'Well,Ididn'tarskmy'Arry,either.'
'Ineversaidyerdid,'repliedLiza.
'Oh,you'vegotthe'ump,you'ave!'finishedSally,ratherangrily.
ThebeerhadrestoredLiza:shewentbacktoworkwithoutaheadache,and,exceptforaslightlanguor,feelingnoworseforthepreviousday'sdebauch.Assheworkedonshebegangoingoverinhermindtheeventsoftheprecedingday,andshefoundentwinedinallherthoughtstheburlypersonofJimBlakeston.ShesawhimwalkingbyhersideintheForest,presidingoverthemeals,playingtheconcertina,singing,joking,andfinally,onthedriveback,shefelttheheavyformbyherside,andthebig,roughhandholdinghers,whileTom'sarmwasroundherwaist.Tom!Thatwasthefirsttimehehadenteredhermind,andhesankintoashadowbesidetheother.Lastofallsherememberedthewalkhomefromthepub,thegoodnights,andtherapidfootstepsasJimcaughtherup,andthekiss.Sheblushedandlookedupquicklytoseewhetheranyofthegirlswerelookingathershecouldnothelpthinkingofthatmomentwhenhetookherinhisarmsshestillfelttheroughnessofhisbeardpressingonhermouth.Herheartseemedtogrowlargerinherbreast,andshecaughtforbreathasshethrewbackherheadasiftoreceivehislipsagain.Ashudderranthroughherfromthevividnessofthethought.
'Wotareyoushiverin'for,Liza?'askedoneofthegirls.'Youain'tcold.'
'Notmuch,'answeredLiza,blushingawkwardlyonhermeditationsbeingbrokeninto.'Why,I'msweatin'so—I'mdrippin'wet.'
'IexpectyercaughtcoldintheFaurestyesterday.'
'IseeyourmashasIwascomin'alongthismornin'.'
Lizastaredalittle.
'Iain'tgotone,'ood'yermean,ay?'
'YeronlyTom,ofcourse.'Edidlookwashedaht.Wotwasyerdoin'with'imyesterday?'
''Eain'tgotnothin'terdowithme,'eain't.'
'Garn,don'tyoutellme!'