Thebellrang,and,throwingovertheirwork,thegirlstroopedoff,andafterchatteringingroupsoutsidethefactorygatesforawhile,madetheirwayindifferentdirectionstotheirrespectivehomes.LizaandSallywentalongtogether.
'Isy,wearecomin'aht!'criedSally,seeingtheadvertisementofaplaybeingactedattheneighbouringtheatre.
'Ishouldliketerseethet!'saidLiza,astheystoodarm-in-arminfrontoftheflaringposter.Itrepresentedtworoomsandapassageinbetweeninoneroomadeadmanwaslyingonthefloor,whiletwootherswerestandinghorror-stricken,listeningtoayouthwhowasinthepassage,knockingatthedoor.
'Yousee,they've'killedim,'saidSally,excitedly.
'Yus,anyfoolcanseethet!an'theoneahtside,wot's'edoin'of?'
'Ain't'ebeautiful?I'llgitmy'Arrytertikeme,Iwill.Ishouldliketerseeit.'Esaid'e'dtikemetotheply.'
Theystrolledonagain,andLiza,leavingSally,madeherwaytohermother's.SheknewshemustpassJim'shouse,andwonderedwhethershewouldseehim.ButasshewalkedalongthestreetshesawTomcomingtheoppositewaywithasuddenimpulsesheturnedbacksoasnottomeethim,andbeganwalkingthewayshehadcome.Thenthinkingherselfafoolforwhatshehaddone,sheturnedagainandwalkedtowardshim.Shewonderedifshehadseenherornoticedhermovement,butwhenshelookeddownthestreethewasnowheretobeseenhehadnotcaughtsightofher,andhadevidentlygoneintoseeamateinoneorotherofthehouses.Shequickenedherstep,andpassingthehousewherelivedJim,couldnothelplookinguphewasstandingatthedoorwatchingher,withasmileonhislips.
'Ididn'tseeyer,Mr.Blakeston,'shesaid,ashecameuptoher.
'Didn'tyer?Well,Iknewyerwouldan'Iwaswitin'foryerterlookup.Iseeyerbeforeter-day.'
'Na,when?'
'Ipassedbe'indyerasyouan'thetothergirlwaslookin'attheadvertisementofthetply.'
'Ineverseeyer.'
'Na,Iknowyerdidn't.I'earyersay,yousays:"Ishouldliketoseethet."'
'Yus,an'Ishouldtoo.'
'Well,I'lltikeyer.'
'You?'
'Yuswhynot?'
'Ilikethetwotwouldyermissussy?'
'Shewouldn'tknow.'
'Buttheneighbourswould!