,sosheletthemtalk.Theysawshewasnottobedrawn,andleavingher,settotheirgame.Shewatchedthemforsometime,butherthoughtsgraduallylostthemselves,andinsensiblyhermindwasfilledwithaburlyform,andshewasagainthinkingofJim.
''Eisagoodsortterwanttertikemetertheply,'shesaidtoherself.'Tomneverarstme!'
Jimhadsaidhewouldcomeoutintheeveningheoughttobeheresoon,shethought.Ofcourseshewasn'tgoingtothetheatrewithhim,butshedidn'tmindtalkingtohimsheratherenjoyedbeingaskedtodoathingandrefusing,andshewouldhavelikedanotheropportunityofdoingso.Buthedidn'tcomeandhehadsaidhewould!
'Isay,Bill,'shesaidatlasttooneoftheboyswhowasfieldingclosebesideher,'thatthereBlakeston—d'youknow'im?'
'Yes,ratherwhy,heworksatthesimepliceasme.'
'Wot's'edowith'isselfintheeveningIneversee'imabaht?'
'Idunno.Isee'imthisevenin'gointothe"RedLion".Isuppose'e'sthere,butIdunno.'
Thenhewasn'tcoming.Ofcourseshehadtoldhimshewasgoingtostayindoors,buthemighthavecomeallthesame—justtosee.
'IknowTom'ud'avecome,'shesaidtoherself,rathersulkily.
'Liza!Liza!'sheheardhermother'svoicecallingher.
'Arright,I'mcomin','saidLiza.
'I'vebeenwitin'foryouthislast'alf-hourterrubme.'
'Whydidn'tyercall?'askedLiza.
'Ididcall.I'vebeencallin'thislastIdunno'owlongit'sgivemequiteasorethroat.'
'Inever'eardyer.'
'Na,yerdidn'twantter'earme,didyer?Yerdon'tmindifIdieswithrheumatics,doyer?Iknow.'
Lizadidnotanswer,buttookthebottle,and,pouringsomeofthelinimentonherhand,begantorubitintoMrs.Kemp'srheumaticjoints,whiletheinvalidkeptcomplainingandgrumblingateverythingLizadid.
'Don'trubso'ard,Liza,you'llruballtheskinoff.'
ThenwhenLizadiditasgentlyasshecould,shegrumbledagain.
'Ifyerdoitlikethet,itwon'tdonogoodatall.Youwanttersiveyerselftrouble—Iknowyer.WhenIwasyounggirlsdidn'tmindalittlebitof'ardwork—but,lawblessyer,youdon'tcareabahtmyrheumatics,doyer?'
Atlastshefinished,andLizawenttobedbyhermother'sside.