ittlegirlscameroundandsangsentimentalsongsandcollectedmorehalfpence.Atlastamovementranthroughtheserpent-likestringofpeople,soundswereheardbehindthedoor,everyoneclosedup,thementoldthewomentokeepcloseandholdtighttherewasagreatunbarringandunbolting,thedoorswerethrownopen,and,likeaburstingriver,thepeoplesurgedin.
Halfanhourmoreandthecurtainwentup.Theplaywasindeedthrilling.Lizaquiteforgothercompanion,andwasintentonthesceneshewatchedtheincidentsbreathlessly,tremblingwithexcitement,almostbesideherselfatthecelebratedhangingincident.Whenthecurtainfellonthefirstactshesighedandmoppedherface.
'See'ow'otIam.'shesaidtoJim,givinghimherhand.
'Yus,youare!'heremarked,takingit.
'Leavego!'shesaid,tryingtowithdrawitfromhim.
'Notmuch,'heanswered,quiteboldly.
'Garn!Leavego!'Buthedidn't,andshereallydidnotstruggleveryviolently.
Thesecondactcame,andsheshriekedoverthecomicmanandherlaughterranghigherthananyoneelse's,sothatpeopleturnedtolookather,andsaid:
'Sheisenjoyin''erself.'
Thenwhenthemurdercameshebithernailsandthesweatstoodonherforeheadingreatdropsinherexcitementsheevencalledoutasloudasshecouldtothevictim,'Lookaht!'Itcausedalaughandslackenedthetension,forthewholehousewasholdingitsbreathasitlookedatthevillainslisteningatthedoor,creepingsilentlyforward,crawlingliketigerstotheirprey.
Lizatremblingallover,andinherterrorthrewherselfagainstJim,whoputbothhisarmsroundher,andsaid:
'Don'tbeafride,Lizait'sallright.'
Atlastthemensprang,therewasascuffle,andthewretchwaskilled,thencamethescenedepictedontheposters—thevictim'ssonknockingatthedoor,ontheinsideofwhichwerethemurderersandthemurderedman.Atlastthecurtaincamedown,andthehouseinreliefburstforthintocheersandcheersthehandsomeheroinhistophatwasgreetedthunderouslythemurderedman,withhisclothesstillalldisarranged,washailedwithsympathyandthevillains—thehous