'ssuchafinenight,it'sapitytergoinalready'andhedrewherunresistingtowardstheseat.Heputhisarmroundherwaist.
'Un'andme,villin!'shesaid,inaptmisquotationofthemelodrama,butJimonlylaughed,andshemadenoefforttodisengageherself.
TheysatthereforalongwhileinsilencethebeerhadgottoLiza'shead,andthewarmnightairfilledherwithadoubleintoxication.Shefeltthearmroundherwaist,andthebig,heavyformpressingagainsthersidesheexperiencedagainthecurioussensationasifherheartwereabouttoburst,anditchokedher—afeelingsooppressiveandpainfulitalmostmadeherfeelsick.Herhandsbegantotremble,andherbreathinggrewrapid,asthoughsheweresuffocating.Almostfainting,sheswayedovertowardstheman,andacoldshiverranthroughherfromtoptotoe.Jimbentoverher,and,takingherinbotharms,hepressedhislipstohersinalong,passionatekiss.Atlast,pantingforbreath,sheturnedherheadawayandgroaned.
Thentheyagainsatforalongwhileinsilence,Lizafullofastrangehappiness,feelingasifshecouldlaughaloudhysterically,butrestrainedbythecalmandsilenceofthenight.Closebehindstruckachurchclock—one.
'Blessmysoul!'saidLiza,starting,'there'soneo'clock.Imustget'ome.'
'It'ssoniceout'eredosty,Liza.'Hepressedherclosertohim.'Yerknow,Liza,Iloveyer—fitterkill.'
'Na,Ican'tstaycomeon.'Shegotupfromtheseat,andpulledhimuptoo.'Comeon,'shesaid.
Withoutspeakingtheywentalong,andtherewasnoonetobeseeneitherinfrontorbehindthem.Hehadnotgothisarmroundhernow,andtheywerewalkingsidebyside,slightlyseparated.ItwasLizawhospokefirst.
'You'dbettergodahntheRoadandbythechurchan'gitintoVereStreettheotherend,an'I'llgothroughthepassage,sothetnooneshouldn'tseeuscomin'together,'shespokealmostinawhisper.
'Arright,Liza,'heanswered,'I'lldojustasyoutellme.'
TheycametothepassageofwhichLizaspokeitwasanarrowwaybetweenblankwalls,thebacksoffactories,anditledintotheupperendofVereStreet.Theentrancetoitwasguardedbytwoir