standandalittledealchestofdrawers,whichactedassideboardtosuchpotsandpansandcrockeryascouldnotfindroominthegrateandbesidesthebedtherewasnothingbuttwokitchenchairsandalamp.LizalookedatitallandfeltperfectlysatisfiedsheputapinintoonecornerofthenobleMarquesstopreventhimfromfalling,fiddledaboutwiththeornamentsalittle,andthenstartedwashingherself.Afterputtingonherclothessheatesomebread-and-butter,swallowedadishfulofcoldtea,andwentoutintothestreet.
Shesawsomeboysplayingcricketandwentuptothem.
'Letmeply,'shesaid.
'Arright,Liza,'criedhalfadozenofthemindelightandthecaptainadded:'Yougoan'scoutoverbythelamp-post.'
'Goan'scoutmyeye!'saidLiza,indignantly.'WhenIplycricketIdoesthebattin'.'
'Na,you'renotgoin'terbatallthetime.'Ooareyougettin'at?'repliedthecaptain,whohadtakenadvantageofhispositiontoputhimselfinfirst,andwasstillatthewicket.
'Well,thenIshan'tply,'answeredLiza.
'Garn,Ernie,let'ergoin!'shoutedtwoorthreemembersoftheteam.
'Well,I'mbusted!'remarkedthecaptain,asshetookhisbat.'Youwon'tstyinlong,Ilay,'hesaid,ashesenttheoldbowlerfieldingandtooktheballhimself.Hewasayounggentlemanwhodidnotsufferfromexcessivebackwardness.
'Aht!'shoutedadozenvoicesastheballwentpastLiza'sbatandlandedinthepileofcoatswhichformedthewicket.Thecaptaincameforwardtoresumehisinnings,butLizaheldthebatawayfromhim.
'Garn!'shesaid'thetwasonlyatrial.'
'Youneversaidtrial,'answeredthecaptainindignantly.
'Yus,Idid,'saidLiza'Isaiditjustastheballwascomin'—undermybreath.'
'Well,Iambusted!'repeatedthecaptain.
JustthenLizasawTomamongthelookers-on,andasshefeltverykindlydisposedtotheworldingeneralthatmorning,shecalledouttohim:
''Ulloa,Tom!'shesaid.'Comean'giveusaballthischapcan'tbowl.'
'Well,Igotyeraht,any'ow,'saidthatperson.
'Ah,yerwouldn't'avegotmeahtplyin'square.Butatrialball—well,onedon'teverknowwotatrialball'sgoin'terdo.'
Tombeganbowlingveryslowlyandeasily,sothatLizacouldswingherbatroundandhitmightilysheranwell,too,andpantinglybroughtuphe