hadhappenedseemedverylongago.ShehadnotspokentoJimallday,andshehadsomuchtosaytohim.Then,wonderingwhetherhewasabout,shewenttothewindowandlookedoutbuttherewasnobodythere.Sheclosedthewindowagainandsatjustbesideitthetimewenton,andshewonderedwhetherhewouldcome,askingherselfwhetherhehadbeenthinkingofherassheofhimgraduallyherthoughtsgrewvague,andakindofmistcameoverthem.Shenodded.Suddenlysherousedherselfwithastart,fancyingshehadheardsomethingshelistenedagain,andinamomentthesoundwasrepeated,threeorfourgentletapsonthewindow.Sheopeneditquicklyandwhispered:
'Jim.'
'Thet'sme,'heanswered,'comeaht.'
Closingthewindow,shewentintothepassageandopenedthestreetdooritwashardlyunlockedbeforeJimhadpushedhiswayinpartlyshuttingitbehindhim,hetookherinhisarmsandhuggedhertohisbreast.Shekissedhimpassionately.
'Ithoughtyer'dcometer-night,Jimsummatinmy'earttoldmeso.Butyou'avebeenlong.'
'Iwouldn'tcomebefore,'causeIthoughtthere'dbepeopleabaht.Kissus!'Andagainhepressedhislipstohers,andLizanearlyfaintedwiththedelightofit.
'Let'sgoforawalk,shallwe?'hesaid.
'Arright!'Theywerespeakinginwhispers.'Yougointotheroadthroughthepassage,an'I'llgobythestreet.'
'Yus,thet'sright,'andkissingheroncemore,heslidout,andsheclosedthedoorbehindhim.
Thengoingbacktogetherhat,shecameagainintothepassage,waitingbehindthedoortillitmightbesafeforhertoventure.Shehadnotmadeuphermindtoriskit,whensheheardakeyputinthelock,andshehardlyhadtimetospringbacktopreventherselffrombeinghitbytheopeningdoor.Itwasaman,oneoftheupstairslodgers.
''Ulloa!'hesaid,''oo'sthere?'
'Mr.'Odges!Strikesme,youdidgivemeaturnIwasjustgoin'aht.'Sheblushedtoherhair,butinthedarknesshecouldseenothing.
'Goodnight,'shesaid,andwentout.
Shewalkedclosealongthesidesofthehouseslikeathief,andthepolicemanasshepassedhimturnedroundandlookedather,wonderingwhethershewasmeditatingsomeillegaldeed.Shebreathedfreelyoncomingintotheopenroad,andseeingJimskulkingbehindatree,ranuptohim,andintheshadowstheykissedagain.