Thusbeganatimeofloveandjoy.Assoonasherworkwasoverandshehadfinishedtea,LizawouldslipoutandatsomeappointedspotmeetJim.Usuallyitwouldbeatthechurch,wheretheWestminsterBridgeRoadbendsdowntogettotheriver,andtheywouldgooff,arm-in-arm,tilltheycametosomeplacewheretheycouldsitdownandrest.SometimestheywouldwalkalongtheAlbertEmbankmenttoBatterseaPark,andheresitonthebenches,watchingthechildrenplay.ThefemalecyclisthadalmostabandonedBatterseafortheparksontheothersideoftheriver,butoftenenoughonewentby,andLiza,withtheold-fashionedprejudiceofherclass,wouldlookaftertheriderandmakesomeremarkabouther,notseldommoreforciblethanladylike.BothJimandshelikedchildren,and,tiny,raggedurchinswouldgatherroundtohaveridesontheman'skneesormockfightswithLiza.
TheythoughtthemselvesfarawayfromanyoneinVereStreet,buttwice,astheywerewalkingalong,theyweremetbypeopletheyknew.OnceitwastwoworkmencominghomefromajobatVauxhall:LizadidnotseethemtilltheywerequitenearsheimmediatelydroppedJim'sarm,andtheybothcasttheireyestothegroundasthemenpassed,likeostriches,expectingthatiftheydidnotlooktheywouldnotbeseen.
'D'yousee'em,Jim?'askedLiza,inawhisper,whentheyhadgoneby.'Iwonderiftheyseeus.'Almostinstinctivelysheturnedround,andatthesamemomentoneofthementurnedtoothentherewasnodoubtaboutit.
'Thetdidgivemeaturn,'shesaid.
'Soitdidme,'answeredJim'Isimplywent'otallover.'
'Wewasballyfools,'saidLiza'weoughter'avespokento'em!D'youthinkthey'llletaht?'
Theyheardnothingofit,whenJimafterwardsmetoneofthemeninapublic-househedidnotmentionameeting,andtheythoughtthatperhapstheyhadnotbeenrecognized.Butthesecondtimewasworse.
ItwasontheAlbertEmbankmentagain.Theyweremetbyapartyoffour,allofwhomlivedinthestreet.Liza'sheartsankwithinher,fortherewas