sheoftenfanciedtheyweretalkingofherwhenshepassedbytheyappearedtolookather,thensaysomethingorother,andperhapsburstoutlaughingbutwhensheapproachedtheywouldimmediatelystopspeaking,andkeepsilenceinaratherawkward,constrainedmanner.Foralongtimeshewasunwillingtobelievethattherewasanychangeinthem,andJimwhohadobservednothing,persuadedherthatitwasallfancy.Butgraduallyitbecameclearer,andJimhadtoagreewithherthatsomehoworotherpeoplehadfoundout.OncewhenLizahadbeentalkingtoPolly,Jim'sdaughter,Mrs.Blakestonhadcalledher,andwhenthegirlhadcometohermotherLizasawthatshespokeangrily,andtheybothlookedacrossather.WhenLizacaughtMrs.Blakeston'seyeshesawinherfaceasurlyscowl,whichalmostfrightenedhershewantedtobraveitout,andsteppedforwardalittletogoandspeakwiththewoman,butMrs.Blakeston,standingstill,lookedsoangrilyatherthatshewasafraidto.WhenshetoldJimhisfacegrewdark,andhesaid:'Blastthewoman!I'llgive'erwotforifshesaysanythin'teryou.'
'Don'tstrike'er,wotever'appens,willyer,Jim?'saidLiza.
'She'dbettertikecarethen!'heanswered,andhetoldherthatlatelyhiswifehadbeensulking,andnotspeakingtohim.Thepreviousnight,oncominghomeaftertheday'sworkandbiddingher'Goodevenin','shehadturnedherbackonhimwithoutanswering.
'Can'tyouanswerwhenyou'respoketo?'hehadsaid.
'Goodevenin','shehadrepliedsulkily,withherbackstillturned.
AfterthatLizanoticedthatPollyavoidedher.
'Wot'sup,Polly?'shesaidtoheroneday.'Youneverspeaksnow'aveyou'adyertonguecutaht?'
'Me?Iain'tgotnothin'terspeakabaht,thetIknowsof,'answeredPolly,abruptlywalkingoff.Lizagrewveryredandquicklylookedtoseeifanyonehadnoticedtheincident.Acoupleofyouths,sittingonthepavement,hadseenit,andshesawthemnudgeoneanotherandwink.
Thenthefellowsaboutthestreetbegantochaffher.