',an'there'snomistikin'it.Idon'tcarewototherpeoplesy,butwotIsaysis,there'snothin'likemarriage.Neveracrosswordpasseshislips,an'mother'asall'ermealswithusan''esaysallthebetter.WellI'mthet'appyIsimplydunnoifI'mstandin'onmy'eadoronmy'eels.'
Butalas!itdidnotlasttoolong.SallywasnotsofullofjoywhennextLizamether,andonedayhereyeslookedverymuchasifshehadbeencrying.
'Wot'sthematter?'askedLiza,lookingather.'Wot'aveyerbeenblubberin'abaht?'
'Me?'saidSally,gettingveryred.'Oh,I'vegotabitofatoothache,an'—well,I'mratherafoollike,an'it'urtsomuchthatIcouldn't'elpcryin'.'
Lizawasnotsatisfied,butcouldgetnothingfurtheroutofher.Thenonedayitcameout.ItwasaSaturdaynight,thetimewhenwomeninVereStreetweep.LizawentupintoSally'sroomforafewminutesonherwaytotheWestminsterBridgeRoad,whereshewastomeetJim.Harryhadtakenthetopbackroom,andLiza,climbingupthesecondflightofstairs,calledoutasusual.
'Wotho,Sally!'
Thedoorremainedshut,althoughLizacouldseethattherewasalightintheroombutongettingtothedoorshestoodstill,forsheheardthesoundofsobbing.Shelistenedforaminuteandthenknocked:therewasalittleflurryinside,andsomeonecalledout:
''Oo'sthere?'
'Onlyme,'saidLiza,openingthedoor.AsshedidsoshesawSallyrapidlywipehereyesandputherhandkerchiefaway.Hermotherwassittingbyherside,evidentlycomfortingher.
'Wot'sup,Sal?'askedLiza.
'Nothin','answeredSally,withabravelittlegasptostopthecrying,turningherfacedownwardssothatLizashouldnotseethetearsinhereyesbuttheyweretoostrongforher,and,quicklytakingoutherhandkerchief,shehidherfaceinitandbegantosobbroken-heartedly.Lizalookedatthemotherininterrogation.
'Oh,it'sthetmanagain!'saidthelady,snortingandtossingherhead.
'Not'Arry?'askedLiza,insurprise.
'Not'Arry—'ooisitifitain't'Arry?Thevillin!'
'Wot's'ebeendoin',then?'askedLizaagain.
'Beatin''er,that'swot'e'sbeendoin'!Oh,thevillin,'eoughterbeashimedof'isself'eought!'
'Id