ul.'
Lizastayedalittlewhilelonger,helpingtocomfortSally,whokeptpatheticallytakingtoherselfalltheblameofthedisputeandthen,biddinghergoodnightandbetterluck,sheslidofftomeetJim.
Whenshereachedtheappointedspothewasnottobefound.Shewaitedforsometime,andatlastsawhimcomeoutoftheneighbouringpub.
'Goodnight,Jim,'shesaidasshecameuptohim.
'Soyou'veturnedup,'aveyer?'heansweredroughly,turninground.
'Wot'sthematter,Jim?'sheaskedinafrightenedway,forhehadneverspokentoherinthatmanner.
'Nicethingterkeepmewitin'allnightforyertocomeaht.'
Shesawthathehadbeendrinking,andansweredhumbly.
'I'mverysorry,Jim,butIwentintoSally,an''erbloke'adbeenknockin''erabaht,an'soIsatwith'erabit.'
'Knockin''erabaht,'ad'e?andserve'erdamnwellrighttooan'there'smanymoreascoulddowithagood'idin'!'
Lizadidnotanswer.Helookedather,andthensuddenlysaid:
'Comeinan''aveadrink.'
'Na,I'mnotthirstyIdon'twantadrink,'sheanswered.
'Comeon,'hesaidangrily.
'Na,Jim,you'vehadquiteenoughalready.'
''Ooareyoutalkin'ter?'hesaid.'Don'tcomeifyerdon'twantterI'llgoan''aveonebymyself.'
'Na,Jim,don't.'Shecaughtholdofhisarm.
'Yus,Ishall,'hesaid,goingtowardsthepub,whilesheheldhimback.'Letmego,can'tyer!Letmego!'Heroughlypulledhisarmawayfromher.Asshetriedtocatchholdofitagain,hepushedherback,andinthelittlescufflecaughtherablowovertheface.
'Oh!'shecried,'youdid'urt!'
Hewassoberedatonce.
'Liza,'hesaid.'Iain't'urtyer?'Shedidn'tanswer,andhetookherinhisarms.'Liza,Iain't'urtyou,'aveI?SayIain't'urtyer.I'msosorry,Ibegyourpardon,Liza.'
'Arright,oldchap,'shesaid,smilingcharminglyonhim.'Itwasn'ttheblowthat'urtmemuchitwasthewyyouwastalkin'.'
'Ididn'tmeanit,Liza.'Hewassocontrite,hecouldnothumblehimselfenough.'I'adanotherbloomin'rowwiththemissuster-night,an'thenwhenIdidn'tfindyou'ere,an'Ikeptwitin'an'witin'—well,Ifairdownrightlostmy'air.An'I'adtwoorthreepintsoffour'alf,