AfewdaysafterwardsLizawastalkingwithSally,whodidnotseemverymuchhappierthanwhenLizahadlastseenher.
''Eain'twotIthought'ewos,'shesaid.'Idon'tmindsayin'thetbut'e'asalotterputupwithIexpectI'mrathertryin'sometimes,an''emeanswell.P'raps'e'llbekinderlikewhenthebiby'sborn.'
'Cheerup,oldgal,'answeredLiza,whohadseensomethingofthelivesofmanymarriedcouples'itwon'tseemsobadafteryergetsusedtoitit'sabitdisappointin'atfust,butyergitsnottermindit.'
AfteralittleSallysaidshemustgoandseeaboutherhusband'stea.Shesaidgood-bye,andthenratherawkwardly:
'Say,Liza,tikecareofyerself!'
'Tikecareofmeself—why?'askedLiza,insurprise.
'YerknowwotImean.'
'Na,I'mdarnedifIdo.'
'ThetthereMrs.Blakeston,she'slookin'ahtforyou.'
'Mrs.Blakeston!'Lizawasstartled.
'Yusshesaysshe'sgoin'tergiveyousomethin'ifshecangit'oldonyer.Ishouldadviseyertertikecare.'
'Me?'saidLiza.
Sallylookedaway,soasnottoseetheother'sface.
'Shesaysas'owyer'vebeenmessin'abahtwith'eroldman.'
Lizadidn'tsayanything,andSally,repeatinghergood-bye,slidoff.
Lizafeltachillrunthroughher.ShehadseveraltimesnoticedascowlandalookofangeronMrs.Blakeston'sface,andshehadavoidedherasmuchaspossiblebutshehadnoideathatthewomanmeanttodoanythingtoher.Shewasveryfrightened,acoldsweatbrokeoutoverherface.IfMrs.Blakestongotholdofhershewouldbehelpless,shewassosmallandweak,whiletheotherwasstrongandmuscular.Lizawonderedwhatshewoulddoifshedidcatchher.
ThatnightshetoldJim,andtriedtomakeajokeofit.
'Isay,Jim,yourmissus—shesaysshe'sgoin'tergivemesocksifshecatchesme.'
'Mymissus!'Owd'yerknow?'
'She'sbeentellin'peopleinthestreet.'
'Go'lumme,'saidJim,furious,'ifshedarestertoucha'airofyour'ead,swopmedickyI'llgive'ersicha'idin'asshenever'adbefore!ByGod,givemethechanst,an'Iwouldlet'er'aveitI'mbloomin'wellsickof'ersulks!'Heclenchedhisfistashespoke.
Lizawasacoward.Shecouldnothelpthinkingofherenemy'sthreatitgotonhernerves,andshehardlydaredgooutforfearofmeetinghershewouldlooknervouslyinfrontofher,quicklyturningroundifshesawinthedistanceanyoneresemblingMrs.Blakeston.Shedreamedofheratnightshesawthebig,powerfulform,theheavy,frowningface,andthecuriouslybraidedbrownhairandshewouldwakeupwithacryandfindherselfbathedinsweat.
ItwastheSaturdayafternoonfollowingthis,achillNovemberday,withtheroadssloshy,andagrey,comfortlessskythatmadeone'sspiritssink.Itwasaboutthreeo'clock,andLizawascominghomefromworkshegotintoVereStreet,andwaswalkingquicklytowardsherhousewhenshesawMrs.Blakestoncomingtowardsher.Herheartgaveagreatjump.Turning,shewalkedrapidlyinthedirectionshehadcomewithascrewroundofhereyesshesawthatshewasbeingfollowed,andthereforewentstraightoutofVereStreet.Shewentrightround,meaningtogetintothestreetfromthe