anythin'termikeitupteryou.'
Sheputherarmsroundhisneckandslidontohisknees.
'Yerknow,Tom,Icouldn'tmarryyernowbutanythin'else—ifyerwantsmeterdoanythin'else,I'lldoitifit'llmikeyou'appy.'
Hedidnotunderstand,butonlysaid:
'You'reagoodgal,Liza,'andbendingdownhekissedhergravelyontheforehead.
Thenwithasighheliftedherdown,andgettingupleftheralone.Forawhileshesatwherehelefther,butasshethoughtofallshehadgonethroughherlonelinessandmiseryovercameher,thetearswelledforth,andthrowingherselfonthebedsheburiedherfaceinthepillows.
JimstoodlookingatLizaasshewentoffwithTom,andhiswifewatchedhimjealously.
'It's'eryou'rethinkin'abaht.Ofcourseyou'd'avelikedtertike'er'omeyerself,Iknow,an'leavemetoshiftformyself.'
'Shutup!'saidJim,angrilyturninguponher.
'Ishan'tshutup,'sheanswered,raisinghervoice.'Nice'usbindyouare.Go'lumme,asgoodastheymike'em!Nicethingtergoan'leaveyerwifeandchildrenforathinglikethet!Atyourage,too!Yououghterbeashimedofyerself.Why,it'slikemessin'abahtwithyourowndaughter!'
'ByGod!'—hegroundhisteethwithrage—'ifyerdon'tleavemealone,I'llkickthelifeahtofyer!'
'There!'shesaid,turningtothecrowd—'there,see'ow'etreatsme!Listenterthat!I'vebeen'iswifefortwentyyears,an'yercouldn't'ave'adabetterwife,an'I'vebore'imninechildren,yetsaynothin'ofamiscarriage,an'I'vegotanothercomin',an'thet's'ow'etreatsme!Nice'usbind,ain'tit?'Shelookedathimscornfully,thenagainatthesurroundersasiffortheiropinion.
'Well,Iain'tgoin'terstay'ereallnightgetahtofthelight!'Hepushedasidethepeoplewhobarredhisway,andtheoneortwowhogrowledalittleathisroughness,lookingathisangryface,wereafraidtocomplain.
'Lookat'im!'saidhiswife.''E'safraid,'eis.See'imslinkin'awylikeabloomin'mongrelwith'istailbetween'islegs.Ugh!'Shewalkedjustbehindhim,shoutingandbrandishingherarms.
'Yerdirtybeast,you,'sheyelled,'tergofoolin'abahtwithalittlegirl!Ugh!Iwishyerwasn'tmy'usbindIwouldn'tbeseendrownedwithyer,ifIcould'elpit.Yermikemesickterlookatyer.'
Thecrowdfollowedthemonbothsidesoftheroad,keepingatadiscreetdistance,butstilleagerlylistening.
Jimturnedonheronceortwiceandsaid:
'Shutup!'
Butitonlymadehermoreangry.'ItellyerIshan'tshutup.Idon'tcare'ooknowsit,you'rea——,youare!I'mashimedthechildrenshould'avesuchafatherasyou.D'yerthinkIdidn'tknowwotyouwasupterthemnightsyouwasawy—courtin',yus,courtin'?You'reaniceman,youare!'
Jimdidnotanswerher,butwalkedon.Atlastheturnedroundtothepeoplewhowerefollowingandsaid:
'Nathen,wotd'youwant'ere?Youjollywellclear,orI'llgivesomeofyousomethin'!'
Theyweremostlyboysandwomen,andathiswordstheyshrankback.
''E'safraidtersyanythin'terme,'jeeredMrs.Blakeston.''E'sabeauty!'
Jimenteredhishouse,andshefollowedhimtilltheycameupintotheirroom.Po