'thesmellofitgivesmethesick.I'llnevertouchspiritsagain.'
'Ah,thet'swotweallsayssometimeinourlives,butwedoes,an'wot'smorewecan'tdowithahtit.Why,me,the'ardlifeI've'ad—'ItisunnecessarytorepeatMrs.Kemp'srepetitions.
Lizadidnotgetupallday.Tomcametoinquireafterher,andwastoldshewasveryill.Lizaplaintivelyaskedwhetheranyoneelsehadbeen,andsighedalittlewhenhermotheransweredno.Butshefelttooilltothinkmuchortroublemuchaboutanything.Thefevercameagainasthedayworeon,andthepainsinherheadgrewworse.Hermothercametobed,andquicklywentofftosleep,leavingLizatobearheragonyalone.Shebegantohavefrightfulpainsalloverher,andsheheldherbreathtopreventherselffromcryingoutandwakinghermother.Sheclutchedthesheetsinheragony,andatlast,aboutsixo'clockinthemorning,shecouldbearitnolonger,andintheanguishoflabourscreamedout,andwokehermother.
Mrs.Kempwasfrightenedoutofherwits.Goingupstairsshewokethewomanwholivedontheflooraboveher.Withouthesitating,thegoodladyputonaskirtandcamedown.
'She's'adamiss,'shesaid,afterlookingatLiza.'Isthereanyoneyoucouldsendtothe'orspital?'
'Na,Idunno'ooIcouldgetatthishour?'
'Well,I'llgitmyoldmantergo.'
Shecalledherhusband,andsenthimoff.Shewasastout,middle-agedwoman,rough-visagedandstrong-armed.HernamewasMrs.Hodges.
'It'sluckyyoucameterme,'shesaid,whenshehadsettleddown.'Igoahtnursin',yerknow,soIknowallabahtit.'
'Well,yousurpriseme,'saidMrs.Kemp.'Ididn'tknowasLizawasthetway.Shenevertoldmenothin'abahtit.'
'D'yerknow'ooitis'asdoneit?'
'Nowyouaskmesomethin'Idon'tknow,'repliedMrs.Kemp.'ButnowIcometerthinkofit,itmustbethetthereTom.'E'sbeenkeepin'companywithLiza.'E'sasingleman,sothey'llbeabletergetmarried—thet'ssomethin'.'
'Itain'tTom,'feeblysaidLiza.
'Not'im'ooisit,then?'
Lizadidnotanswer.
'Eh?'repeatedthemother,''ooisit?'
Lizalaystillwithoutspeaking.
'Nevermind,Mrs.Kemp,'saidMrs.Hodges,'don'tworry'ernowyou'llbeabl