Liza of Lambeth

w for many years, and since her husband's death had lived with Liza in the ground-floor front room in which they were now sitting. Her husband had been a soldier, and from a grateful co

e her own living by

rather sulky

' this afternoon,

in the

in the street w

w yer wanted me, mot

ter see! I might 'ave bee

aid no

r do with myself. The doctor said I was to be rubbed with th

za, 'your rheumatics wa

ste of money thet is, instead of givin' it me ter sive up. An' for the matter of

mp, having nothing more to say,

za who sp

moved in the street. 'Ave

ot are

big chap with a beard. I think

rself blush

I can't swaller these new people as are comin' i

up, and having finished her half-p

; she's just 'ad twins, and she 'ad nine before these come. It's a

mp went out of the house and tur

s growing dark, bringing to view the twinkling stars; there was no breeze, but it was pleasantly and restfully cool. The good folk still sat at their doorsteps, talking as before on the same inexhaustible su

; she was glad to rest. Somehow she felt a little tired, perhaps it was through the excitement of the afternoon, and she enjoyed the quietness of the evening. It seemed so tranquil and still; the silence filled her with a strange delight, she felt

d in front of the open wind

quite dark, and she did not recogn

,' was th

om

us

ppear almost boyish; he was light-complexioned and blue-eyed, and had a frank and pleas

up?' as

r a walk, Li

answered d

ed ter yest

's two different thing

ome on,

ell yer,

was resting on the window-sill, and he p

t want yer te

it was she who

as 'as come into the street? It

loke as kissed ye

lushed

e kiss me?' she said,

shouldn't; I only arst

et's 'oo

I've only spoke to 'im once; he's to

ant two top

in't yer seen 'is wife abaht the street? She

know 'e 'a

a sat thinking, and Tom stood

t with me, Liza?'

, a little more gen

blushing to the r

el

d stuttered in his shyness-'

rn

ve now, and took

llin's at the works now, an' I've got some fu

l said

sband, Liza, swop me bob, I will; an' yer know I

she answe

won't you

om, I

e aht walkin' with m

s is diffe

ith anybody else, are you

not t

Liza, I do love yer, I've nev

can't

in't no

N

why

but I don't love yer

, L

gony in his voice; and, moved with sudden pity, she bent out,

' she said. 'I'm not

ammed the window to, and moved i