Liza of Lambeth

ould be at the church, where the Westminster Bridge Road bends down to get to the river, and they would go off, arm-in-arm, till they came to some place where

h the old-fashioned prejudice of her class, would look after the rider and make some remark about her, not seldom more forcible than ladyli

it was two workmen coming home from a job at Vauxhall: Liza did not see them till they were quite near; she immediately dropped Jim's arm,

wonder if they see us.' Almost instinctively she turned round, and at th

ve me a turn

wered Jim; 'I simpl

; 'we oughter 'ave spoken to 'e

a public-house he did not mention a meeting, and they thought that

iza's heart sank within her, for there was no chance of escape; she thought of turning quickly and walking

s they met she said

e! Where are

d one of them asked

are you

an' so I says ter myself, "I'll go an' see 'er."' She faltered a little as she be

t this 'ere cove, an' 'e says to me, "Wot cheer," says 'e, "I'm goin' ter Vaux'all,

and another said

the dignity of o

het?' she said; 'd'y

nly just come up from

hink I want ter kid for? Liars n

Liza, don'

h ter me. Come on,' she said to Jim, who had be

we shan't be long!'

rs glittered in thousands all above them. But as the nights grew cooler, they found it cold on the grass, and the time they had there seemed too short for the long journey they had to make; so, crossing the bridge as before, they strolled along the Embankment till they came to a vacant bench, and there they would sit, with Liza nestling close up to her lover and his great arms around her. The rain of September made no difference to them; they went as usual to their seat beneath the trees, and Jim would take Liza on his knee, and, opening his coat, shelter her with it, while she, with her arms round his neck, pressed very close to him, and occasionally gave a little laugh of pleasure and delight. They hardly spoke at all through these evenings, for what had they to say to one another

e would say, 'if we cou

wer, herself half crying, 'it can't be

d manner. For a long time she was unwilling to believe that there was any change in them, and Jim who had observed nothing, persuaded her that it was all fancy. But gradually it became clearer, and Jim had to agree with her that somehow or other people had found out. Once when Liza had been talking to Polly, Jim's daughter, Mrs. Blakeston had called her, and when the girl had come to her mother Liza saw that she spoke angrily, a

otever 'appens, will

en sulking, and not speaking to him. The previous night, on coming home after the day's

when you're spok

d replied sulkily, wit

noticed that P

r one day. 'You never speaks now;

off. Liza grew very red and quickly looked to see if anyone had noticed the incident. A coupl

about the street

said one of a gro

n' yerself, you a

ee with Liza, thet's wo

at? I ain't married, an' neve

sures of a 'usband an'

now wot yer me

t; you don't know

be. Our Father wh

in London lo

stood in front of them, bewilde

stake abaht it, Liza

e care your missus ain't round the corner.' Th

d fiddled about with her apron,

ouble, thet's all,' said one of

t with me one evenin'. You oughter give us all

re all barmy on the crumpet,' said Liza indignant

traint of a collar; these two walked arm-in-arm, and were followed by Sally's mother and uncle, also arm-in-arm, and the procession was brought up by Harry's brother and a friend. They started with a flourish of trumpets and an old boot, and walked down the middle of Vere Street, accompanied by the neighbours' good wishes; but as they got into the Westminster Bridge Road and near

vous, 'Arry?' a

used to getting married every day

other, lifting her mug; 'this is the last

od a wife as you was,

aint ter mike abaht me. I did my duty by 'im, alt

it's abaht time to go in. So 'ere's to the 'e

s 'em!' said

d had a calming effect on their troubled minds, and both Harry and Sally began to think it rather a good joke. They smiled on each other, and at those parts of the service

, 'e's gone

ully pocketed the certificate, they went out an

h they had taken in the same house as Sally had lived in before, and dran