He watched her as she went, and saw half a dozen little boys surround her and beg her to join them in their game of cricket. They caught hold of her arms and skirts, and pulled her to their pitch.
'No, I can't,' she said trying to disengage herself. 'I've got the dinner ter cook.'
'Dinner ter cook?' shouted one small boy. 'Why, they always cooks the cats' meat at the shop.'
'You little so-and-so!' said Liza, somewhat inelegantly, making a dash at him.
He dodged her and gave a whoop; then turning he caught her round the legs, and another boy catching hold of her round the neck they dragged her down, and all three struggled on the ground, rolling over and over; the other boys threw themselves on the top, so that there was a great heap of legs and arms and heads waving and bobbing up and down.
Liza extricated herself with some difficulty, and taking off her hat she began cuffing the boys with it, using all the time the most lively expressions. Then, having cleared the field, she retired victorious into her own house and began cooking the dinner.
第二天是星期日。丽莎早晨起来穿衣服的时候，想到一样东西不可能“吃下肚里，还在手里”，深深懊悔自己不该把新衣裳穿了出去，从此再没有第一次穿着它去出风头的可能了。
她叹息一声，穿上家常的工作衣服，着手准备早餐，因为她母亲昨夜去给街上新搬来的人家贺喜，回来睡晚了，今天早晨她的“风湿”又发了。
“唷，我的头呀！”她双手按住两边的额角，正在叫苦。“我又神经痛发作了；怎么办呀？不知怎么搞的，总是在星期天早上发病。哦，还有我的风湿，一夜里简直要我命！”
“你还是去医院看一看吧，妈妈。”
“我才不去呢！”这位可敬的太太斩钉截铁地说，“你有一群小伙子跟你混在一起，看着你，叫你不要喝啤酒，不要喝白酒。而我呢，我说呀，我说我没有我这杯啤酒就活不下去。”她猛力拍打枕头，加强她的语气。
“我有那么些事情要做，既要照顾你，烧饭弄菜，把样样都弄舒齐，做不完的家务，还要出去打杂——所以我说呀，要不是靠一点啤酒支撑着，我早埋在地里了。”
她啃着黄油面包，喝她的茶。
“丽莎，”她说，“你吃好了早饭，把门窗的格栅揩揩干净，再把我的皮鞋稍微擦一下。隔壁泰克太太会给你些鞋油的。”
她沉默了一会儿，接着又说——
“我看今天我起不来了，丽莎。我风湿发作。你把房间收拾收拾，把饭烧好了。”
“好，妈妈；你就什么都不要动，都由我来。”
“好吧，这也是你应该做的，你要想想你小时候添了我多少麻烦，想想我生你的时候，医生总以为我绝对没命了。丽莎，你这个星期的工钱怎么样了？”
“哦，我放起来了．”丽莎轻声回答。
“放在哪儿！”她母亲问。
“放在安全的地方！”
丽莎被迫逼得走投无路。
“你要知道它干吗？”她问。
“为什么我不该知道，难道你以为我要偷你的吗？”
“不，不是那个。”
“那么，你干吗不告诉我？”
“哦，东西放在哪里，只有一个人知道，比较安全。”
她这句话说得很谨慎，不料引起肯普太太大发雷霆：她竖起身子，坐在床上向她女儿挥舞着拳头。
“我懂你的意思——你这——你！”她的语言很有力，形容词也用得绘声绘色，只是太生动有力，未便转述。“你以为我会偷你的，”她继续说。“我知道你！你以为我会拿你的肮脏钱吗？”
“不过，妈，”丽莎说，“以前我告诉了你，钱就好象走气了。’’
“你这是什么意思？”
“钱少了。”
“呀，这我可没有办法，我能怎么样？任何人都可能跑进这屋里来拿了去的。’’
“要是藏得好好的，他们就拿不到了，是不是，妈妈？”丽莎说。
肯普太太挥着拳头说一
“你这下贱的臭货，你，你以为我会拿你的钱！我为了养活你，把骨头都磨断了，你应该把每个星期的工钱交给我，不应该积起来，尽去买乱七八糟的东西。”
“你要知道，妈妈，假如我不积一点起来，到你倒霉的时候，我们就尴尬了。”
肯普太太的钱总是到星期二就用完了，于是到星期六为止这个家就得由丽莎维持。
“哦，别跟我说！”肯普太太继续说。“我是年轻姑娘的时候，我把钱都交给我妈。她从来没有向我要过。每逢星期六我拿了工钱，一分一厘都给她。做女儿的应该这样嘛。我可以自己说一句，我对我母亲尽了做女儿的本分。别用浪子回头这一套来教训我！我的妈从来不必开口向我要三个铜板去买口啤酒喝的。”
丽莎是她这一辈里一个聪明的姑娘；她一声不响，戴上了帽子。
“哼，你准备出去，把我丢下；我不知道你跟这些男人在街上搞些什么名堂。没有好处，我可以肯定。你把我一个人丢在这里，孤单单的，我死，你也不管。”
老太太伤心得哭泣起来，而丽莎一溜烟从屋子里到了街上。
对面房子的墙脚跟前，汤姆靠在那儿；他向她走来。
“嗨！”她看见了他，招呼他。“你在这儿作啥？”
“我在等你出来，丽莎，”他回答。
她向他瞥了一眼。
“你要是那个意思，那我说我今天不跟你出去，”她说。
“我没再想要求你跟我出去，丽莎——既然你昨天夜里对我说了那些话。”
他的声音有些发颤，她很为他难过。
“不过，你总有什么话要对我说，是不是，汤姆？”她说，口气比刚才温和。
“你不是明天有一天休假吗？”
“公假日注。是啊！怎么样？”
“嗯，因为他们有辆四轮大马车，从红狮酒店出发，明天到庆福注去一天——我准备去。”
“是吗！”她说。
他用疑惑的眼光凝视着她。
“你也去吗，丽莎？是个普通的郊游聚餐会，去的都是这里街上的人。怎么样，丽莎？”
“不，我不能去。”
“为什么不能去？”
“我没有——我没有钱。”
“我是想问，你跟我去，好吗？”
“不，汤姆，谢谢你；这我也不行。”
“你完全可以去嘛，丽莎，对你不会有什么不好。”
“不，这不大好，我不能跟你去了却又对你没有意思！这变成我骗你白白请我出去玩一次啦。”
“我不懂为什么，’’他垂头丧气地说。
“昨天夜里我跟你说了那些之后，我不能再跟你在一起。”
“没有你一起去，我还有什么味儿，丽莎。”
“你可以另外找个别人，汤姆。你完全可以不一定要我。”
她对他点了点头，朝街上她的女伴萨莉家走去了。到了门前，她把双手做了个喇叭形状，大声叫道——
“嗨！嗨！嗨！萨莉！”
两个站在旁边的男人学着她叫。
“嗨！嗨！嗨！萨莉！”
“去！”丽莎说，回头看看他们。
萨莉没应，她继续叫喊，这两个男人模仿她，另外五、六个跟了上来，于是声音响得足以唤醒沉睡的七隐士注。
“嗨！嗨！嗨！萨莉！”
一个头从上面顶层的窗口探出来，丽莎脱下帽子，挥着向她招呼，大声叫喊一
“下来，萨莉！”
“好，老朋友！”对方也叫。“我就来了！”
“圣诞节也就来了，”丽莎给她个机智的回复。
楼梯上一阵啪嗒啪嗒的声音，萨莉直奔下来，投入丽莎的怀抱。她们回想起最近一起看的一出传奇剧，学着开起玩笑来。
“哦，我的心肝宝贝！”丽莎一边说，一边亲吻她，装出欣喜若狂的样子，把她紧紧抱住。
“我最亲爱的亲爱的！”萨莉也装腔作势，这样对答。
“小姐今天好？”
“噢！”——嗲声嗲气，有气无力地——“好极；公主您好？”
“非常遗憾，”丽莎回答，“可是我这个公主肚子里尽在咕噜噜叫。”
萨莉是个瘦小的姑娘，灰黄的头发，蓝色的眼睛，满脸雀斑。她的嘴特别大，稀开的阔板牙齿，仿佛铁棒也能嚼，样子很难看。她穿得跟丽莎差不多，一条稍短的黑裙子，一件已经旧得说不出是绿、是灰、还是黄的老式紧身上衣，袖子卷到了臂肘弯，外面罩着一条原来是白的、现在脏得一塌糊涂的围裙。
“你的头发卷着这些东西干吗？”丽莎指着萨莉头上的卷发纸，问道。“今天你要跟男朋友出去吗？”
“不，我今天整天不出去。”
“那你为什么卷头发？”
“是这样，明天哈利要带我到庆福去。”
“噢？乘红狮酒店的四轮大马车去吗？”
“是啊。你去吗？”
“不去！”
“不去！咦，你为什么不叫汤姆带你去？他会带你去，他也正高兴哩。”
“他叫我跟他去，可我不去。”
“天晓得——为什么不跟他去呢？’’
“我不跟他做朋友了。”
“可你还是可以跟他一起去嘛。”
“不。你跟哈利一起去吗？”
“对！”
“你准备要他吗？”
“又说对了！”
“可我不能跟汤姆一起去了之后又把他丢了。"
“啊呀！你真是个傻瓜！”
两个姑娘朝着威斯敏斯特桥大道踱过去，萨莉碰到了她的男朋友，向他走去了。
丽莎回头走，要赶回家做饭。但是她走不快，因为她认识小街上的每一个居民，一路上碰到象昨天黄昏时候一样坐在门口的那一堆堆人，——这会儿大多数在削土豆或者剥豆壳——她总站停下来，跟她们攀谈几句。人人都喜欢她，喜欢跟她在一起。
“好姑娘丽莎，”她们在她走过去后说，“她真是个难得的好姑娘呀！”
她询问所有老年人的病痛，亲切关怀刚出生的和还没出生的婴儿们的情况；孩子们绕在她裙脚跟前，要她跟他们一起玩；破破烂烂的女小孩儿们跳绳，跳不上两、三下就绊住了，她常握着绳子的一端，帮她们挥绳。
她快到家门口的时候，听见有人在招呼一
“早上好！”
她回头一看，原来就是汤姆告诉她名字的吉姆•布莱克斯顿。他坐在一所房子门口的一张凳子上，有两个很小的孩子骑在他膝盖上玩。
她从昨天起脑海里一直浮现着他那浓密的棕色胡子和一个高大的形象。今天早晨她看清了，他确实是个大个子，又高又阔，此外她还看到，他有粗犷的男性的面貌，棕色的眼睛神采奕奕。
她猜他大概四十岁左右。
“早上好！”她停下来瞧着他的时候，他重复招呼了一声。
丽莎脸涨得通红，慌张得回不出话。
“怎么，你不用害怕得好象我会吃掉你，你放心，我不会的”，他说。
“你算什么？我不怕你。”
“那你为什么脸涨得那么红呢？”他一针见血地问。
“嗯，我热嘛。”
“昨天夜里我吻了你，你不恼火吗？”
“我不恼火；不过我和你素不相识，你真是岂有此理。’’
“咦，是你冲进我怀里来的。”
“我没有，是你冲出来把我抓住的。”
“而且我趁你惊慌失措，吻了你。”他想到这情景，哈哈大笑。
“好吧，丽莎，”他接着说，“既然我勉强了你，吻了你，那么你最好的补救办法就是不勉强自己地吻还我。”
“我吻你？”丽莎说，张开着嘴盯着他。“哼，你这个坏蛋！”
两个孩子又吵着要在膝盖上骑马，刚才因为丽莎来了，才停下来的。
“他们是你的孩子吗？”她问。
“是的，他们是其中两个。”
“你一共有几个？”
“五个；最大的是女的，十五岁，下面一个是男的．f．：岁，再下面就是这两个和一个刚生下的娃娃。”
“哦，这么些孩子开支够大的了。”
“已经多得我受不了一一可是还要生出来呢。’’
“唷，这是你的不是，对吗？”丽莎说着笑了起来。
然后她对他道了早安，漫步走去了。
他瞧着她慢慢走去，看她被五六个小孩子围着，要她和他们一起打板球。他们抓住她的手臂和裙子，把她拖到他们球门口。
“不，我不能玩．”她说，一边拚命挣脱。“我要去烧饭。”
“去烧饭？”一个很小的孩子嚷道。“哦，饭馆里总是烧猫肉的。”
“你这个小东西！”丽莎说，不太文雅地向他冲上去。
他避得快，对着她呐喊挑战；一个转身，他把她两条腿抱住了，另一个孩子上去攀住她的脖子，他们把她拖倒在地上，三个人在地上扭成一团，滚来滚去；其余几个孩子又扑到他们上面，于是只见一大堆的腿：臂膀、头在乱挥乱动，有如波涛起伏，浪花飞溅。
丽莎好容易挣脱了出来，脱下帽子，挥击他们，嘴里尽说着最生动的骂人的语言。终于她击退了他们，胜利归家，开始做饭。
Chapter 4
Bank Holiday was a beautiful day: the cloudless sky threatened a stifling heat for noontide, but early in the morning, when Liza got out of bed and threw open the window, it was fresh and cool. She dressed herself, wondering how she should spend her day; she thought of Sally going off to Chingford with her lover, and of herself remaining alone in the dull street with half the people away. She almost wished it were an ordinary work-day, and that there were no such things as bank holidays. And it seemed to be a little like two Sundays running, but with the second rather worse than the first. Her mother was still sleeping, and she was in no great hurry about getting the breakfast, but stood quietly looking out of the window at the house opposite.
In a little while she saw Sally coming along. She was arrayed in purple and fine linen--a very smart red dress, trimmed with velveteen, and a tremendous hat covered with feathers. She had reaped the benefit of keeping her hair in curl-papers since Saturday, and her sandy fringe stretched from ear to ear. She was in enormous spirits.
''Ulloa, Liza!' she called as soon as she saw her at the window.
Liza looked at her a little enviously.
''Ulloa!' she answered quietly.
'I'm just goin' to the "Red Lion" to meet 'Arry.'
'At what time d'yer start?'
'The brake leaves at 'alf-past eight sharp.'
'Why, it's only eight; it's only just struck at the church. 'Arry won't be there yet, will he?'
'Oh, 'e's sure ter be early. I couldn't wite. I've been witin' abaht since 'alf-past six. I've been up since five this morning.'
'Since five! What 'ave you been doin'?'
'Dressin' myself and doin' my 'air. I woke up so early. I've been dreamin' all the night abaht it. I simply couldn't sleep.'
'Well, you are a caution!' said Liza.
'Bust it, I don't go on the spree every day! Oh, I do 'ope I shall enjoy myself.'
'Why, you simply dunno where you are!' said Liza, a little crossly.
'Don't you wish you was comin', Liza?' asked Sally.
'Na! I could if I liked, but I don't want ter.'
'You are a coughdrop--thet's all I can say. Ketch me refusin' when I 'ave the chanst.'
'Well, it's done now. I ain't got the chanst any more.' Liza said this with just a little regret in her voice.
'Come on dahn to the "Red Lion", Liza, and see us off,' said Sally.
'No, I'm damned if I do!' answered Liza, with some warmth.
'You might as well. P'raps 'Arry won't be there, an' you can keep me company till 'e comes. An' you can see the 'orses.'
Liza was really very anxious to see the brake and the horses and the people going; but she hesitated a little longer. Sally asked her once again. Then she said:
'Arright; I'll come with yer, and wite till the bloomin' old thing starts.'
She did not trouble to put on a hat, but just walked out as she was, and accompanied Sally to the public-house which was getting up the expedition.
Although there was still nearly half an hour to wait, the brake was drawn up before the main entrance; it was large and long, with seats arranged crosswise, so that four people could sit on each; and it was drawn by two powerful horses, whose harness the coachman was now examining. Sally was not the first on the scene, for already half a dozen people had taken their places, but Harry had not yet arrived. The two girls stood by the public-door, looking at the preparations. Huge baskets full of food were brought out and stowed away; cases of beer were hoisted up and put in every possible place--under the seats, under the driver's legs, and even beneath the brake. As more people came up, Sally began to get excited about Harry's non-appearance.
'I say, I wish 'e'd come!' she said. ''E is lite.'
Then she looked up and down the Westminster Bridge Road to see if he was in view.
'Suppose 'e don't turn up! I will give it 'im when 'e comes for keepin' me witin' like this.'
'Why, there's a quarter of an hour yet,' said Liza, who saw nothing at all to get excited about.
At last Sally saw her lover, and rushed off to meet him. Liza was left alone, rather disconsolate at all this bustle and preparation. She was not sorry that she had refused Tom's invitation, but she did wish that she had conscientiously been able to accept it. Sally and her friend came up; attired in his Sunday best, he was a fit match for his lady-love--he wore a shirt and collar, unusual luxuries--and be carried under his arm a concertina to make things merry on the way.
'Ain't you goin', Liza?' he asked in surprise at seeing her without a hat and with her apron on.
'Na,' said Sally, 'ain't she a soft? Tom said 'e'd tike 'er, an' she wouldn't.'
'Well, I'm dashed!'
Then they climbed the ladder and took their seats, so that Liza was left alone again. More people had come along, and the brake was nearly full. Liza knew them all, but they were too busy taking their places to talk to her. At last Tom came. He saw her standing there and went up to her.
'Won't yer change yer mind, Liza, an' come along with us?'
'Na, Tom, I told yer I wouldn't--it's not right like.' She felt she must repeat that to herself often.
'I shan't enjoy it a bit without you,' he said.
'Well, I can't 'elp it!' she answered, somewhat sullenly.
At that moment a man came out of the public-house with a horn in his hand; her heart gave a great jump, for if there was anything she adored it was to drive along to the tootling of a horn. She really felt it was very hard lines that she must stay at home when all these people were going to have such a fine time; and they were all so merry, and she could picture to herself so well the delights of the drive and the picnic. She felt very much inclined to cry. But she mustn't go, and she wouldn't go: she repeated that to herself twice as the trumpeter gave a preliminary tootle.
Two more people hurried along, and when they came near Liza saw that they were Jim Blakeston and a woman whom she supposed to be his wife.
'Are you comin', Liza?' Jim said to her.
'No,' she answered. 'I didn't know you was goin'.'
'I wish you was comin',' he replied, 'we shall 'ave a game.'
She could only just keep back the sobs; she so wished she were going. It did seem hard that she must remain behind; and all because she wasn't going to marry Tom. After all, she didn't see why that should prevent her; there really was no need to refuse for that. She began to think she had acted foolishly: it didn't do anyone any good that she refused to go out with Tom, and no one thought it anything specially fine that she should renounce her pleasure. Sally merely thought her a fool.
Tom was standing by her side, silent, and looking disappointed and rather unhappy. Jim said to her, in a low voice:
'I am sorry you're not comin'!'
It was too much. She did want to go so badly, and she really couldn't resist any longer. If Tom would only ask her once more, and if she could only change her mind reasonably and decently, she would accept; but he stood silent, and she had to speak herself. It was very undignified.
'Yer know, Tom.' she said, 'I don't want ter spoil your day.'
'Well, I don't think I shall go alone; it 'ud be so precious slow.'
Supposing he didn't ask her again! What should she do? She looked up at the clock on the front of the pub, and noticed that it only wanted five minutes to the half-hour. How terrible it would be if the brake started and he didn't ask her! Her heart beat violently against her chest, and in her agitation she fumbled with the corner of her apron.
'Well, what can I do, Tom dear?'
'Why, come with me, of course. Oh. Liza, do say yes.'
She had got the offer again, and it only wanted a little seemly hesitation, and the thing was done.
'I should like ter, Tom,' she said. 'But d'you think it 'ud be arright?'
'Yus, of course it would. Come on, Liza!' In his eagerness he clasped her hand.
'Well,' she remarked, looking down, 'if it'd spoil your 'oliday--.'
'I won't go if you don't--swop me bob, I won't!' he answered.
