'Well, if I come, it won't mean that I'm keepin' company with you.'
'Na, it won't mean anythin' you don't like.'
'Arright!' she said.
'You'll come?' he could hardly believe her.
'Yus!' she answered, smiling all over her face.
'You're a good sort, Liza! I say, 'Arry, Liza's comin'!' he shouted.
'Liza? 'Oorray!' shouted Harry.
''S'at right, Liza?' called Sally.
And Liza feeling quite joyful and light of heart called back:
'Yus!'
''Oorray!' shouted Sally in answer.
'Thet's right, Liza,' called Jim; and he smiled pleasantly as she looked at him.
'There's just room for you two 'ere,' said Harry, pointing to the vacant places by his side.
'Arright!' said Tom.
'I must jest go an' get a 'at an' tell mother,' said Liza.
'There's just three minutes. Be quick!' answered Tom, and as she scampered off as hard as she could go, he shouted to the coachman: ''Old 'ard; there' another passenger comin' in a minute.'
'Arright, old cock,' answered the coachman: 'no 'urry!'
Liza rushed into the room, and called to her mother, who was still asleep:
'Mother! mother! I'm going to Chingford!'
Then tearing off her old dress she slipped into her gorgeous violet one; she kicked off her old ragged shoes and put on her new boots. She brushed her hair down and rapidly gave her fringe a twirl and a twist--it was luckily still moderately in curl from the previous Saturday--and putting on her black hat with all the feathers, she rushed along the street, and scrambling up the brake steps fell panting on Tom's lap.
The coachman cracked his whip, the trumpeter tootled his horn, and with a cry and a cheer from the occupants, the brake clattered down the road.
那天公假日天气晴朗，万里无云，恐怕中午将热得要命，但是清早丽莎起床，打开窗子的时候，非常凉爽。她穿好衣服，不知她这一天将怎么过。她想萨莉将跟她情人一起去庆福，而她自己将孤零零留在这条一半人都跑掉了的死气沉沉的小街上。她几乎宁愿今天照常是工作日，而没有什么公假日不公假日。现在有点象是连着过两个星期天，可这第二天不象第一天好过。
她的母亲还睡着，她不用赶忙准备早饭，只是默默地望着窗外对面的房屋。
一会儿她看见萨莉到街上来了。她穿着紫颜色的麻纱衬衫，一件棉绒镶边的漂亮红色上衣，头上戴着一顶插满羽毛的阔边大帽子。她从星期六以来一直把头发卷在卷发纸里，大有好处，鬈曲的灰黄色前刘海遮着整个脑门子。她兴致勃勃。
“嗨！丽莎！’’她一看见她在窗口上就叫喊。
丽莎妒羡地瞧着她。
“嗳！”她轻声地应她。
“我正要到红狮酒店去碰头哈利。”
“你们什么时候出发？”
“马车整八点半上路。”
“现在还只八点呢；教堂刚敲钟。哈利还不会到那里吧？”
“哦，他肯定早到。我等不及，我从六点半就在这附近等着啦。我今天早晨五点钟就起来了。”
“五点钟就起来！你一直在做些什么？”
“打扮打扮，做做头发。我老早就醒了，我整夜尽是做着去玩儿的梦，我简直没法睡。”
“嗯，你真奇怪。”
“有什么奇怪的，我又不是每天有得出去痛痛快快地玩儿的！噢，我真希望今天快活一场。”
“嗳，你简直头脑发昏了，”丽莎有些不乐意地说。
“你不想去吗，丽莎？”萨莉问。
“不去！我要去可以去，可是我不要去。”
“你是个怪人——我只能这样说。我有机会去，才决不放过呢。”
“现在没办法了。机会已经失掉了。”丽莎说这话的时候，口气里略有遗憾的意思。
“到红狮酒店去，丽莎，送送我们，”萨莉说。
“不，我才不去呢！’’丽莎有些激动地说。
“去吧。也许哈利还没来，你可以陪我一会儿，等到他来嘛。
你还可以看看那些马。”
丽莎实在很想去看看那辆四轮大马车和那些马，还有那些出游的人，然而她又迟疑了一会儿。萨莉重又叫她。于是她说一
“好吧，我跟你去，等着看那缺德的车子开掉。”
她帽子也不高兴戴，就这样往外走，陪着萨莉到安排这次旅游的小酒店去。
虽然还要等待将近半个小时，但是那辆四轮大马车已经停好在酒店大门口；车身又大又长，一排排座位是横排的，可以坐四个人。车子是由两匹高头大马拖的，马车夫正在检查马具可都套好。
萨莉并不是第一个到场的人，原来已经有六七个人坐好位子了，而哈利却还没有到。
两个姑娘站在酒店门口，看他们在做着各种准备。一只只装满了食物的大篮子正在搬出来装上车子，一箱箱啤酒掮得高高的，尽往能塞的空档里塞——座位底下，马车夫的大腿底下，甚至车肚底下。
人越来越多，哈利还没到，萨莉焦急起来。
“他早该来了！”她说。“他迟到了。”
于是她向威斯敏斯特桥大道两头张望，看能不能望见他。
“他不来了吗！他叫我等了这么长时间，他来了，我可要好好教训他。”
“怎么，还有一刻钟哩，”丽莎说，认为根本不用焦急。
终于萨莉看到她的情人了，她冲着迎上前去。丽莎被丢下剩一个人，在这喧闹和纷乱中倍感愁闷。她并不是懊悔拒绝了汤姆的邀请，而她是想假如她能够心安理得地接受他的邀请该多好啊！
萨莉和她的男朋友走到她跟前。他穿着他最漂亮的节日服装，他和他的心上人真是天生一对——他穿着装领衬衫，好不寻常——他在夹肢窝里抱着一只手风琴，准备在一路上热闹热闹的。
“你不去吗，丽莎？”他看见她头上没戴帽子，身上穿着围裙，诧异地问她。
“她不去，”萨莉说，“哪有这样的傻子？汤姆说带她去，她不要。”
“是呀！我就是不去！”
接着他们爬上马车的踏板，坐好位子。原来已经又有好多人来了，一辆四轮大马车几乎挤满了。这些人丽莎全认识，可是他们都忙于找位子，没空跟她说话。
最后，汤姆来了。他看见丽莎站在那里，走到她跟前。
“丽莎，你不改变主意，同我们一起去吗？”
“不，汤姆，我对你说了，我不去——那样不大好。”她觉得她应该常对自己重复这句话。
“你不一起去，我一点没味儿，”他说。
“可是我没有办法！”她回答，多少有点抑郁地。
正在这时候，小酒店里走出一个人来，手拿喇叭。她的心怦的一跳，因为她最喜欢的就是乘着马车在嘟嘟的喇叭声中行进。
她看到这些人都将那么快活地出去玩儿，而她得呆在家里，心里实在非常难过。他们都是那么兴高采烈的，她可以想象这次马车旅行和野餐的欢乐景象。她真要哭出来。
但是她一定不能去，她不好去：喇叭吹起预备号的时候，她重又把这话对自己重复了两遍。
又有两个人在急匆匆地赶来。到他们走近来的时候，丽莎看到他们是吉姆•布莱克斯顿和一个女人，她猜想大概是他的老婆。
“你也去吗，丽莎？”吉姆问她。
“不，”她回答。“我不知道你也去。”
“我希望你一起去．”他说；“我们还有比赛游戏呢？”
她只能强自抑制在喉咙口的呜咽；她是多么热切地但愿能去呵。
她非得留下，这确实似乎太使她伤心，而这就只因为她不准备嫁给汤姆。她想想毕竟这没有理由阻止她去；没有必要因此而拒绝他的邀请。她开始觉得自己做了蠢事：她坚决不跟汤姆一起去，这对任何人没有任何好处；她硬是屏弃她应有的欢乐，这又没有人会认为是什么特别的美德。萨莉只认为她是傻瓜而已。
汤姆站在旁边，缄默着，一副失望和很沮丧的样子。吉姆低声对她说——
“你不去，我真遗憾！”
这话对她反应太大了。她本来就是那么想要去，这回她实在无法抵制这诱惑了。只要汤姆再请她一次，只要她能合于情理而体面地改变一下主意，她就接受了；可是他站着一声不响。她只好自己开口。这确实有失尊严。
“你知道，汤姆，”她说，“我不愿意煞你节日的风景。’’
“唉，我不想一个人去，去了也没趣。”
假如这会儿他再请一请她呢！她会怎么样？
她抬头看看小酒店前面的钟，八点半还差五分。要是车子开了，而他还不请她，那该多糟糕！她的心在胸口猛烈地跳跃．她紧张得尽扭弄她的围裙角。
“那么，我该怎么办呢，亲爱的汤姆？’’
“那么，当然跟我一起去啰。哦，丽莎，说声‘好’吧。”
她终于得到了再次的邀请，这一下只需要稍微表示一点好象犹豫的样子，事情就解决了。
“我愿意去，汤姆．”她说，“不过，你看这会有什么不好吗？”
“当然不会有什么不好。一起去吧，丽莎！’’他心情激动，一把握住了她的手。“好，”她说，沉下了头，“要是那会煞了你节日的风景——”“你不去的话，我也不去——杀我头也不去！”他回答说。“不过，如果我去，并不表示我跟你作伴。”“不，这不会表示任何你所不喜欢的什么。”“好！”她说。“那你去了吧？’’他不大相信她的应允。“去！”她满面笑容地回答。“你真是个好姑娘，丽莎！喂，哈利，丽莎也去了！”他喊道。“丽莎？好——！”哈利叫起来。“是真的吗，丽莎？”萨莉大声问。丽莎感到非常欢欣愉快，也叫了起来——“是啊！”“好哇！”萨莉嚷着应答。“那才对了，丽莎，”吉姆说；他瞧着她，笑吟吟地。“这儿正好你们两个坐，”哈利指着他旁边的空档。“好！”汤姆说。“我还得去拿顶帽子，再告诉声妈妈，’’丽莎说。“只有三分钟啦。快啊！’’汤姆回答，一面在丽莎拼命奔去的时候，他大声对马车夫说，“老朋友，还有一个乘客，_会儿就来。”
“好，小伙子，”马车夫说；“不用急！”
丽莎冲进屋子，对她还睡着的母亲说——
“妈妈！妈妈！我到庆福去！”
她随即把身上的旧衣服拉掉，倏地穿上她那件漂亮的紫罗兰颜色的新衣裳；她踢掉破烂的旧鞋子，穿上了她的新皮鞋。她把头发往下撂了撂，把前刘海匆匆拨弄一下——幸亏前天星期六卷好的还成样子——戴上她那插满羽毛的黑帽子，直往街上奔，跌跌撞撞爬上马车的踏板，喘着气倒在汤姆身上。
马车夫挥响皮鞭子，喇叭手嘟嘟地吹起喇叭，在车上的一片叫嚷和欢呼声中，这辆四轮大马车喀啦喀啦地顺着大道驶去了。
Chapter 5
As soon as Liza had recovered herself she started examining the people on the brake; and first of all she took stock of the woman whom Jim Blakeston had with him.
'This is my missus!' said Jim, pointing to her with his thumb.
'You ain't been dahn in the street much, 'ave yer?' said Liza, by way of making the acquaintance.
'Na,' answered Mrs. Blakeston, 'my youngster's been dahn with the measles, an' I've 'ad my work cut out lookin' after 'im.'
'Oh, an' is 'e all right now?'
'Yus, 'e's gettin' on fine, an' Jim wanted ter go ter Chingford ter-day, an' 'e says ter me, well, 'e says, "You come along ter Chingford, too; it'll do you good." An' 'e says, "You can leave Polly"--she's my eldest, yer know--"you can leave Polly," says 'e, "ter look after the kids." So I says, "Well, I don't mind if I do," says I.'
Meanwhile Liza was looking at her. First she noticed her dress: she wore a black cloak and a funny, old-fashioned black bonnet; then examining the woman herself, she saw a middle-sized, stout person anywhere between thirty and forty years old. She had a large, fat face with a big mouth, and her hair was curiously done, parted in the middle and plastered down on each side of the head in little plaits. One could see that she was a woman of great strength, notwithstanding evident traces of hard work and much child-bearing.
Liza knew all the other passengers, and now that everyone was settled down and had got over the excitement of departure, they had time to greet one another. They were delighted to have Liza among them, for where she was there was no dullness. Her attention was first of all taken up by a young coster who had arrayed himself in the traditional costume--grey suit, tight trousers, and shiny buttons in profusion.
'Wot cheer, Bill!' she cried to him.
'Wot cheer, Liza!' he answered.
'You are got up dossy, you'll knock 'em.'
'Na then, Liza Kemp,' said his companion, turning round with mock indignation, 'you let my Johnny alone. If you come gettin' round 'im I'll give you wot for.'
'Arright, Clary Sharp, I don't want 'im,' answered Liza. 'I've got one of my own, an' thet's a good 'andful--ain't it, Tom?'
Tom was delighted, and, unable to find a repartee, in his pleasure gave Liza a great nudge with his elbow.
''Oo, I say,' said Liza, putting her hand to her side. 'Tike care of my ribs; you'll brike 'em.'
'Them's not yer ribs,' shouted a candid friend--'them's yer whale-bones yer afraid of breakin'.'
'Garn!'
''Ave yer got whale-bones?' said Tom, with affected simplicity, putting his arm round her waist to feel.
'Na, then,' she said, 'keep off the grass!'
'Well, I only wanted ter know if you'd got any.'
'Garn; yer don't git round me like thet.'
He still kept as he was.
'Na then,' she repeated, 'tike yer 'and away. If yer touch me there you'll 'ave ter marry me.'
'Thet's just wot I wants ter do, Liza!'
'Shut it!' she answered cruelly, and drew his arm away from her waist.
The horses scampered on, and the man behind blew his horn with vigour.
'Don't bust yerself, guv'nor!' said one of the passengers to him when he made a particularly discordant sound. They drove along eastwards, and as the hour grew later the streets became more filled and the traffic greater. At last they got on the road to Chingford, and caught up numbers of other vehicles going in the same direction--donkey-shays, pony-carts, tradesmen's carts, dog-carts, drags, brakes, every conceivable kind of wheel thing, all filled with people, the wretched donkey dragging along four solid rate-payers to the pair of stout horses easily managing a couple of score. They exchanged cheers and greetings as they passed, the 'Red Lion' brake being noticeable above all for its uproariousness. As the day wore on the sun became hotter, and the road seemed more dusty and threw up a greater heat.
'I am getting 'ot!' was the common cry, and everyone began to puff and sweat.
The ladies removed their cloaks and capes, and the men, following their example, took off their coats and sat in their shirt-sleeves. Whereupon ensued much banter of a not particularly edifying kind respecting the garments which each person would like to remove--which showed that the innuendo of French farce is not so unknown to the upright, honest Englishman as might be supposed.
At last came in sight the half-way house, where the horses were to have a rest and a sponge down. They had been talking of it for the last quarter of a mile, and when at length it was observed on the top of a hill a cheer broke out, and some thirsty wag began to sing 'Rule Britannia', whilst others burst forth with a different national ditty, 'Beer, Glorious Beer!' They drew up before the pub entrance, and all climbed down as quickly as they could. The bar was besieged, and potmen and barmaids were quickly busy drawing beer and handing it over to the eager folk outside.
THE IDYLL OF CORYDON AND PHYLLIS.
Gallantry ordered that the faithful swain and the amorous shepherdess should drink out of one and the same pot.
''Urry up an' 'ave your whack,' said Corydon, politely handing the foaming bowl for his fair one to drink from.
Phyllis, without replying, raised it to her lips and drank deep. The swain watched anxiously.
''Ere, give us a chanst!' he said, as the pot was raised higher and higher and its contents appeared to be getting less and less.
At this the amorous shepherdess stopped and handed the pot to her lover.
'Well, I'm dashed!' said Corydon, looking into it; and added: 'I guess you know a thing or two.' Then with courtly grace putting his own lips to the place where had been those of his beloved, finished the pint.
'Go' lumme!' remarked the shepherdess, smacking her lips, 'that was somethin' like!' And she put out her tongue and licked her lips, and then breathed deeply.
The faithful swain having finished, gave a long sigh, and said:
'Well, I could do with some more!'
'For the matter of thet, I could do with a gargle!'
Thus encouraged, the gallant returned to the bar, and soon brought out a second pint.
'You 'ave fust pop,' amorously remarked Phyllis, and he took a long drink and handed the pot to her.
She, with maiden modesty, turned it so as to have a different part to drink from; but he remarked as he saw her:
'You are bloomin' particular.'
Then, unwilling to grieve him, she turned it back again and applied her ruby lips to the place where his had been.
'Now we shan't be long!' she remarked, as she handed him back the pot.
The faithful swain took out of his pocket a short clay pipe, blew through it, filled it, and began to smoke, while Phyllis sighed at the thought of the cool liquid gliding down her throat, and with the pleasing recollection gently stroked her stomach. Then Corydon spat, and immediately his love said:
'I can spit farther than thet.'
'I bet yer yer can't.'
She tried, and did. He collected himself and spat again, further than before, she followed him, and in this idyllic contest they remained till the tootling horn warned them to take their places.
* * * * *
At last they reached Chingford, and here the horses were taken out and the drag, on which they were to lunch, drawn up in a sheltered spot. They were all rather hungry, but as it was not yet feeding-time, they scattered to have drinks meanwhile. Liza and Tom, with Sally and her young man, went off together to the nearest public-house, and as they drank beer, Harry, who was a great sportsman, gave them a graphic account of a prize-fight he had seen on the previous Saturday evening, which had been rendered specially memorable by one man being so hurt that he had died from the effects. It had evidently been a very fine affair, and Harry said that several swells from the West End had been present, and he related their ludicrous efforts to get in without being seen by anyone, and their terror when someone to frighten them called out 'Copper!' Then Tom and he entered into a discussion on the subject of boxing, in which Tom, being a shy and undogmatic sort of person, was entirely worsted. After this they strolled back to the brake, and found things being prepared for luncheon; the hampers were brought out and emptied, and the bottles of beer in great profusion made many a thirsty mouth thirstier.
'Come along, lidies an' gentlemen--if you are gentlemen,' shouted the coachman; 'the animals is now goin' ter be fed!'
'Garn awy,' answered somebody, 'we're not hanimals; we don't drink water.'
'You're too clever,' remarked the coachman; 'I can see you've just come from the board school.'
