'I think I'm in the family wy.'
He paused a moment; then spoke again.
'Well--I don't mind, if yer'll only marry me.'
'Na, I can't, Tom,' she said, bursting into tears; 'I can't, but you
are so good ter me; I'd do anythin' ter mike it up ter you.'
She put her arms round his neck and slid on to his knees.
'Yer know, Tom, I couldn't marry yer now; but anythin' else--if yer
wants me ter do anythin' else, I'll do it if it'll mike you 'appy.'
He did not understand, but only said:
'You're a good gal, Liza,' and bending down he kissed her gravely on
the forehead.
Then with a sigh he lifted her down, and getting up left her alone.
For a while she sat where he left her, but as she thought of all she
had gone through her loneliness and misery overcame her, the tears
welled forth, and throwing herself on the bed she buried her face in
the pillows.
* * * * *
Jim stood looking at Liza as she went off with Tom, and his wife
watched him jealously.
'It's 'er you're thinkin' abaht. Of course you'd 'ave liked ter tike
'er 'ome yerself, I know, an' leave me to shift for myself.'
'Shut up!' said Jim, angrily turning upon her.
'I shan't shut up,' she answered, raising her voice. 'Nice 'usbind you
are. Go' lumme, as good as they mike 'em! Nice thing ter go an' leave
yer wife and children for a thing like thet! At your age, too! You
oughter be ashimed of yerself. Why, it's like messin' abaht with your
own daughter!'
'By God!'--he ground his teeth with rage--'if yer don't leave me
alone, I'll kick the life aht of yer!'
'There!' she said, turning to the crowd--'there, see 'ow 'e treats me!
Listen ter that! I've been 'is wife for twenty years, an' yer couldn't
'ave 'ad a better wife, an' I've bore 'im nine children, yet say
nothin' of a miscarriage, an' I've got another comin', an' thet's 'ow
'e treats me! Nice 'usbind, ain't it?' She looked at him scornfully,
then again at the surrounders as if for their opinion.
'Well, I ain't goin' ter stay 'ere all night; get aht of the light!'
He pushed aside the people who barred his way, and the one or two who
growled a little at his roughness, looking at his angry face, were
afraid to complain.
'Look at 'im!' said his wife. ''E's afraid, 'e is. See 'im slinkin'
awy like a bloomin' mongrel with 'is tail between 'is legs. Ugh!' She
walked just behind him, shouting and brandishing her arms.
'Yer dirty beast, you,' she yelled, 'ter go foolin' abaht with a
little girl! Ugh! I wish yer wasn't my 'usbind; I wouldn't be seen
drowned with yer, if I could 'elp it. Yer mike me sick ter look at
yer.'
The crowd followed them on both sides of the road, keeping at a
discreet distance, but still eagerly listening.
Jim turned on her once or twice and said:
'Shut up!'
But it only made her more angry. 'I tell yer I shan't shut up. I don't
care 'oo knows it, you're a ----, you are! I'm ashimed the children
should 'ave such a father as you. D'yer think I didn't know wot you
was up ter them nights you was awy--courtin', yus, courtin'? You're a
nice man, you are!'
Jim did not answer her, but walked on. At last he turned round to the
people who were following and said:
'Na then, wot d'you want 'ere? You jolly well clear, or I'll give some
of you somethin'!'
They were mostly boys and women, and at his words they shrank back.
''E's afraid ter sy anythin' ter me,' jeered Mrs. Blakeston. ''E's a
beauty!'
Jim entered his house, and she followed him till they came up into
their room. Polly was giving the children their tea. They all started
up as they saw their mother with her hair and clothes in disorder,
blotches of dried blood on her face, and the long scratch-marks.
'Oh, mother,' said Polly, 'wot is the matter?'
''E's the matter.' she answered, pointing to her husband. 'It's
through 'im I've got all this. Look at yer father, children; e's a
father to be proud of, leavin' yer ter starve an' spendin' 'is week's
money on a dirty little strumper.'
Jim felt easier now he had not got so many strange eyes on him.
'Now, look 'ere,' he said, 'I'm not goin' ter stand this much longer,
so just you tike care.'
'I ain't frightened of yer. I know yer'd like ter kill me, but yer'll
get strung up if you do.'
'Na, I won't kill yer, but if I 'ave any more of your sauce I'll do
the next thing to it.'
'Touch me if yer dare,' she said, 'I'll 'ave the law on you. An' I
shouldn't mind 'ow many month's 'ard you got.'
'Be quiet!' he said, and, closing his hand, gave her a heavy blow in
the chest that made her stagger.
'Oh, you ----!' she screamed.
She seized the poker, and in a fury of rage rushed at him.
'Would yer?' he said, catching hold of it and wrenching it from her
grasp. He threw it to the end of the room and grappled with her. For a
moment they swayed about from side to side, then with an effort he
lifted her off her feet and threw her to the ground; but she caught
hold of him and he came down on the top of her. She screamed as her
head thumped down on the floor, and the children, who were standing
huddled up in a corner, terrified, screamed too.
Jim caught hold of his wife's head and began beating it against the
floor.