Liza of Lambeth. Уильям Сомерсет Моэм

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.

      '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.