'I'm not shirty; but it was pretty cool, considerin' like as I didn't know yer.' 'Well, you run into my arms.' 'Thet I didn't; you run aht and caught me.' 'An' kissed yer before you could say "Jack Robinson".' He laughed at the thought. 'Well, Liza,' he went on, 'seein' as 'ow I kissed yer against yer will, the best thing you can do ter make it up is to kiss me not against yer will.' 'Me?' said Liza, looking at him, open-mouthed. 'Well you are a pill!' The children began to clamour for the riding, which had been discontinued on Liza's approach. 'Are them your kids?' she asked. 'Yus; them's two on 'em.' ''Ow many 'ave yer got?' 'Five; the eldest gal's fifteen, and the next one 'oo's a boy's twelve, and then there are these two and baby.' 'Well, you've got enough for your money.' 'Too many for me--and more comin'.' 'Ah well,' said Liza, laughing, 'thet's your fault, ain't it?' Then she bade him good morning, and strolled off. 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. 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.