It s a shame!he murmured, standing a moment at a loose end. Then, glancing down the street to see he was alone, he put his arm round her waist and said in a difficult voice: How goes it?
She let him keep her for a moment, then he kissed her as if afraid of what he was doing. They were both uncomfortable.
Well?a!he said at length.
Good night!she said, setting him free to go .
He hung a moment near her, as if ashamed. Then Good night,he answered, and he broke away. She listened to his footsteps in the night, before composing herself to turn indoors.
Hello!said her father, glancing over his paper as she entered the dining-room. What s up, then?
Oh, nothing,she replied, in her calm tones. Will won t be here to dinner to-night.
What, gone to the fair?
No.
Oh! What s got him then?
Lois looked at her father, and answered:
He s gone down to the factory. They are afraid of the hands.
Her father looked at her closely.
Oh, aye!he answered, undecided, and they sat down to dinner.
Ⅲ
Lois retired very early. She had a fire in her bedroom. She drew the curtains and stood holding aside a heavy fold, looking out at the night. She could see only the nothingness of the fog; not even the glare of the fair was evident, though the noise clamoured small in the distance. In front of everything she could see her own faint image. She crossed to the dressing-table, and there leaned her face to the mirror, and looked at herself. She looked a long time, then she rose, changed her dress for a dressing-jacket, and took up Sesame and Lilies.
Late in the night she was roused from sleep by a bustle in the house. She sat up and heard a hurrying to and fro and the sound of anxious voices. She put on her dressing-gown and went out to her mother s room. Seeing her mother at the head of the stairs, she said in her quick clean voice:
Mother, what is it?
Oh, child, don t ask me! Go to bed, dear, do! I shall surely be worried out of my life.
Mother, what is it?Lois was sharp and emphatic.
I hope your father won t go. Now I do hope your father won t go. He s got a cold as it is.
Mother, tell me what it is?Lois took her mother s arm.
It s Selby s. I should have thought you would have heard the fire-engine, and Jack isn t in yet. I hope we re safe!Lois returned to her bedroom and dressed. She coiled her plaited hair, and having put on a cloak, left the house.
She hurried along under the fog-dripping trees towards the meaner part of the town. When she got near, she saw a glare in the fog, and closed her lips tight. She hastened on till she was in the crowd. With peaked, noble face she watched the fire. Then she looked a little wildly over the fire-reddened faces in the crowd, and catching sight of her father, hurried to him.
Oh, Dadda?ais he safe? Is Will safe?a?
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