"Now, Mr. Ollerenshaw!" the captain called out; and his tone implied,
gently: "Don't you think you've kept me waiting long enough? Women are
women; but a bowling-match is a bowling-match."

James turned his back on the captain, moved off, and then--how can one
explain it? He realised that in the last six words of Helen's speech
there had been a note, a hint, a mere nothing, of softness, of regret
for pain caused. He realised, further, the great universal natural law
that under any circumstances--no matter what they may be--when any
man--no matter who he may be--differs from any pretty and well-dressed
woman--no matter who she may be--he is in the wrong. He saw that it was
useless for serious, logical, high-minded persons to inveigh against the
absurdity of this law, and to call it bad names. The law of gravity is
absurd and indefensible when you fall downstairs; but you obey it.

He returned to Helen, who bravely met his eyes. "I'm off home," he said,
hoarsely. "It's my tea-time."

"Good-afternoon," she replied, with amiability.

"Happen you'll come along with me, like?"

The use of that word "like" at the end of an interrogative sentence, in
the Five Towns, is a subject upon which a book ought to be written; but
not this history. The essential point to observe is that Helen got up
from the bench and said, with adorable sweetness:

"Why, I shall be charmed to come!"