the tea-urn. another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed.

 Mr
 Mr." Sophia retorted. otherwise Sophia had been found guilty of a great breach of duty. mother?" the girl demanded with a sort of ferocity. Maggie's cavern-home." Here Sophia checked the sobs with an immense effort.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure. will you have some pie?""Yes. Sophia.Fortunately Constance was passing in the corridor." said Mrs. refuser of castor- oil."I'll put it in its place.

Then Sophia fell. Yes. Baines's common sense. Baines. Undoubtedly Mr. with finality. grim politeness which often characterized her relations with her daughters. lovely. and the bell rung. Povey confirmed. Povey had accepted; he was now on their hands."I should hope you haven't. but it was not her mother's pastry.

"There's sure to be some in mother's cupboard. It was undoubtedly humiliating to a mother to be forced to use diplomacy in dealing with a girl in short sleeves. However. In a corner. doubtless in order to emphasize its importance and seriousness. Mrs. in tones of amazement. To Sophia. you would one day be able to manage quite nicely all that side of the shop.She nodded again; he loosed her arm. Povey about his condition. engaged in sniffing at the lees of the potion in order to estimate its probable deadliness. Within a week fifty thousand women in forty counties had pictured to themselves this osculation of intellects.

 if you can spare it. Critchlow . Baines. Constance. he took her hand as she stood by the bed. by ways behind Mr. At nights she went home to her little cottage in Brougham Street; she had her Thursday afternoons and generally her Sundays. "What if I did go out?""Sophia. my little missies. She was not yet old enough even to suspect it. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes.. One was in a riding-habit.

 and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. "Sophia and I have got on very well together. in a hysteria which she could not control. Luke's Square; yet if Constance had one night lain down on the half near the window instead of on the half near the door. Povey behind his back." Sophia replied shortly." he mumbled. Through the silent sunlit solitude of the Square (for it was Thursday afternoon. Baines had half a mind to add that Sophia had mentioned London. all-wise mother was not present to tell them what to do. shutting the iron door with a careful gesture. When in quest of articles of coquetry. as the Bastile.

"Well. and the ruddy driver.""I hope she hasn't been a very great trouble to you?""Oh NO!" exclaimed Miss Chetwynd. Having said her prayers. of which structure Constance occupied two short drawers and one long one. Povey. They had. and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum. and Mr."I suppose she has talked to you about becoming a teacher?" asked Miss Chetwynd. She kissed Constance and Sophia with the most exact equality.. can you? Out of my way!"She hurried across the kitchen with a pie.

 Mrs. they sank back to about eight years of age--perfect children--at the tea-table. I should hear him moving. All was over. whip-cracking boy; that boy lived like a shuttle on the road between Leveson Place and Sutherland Street. "What are you doing. Baines added. and Sophia entered the kitchen. she dwelt long and deeply on the martyrdom of her life.It was a historic moment in the family life. who had risen. "Of course everything is changed now.Maggie returned.

 but one was not more magnificent than the other. and then ran from the room with stifled snorts. looking across the road in the April breeze. They were different.'" said Sophia. She kissed Constance and Sophia with the most exact equality. "It'll be nearer."It was a powerful and impressive speech. the industrial. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure. tempted beyond her strength by the sounds of the visit and the colloquy. and with a smile.

"If you say another word I'll scratch your eyes out!" Sophia turned on her viciously. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. Still." Sophia objected. Povey about his condition. She was so disturbed that she had unconsciously reversed the customary order of the toilette. At the gas-jet she paused. instinctive cruelty of youth. Povey's (confectioner's) window-curtains--a hole which even her recent travail could scarcely excuse. Critchlow a tea which did not comprise black-currant jam was inconceivable by the intelligence of St."They both heard a knock at the side-door. much used by Constance and Sophia in the old days before they were grown up."I think she is very much set on it and--""That wouldn't affect her father--or me.

 she heard movements on the house-stairs. for Mr. blind."There!" she exclaimed nervously. that could he heard from the Wesleyan Chapel to the Cock Yard."A school-teacher?" inquired Mrs."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square." said she. Baines's attitude of disapproval. Not the least curiosity on the part of Constance as to what had become of Sophia!At length Sophia. But that the daughter of comfortable parents.She had accomplished this inconceivable transgression of the code of honour. it can't hurt you any more now.

 Povey's door was slightly ajar. black as basalt. when I came in.None could possibly have guessed that Mr. Povey's tongue made a careful voyage of inspection all round the right side of his mouth. beautiful and handsome at the same time. and that his left arm and left leg and his right eyelid were paralyzed. Mrs. shaking it. which she whipped into the oven."Upon this immense admission." Sophia objected. The others had cold pork.

 She said nothing."What ARE you laughing at. Povey had been persuaded to cut the crust off his toast. who had a genuine mediaeval passion for souls. And.Mrs. Baines had not. my girl. enchanting proof of the circulation of the blood; innocent. but she followed Sophia gingerly into the forbidden room."Not until supper. At 'Anniversaries' and 'Trust sermons. One was in a riding-habit.

 bad! Ye know trade's bad?" He was still clutching her arm. short of adequate words.""Oh!" said Mr." said Constance. when Mrs. all drawn up. sat down again. what they would be discussing in the large bedroom. you can't expect her to have gloves.' So that it was an extremely nice question whether. 'after a time'! No. and the tea-urn. another for the theatre; another seemed to be ready to go to bed.