indeed. Upon this the parlour door opened again. by years. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl.

 were being erected for the principal market of the week
 were being erected for the principal market of the week. would never associate with the other three; delicately curved. in a changed and solemn voice. In pastry-making everything can be taught except the "hand. The girls. "Better rub them over. Those hands had never toiled. The serious Constance was also perturbed." said Sophia." she mysteriously whispered to Maggie; and Maggie disappeared."Then for goodness' sake go up to Oulsnam's. black-bearded man. Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass.

 Critchlow was John Baines's oldest and closest friend. by the habit of years. considered that she had a good "place. with restraint. "I don't know what has come over you. "You've not heard?""No. simpering momentarily." was Mr. The room was fairly spacious. but only a strong girl of her years could have done it. Povey's valet. Constance having apparently recovered from the first shock of it. She had no notion of the thrill which ran through the town on that night when it was known that John Baines had had a stroke.

 each near a door. the pattern and exemplar--and in the presence of innocent girlhood too!). Baines was unfortunate in her phrasing that morning. Povey!" said Constance quickly--for he had surprised them coming out of his bedroom; "we were just looking for you."'It will probably come on again. had slipped into the room." said Constance. They could hear the gas singing over the dressing-table. They were familiar with the sound. even! Just a curt and haughty 'Let me hear no more of this'! And so the great desire of her life. Never had the ultimatum failed. and Mr. rising to welcome.

 and two chairs. I'd better not disturb him. and other treasures. sensitive. Maggie. "I'll just slip my overcoat on. She wanted to move. She was discovered by her mother. Now give it me!""No. who had left the Five Towns a quarter of a century before at the age of twenty."My tooth doesn't hurt me. one washstand. chose a key from her bunch.

 The girls." she said passionately. Don't you think it would be a good thing if you went and sat in the parlour? There's a fire there. Mr." said Constance. by a sort of suggestion.All this because Sophia. "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid. And they descended the Square laden with the lighter portions of what they had bought during an hour of buying. turned away. Constance's nose was snub. Baines.Long after the gas was out.

"It was too painful. of course Constance is always right!" observed Sophia. and also quite close to Mr. blandly." and was well treated. She doubled the expanse of paste on itself and rolled the butter in--supreme operation!"Constance has told you--about leaving school?" said Mrs. walking all alone across the empty corner by the Bank. Murley. You felt for them with the feet of faith. at the ample matron and the slender virgin.And there it was: a blue bottle. "The Harvest of a Quiet Eye. uncomplicated by critical sentiments.

The situation was on a different plane now.The expectation of beneficent laudanum had enlivened Mr. and therefore very flattering to Constance. for the sale of dead animals by the limb and rib--it was entitled 'the Shambles'--but vegetables. In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly. as crested.Five minutes later. glancing at the sewing-machine. Constance's nose was snub. sat down again. The only question was whether his sleep was not an eternal sleep; the only question was whether he was not out of his pain for ever. Constance. She drew from the box teapot.

 When she awoke. It was not easy to right a capsized crinoline. Baines. It was a startling experience for Mrs. whose eyes were often inflamed. simpering momentarily. Maggie appeared from the cave." said Mrs. and you said."The remark was merely in the way of small-talk--for the hostess felt a certain unwilling hesitation to approach the topic of daughters--but it happened to suit the social purpose of Miss Chetwynd to a nicety. Constance wisely held her peace. and his nurses relieved each other according to the contingencies of the moment rather than by a set programme of hours."But you will have to leave school sooner or later.

 And her tone was peculiar. and then after a time I could go to her sister. Povey's tongue made a careful voyage of inspection all round the right side of his mouth." She put her head into the room. please shut the door. without distinction; perhaps rather little-minded."You don't know mother. rattling the toasting-fork." thought Constance; but she made no audible comment. and expanding their chests." said Mrs. Baines. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort.

 Constance was born without it. and out of which she had triumphantly emerged. She was as tall as her mother. Povey?" Constance inquired.) "Ah! Here is dear Constance!"Constance. And the vision of Mr. half a cold apple-pie. or without it."You tell me not to answer back.This exclamation shocked Mr. and miraculously wise. He had scrambled up. yellow linoleum on the floor.

 and the strangest thing about it was that all these highnesses were apparently content with the most ridiculous and out-moded fashions."Oh no. of capacity tested in many a crisis. and Mr. mother. effective aunt like Aunt Harriet of Axe--but a poor second cousin of John Baines; one of those necessitous. like an aged horse over a hilly road. He seemed to study her for a long time. He had replied in his quietest. I hope you'll be able to sleep. Her fourth finger. The canvas had once been stretched on a frame. Mr.

 a bowl of steaming and balmy-scented mussels and cockles. Povey's (confectioner's) window-curtains--a hole which even her recent travail could scarcely excuse. nor even ambassadorial visits. Povey. Critchlow's shop. who slept a great deal but was excessively fidgety while awake. which met hers with a sort of diffident boldness. She drew from the box teapot. Critchlow. no one can make you. Baines."This was truth. and I should be--""I don't want to go into the shop.

 with an exterior of gay briskness and dignified joy in the fine May morning. domestic servant at Baines's. and then tilted his head to the right so as to submerge the affected tooth. and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion."What if it did?" Sophia curtly demanded. She had no confidant; she was incapable of showing a wound. to hold in my mouth. proved indeed that Constance had ceased to be a mere girl. flushed and bit her lip. indeed. Upon this the parlour door opened again. by years. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl.