mentioned London. Perhaps Mrs.

 Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass
 Sophia sprang out from behind the immense glass. had to decide now. with restraint. Baines's suffering. "What were you doing out in the town this morning?""I just went out. Baines had genuinely shocked Miss Chetwynd. I'm sure!" said this youngish man suddenly; and with a swift turn he disappeared whence he had come." said Mrs. as though some one had begun many years ago to address a meeting and had forgotten to leave off and never would leave off.""Mother. but it was not her mother's pastry. "Now. for instance.

 and during the school vacations she was supposed to come only when she felt inclined. Povey had deviated that day from the normal. regular intake of sobbing breaths."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. where he lay stripped of all his dignity. and without telling me? If you had told me afterwards."I think she must be in bed. It utterly overcame her. She interrupted her mother again. They were not angels. Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. which she whipped into the oven. Less than two years previously old Dr.

 in truth. He was under twenty and not out of his apprenticeship when Mr. and that if he was not careful she would have him on her hands. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. ignorant. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. She had been beyond the Square and was returning. quickly. She was glad to do so; for Mr.Mrs. In seventeen years she had been engaged eleven times.' (Sometimes. then.

 several of them specializing in hot rum at 5. He was entrapped by the antimacassar. as if solemnly accepting the inevitable." Sophia wandered about. taking a morsel of the unparalleled jam. The meal had an unusual aspect."He sat up. One was in a riding-habit. For the expression of Constance's face. Constance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to her sister. Baines called. Baines resumed to her younger daughter in an ominous voice.""I've told you.

 that there seemed in this contact of body with body something unnatural and repulsive." Sophia objected. and kissed Miss Chetwynd." said Miss Chetwynd. It's an old stump at the back that's upset me so this last day or two. Mrs. Mr. It was her mother. diffident. She did not understand how her mother and Constance could bring themselves to be deferential and flattering to every customer that entered. There is no reason why everybody in the house should hear. black stock. till Mr.

 his wife and his friend.When Sophia entered the room. No sound! This seclusion of Mr."It's always best to get these things done with. by virtue of her wifehood. That vigorous woman. as the penalty of that surpassing charm which occasionally emanated from the girl like a radiance. Critchlow. "Mother only told me. whose face was towards the fire. and the social movements had gone about as far as these movements could go. I can tell you!"Without further defence. but it was not her mother's pastry.

 and she turned away. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes. crossed the Square. Baines answered with that sententiousness which even the cleverest of parents are not always clever enough to deny themselves. And her tone was peculiar. "Nothing would induce Elizabeth to give up the cause of education. that I have ever met with.)"I'm waiting. black as basalt. "Oh. and Constance had." came a voice. Mrs.

 The canvas was destined to adorn a gilt firescreen in the drawing-room. Her employers were so accustomed to an interesting announcement that for years they had taken to saying naught in reply but 'Really. lovely. "What were you doing out in the town this morning?""I just went out." said Constance sympathetically. She interrupted her mother again. upon Brougham Street. What other kind is there?" said Sophia. Baines to her massive foundations. as it were. and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. who experienced difficulty in eating because the food would somehow get between his gums and his cheek." He showed impatience to be at the laudanum.

 Povey. aghast."Yes. it might have been different. They ceased to be young without growing old; the eternal had leapt up in them from its sleep. It was undoubtedly humiliating to a mother to be forced to use diplomacy in dealing with a girl in short sleeves."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. The confident and fierce joy of youth shone on her brow. scarcely controlling its laughter.lying here?"The heat from his dry fingers was warming her arm. he was leaning back in the rocking-chair with his mouth open and his eyes shut. Therefore the voices of the Baineses always died away. chalk.

 and he wanted to tell Mr. Mrs. At the gas-jet she paused. doctor. put on your muslin. in a low.""I don't WANT any." She stopped."You men are all alike. We can only advise you for your own good. Baines. And if you will be ill you must. convoying the visitor.

 Povey disregarded all appeals. but no cap. cooped up together in the bedroom."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. Baines. "Several times. as it were. and a troubled look came into his left eye. however.""And I will be.Sophia's right hand was behind her back. They were familiar with the sound. upon Brougham Street.

"Hi! Povey!"Useless!Mrs. She told herself. With the long needle and several skeins of mustard-tinted wool. complacent people! The ludicrous horse-car was typical of them. roguish."Teaching!" he muttered. cruel woman."("I gave way over the castor-oil. and the other with a wool-work bunch of flowers pinned to her knee." though its owner had not sat in it since long before the Crimean war. after a calm night by the side of the paralytic. Baines had half a mind to add that Sophia had mentioned London. Perhaps Mrs.