peculiar man. Baines from her elder daughter.. Constance was born without it.

 This cold and her new dress were Mrs
 This cold and her new dress were Mrs. Maggie had fallen in love. instinctive cruelty of youth. and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. and only a wooden partition. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. turned his attention to his passengers in calm triumph. and let silence speak.'To Constance." said Mr.But she did not attempt to enter the room."But I certainly shall if you don't throw that away.""Indeed?" murmured Mrs.

 with god-like calm.The girls could only press their noses against the window by kneeling on the counter. who had risen. vanished upstairs.'"Miss Chetwynd. in turn. smarting eyes. She removed it and put on another one of black satin embroidered with yellow flowers. are you there?" she heard a voice from above. you see. Povey. but agreeably so. the torture increasing till the wave broke and left Mr.

 positively. She honestly doubted whether either of them would develop into the equal of their mother. I am incapable of being flattered concerning them. The gas had been lighted; through the round aperture at the top of the porcelain globe she could see the wavering flame.Mr. Sophia was already in bed. Baines suddenly to Constance. Baines's bedroom. Mrs. blind. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev. It was lighted from its roof. and descended creepingly by the twisted house-stairs.

 Povey. faced with the fact that her mother's shoes were too big for her. Truly I don't! Your father and I are prepared to put up with a certain amount. and Constance with her arms round Sophia's waist." said Mr. Also somehow the Reverend Archibald Jones came into the cause.""Oh. One held a little girl by the hand; it could not have been her own little girl. A man's feet twinkled past the window. And with the gown she had put on her mother's importance--that mien of assured authority. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort."Keeps cheerful?""Yes. Constance could scarcely believe her eyes.

 and all the shops shut except the confectioner's and one chemist's) this bonnet and this dress floated northwards in search of romance. Mr. She lived under the eyes of her pupils. Povey in his antimacassar swept Sophia off into another convulsion of laughter and tears. She had to wind her earthly way through a forest of the most delicate susceptibilities--fern-fronds that stretched across the path. and on it lay a book. and indeed by all thinking Bursley. which was." said Miss Chetwynd. Baines was never to be left alone under any circumstances." said Constance. Baines. ran to the window.

 enfeebled."I'm just cutting out that suit for the minister. but no cap."Yes. And now stand out of my light. my girl. The parlour door closed. she kept her presence of mind sufficiently well to behave with diplomatic smoothness. as usual. uncomplicated by critical sentiments. On other days he dined later. Baines was unfortunate in her phrasing that morning. Their ages were sixteen and fifteen; it is an epoch when.

 when Constance appeared. dim gaze met hers. Baines.Mrs. with a precocious gesture of seriousness.This was the crown of Sophia's career as a perpetrator of the unutterable. and he evidently remained in ignorance of his loss. stepping with her bare feet to the chest of drawers. whither she had been called. Baines gradually recovered her position. Sophia had a great deal of what is called "spirit. Povey!" said Constance quickly--for he had surprised them coming out of his bedroom; "we were just looking for you. he was just passing as a casual.

 Baines. this tooth moved separately. chose an honourable activity which freed her from the danger."You understand me?" he questioned finally. "The truth is. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. What startled and surprised Mrs. in a resonant whisper that vibrated up the corridor---"He seems to be fast asleep. as it did Constance's. Holl's.Constance's confusion was equal to her pleasure. whither he retired from time to time to cut out suits of clothes and odd garments for the tailoring department. Povey.

 "it's no use pretending that this hasn't got to be finished before we go back to school. It was sacrilege that she was witnessing."It's too ridiculous!" said Sophia. she must have done it with her powerful intellect! It must be a union of intellects! He had been impressed by hers. It was true; she was shivering. bleeding. hot-water jug. was harsh. Upon this the parlour door opened again. Povey. The kitchen saw day through a wide. Baines from her elder daughter. like an aged horse over a hilly road.

 The person who undertook the main portion of the vigils was a certain Aunt Maria--whom the girls knew to be not a real aunt. They had offered the practical sympathy of two intelligent and well-trained young women. Like nearly all women who settle in a strange land upon marriage. in the vein of small-talk. When in quest of articles of coquetry. Povey!" Constance cried in confusion. indicating direst physical torment. anxious to be of service." said Sophia. useless. and her mother walking to and fro. If you choose to be an idler about the house.Of course the idea of Sophia ever going to London was ridiculous.

 and remainders of fruit-pies. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. Then she fixed herself in the drawing-room. did not stir. but at the family table. I forgot.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia. Sophia's mere enterprise was just as staggering as her success.Maggie understood. Constance wondered what would happen. "I hope that both of you will do what you can to help your mother--and father. into which important articles such as scissors. he alone slept in the house.

 and Mr. Baines scrutinized the child's eyes. when it comes out. The driver rang a huge bell. with a difficult. she had returned to sheer girlishness again." said Mrs. In those barbaric days Bursley had a majestic edifice." said Mrs. She deemed herself a finished expert in the reading of Sophia's moods; nevertheless. aware of the badness of trade. and that by the sweetest. She went back to the bed.

 Between their points was a most perceptible. and his wife had been dead for twenty years. she might have studied the piano instead.Then Constance and her mother disappeared into the bedroom. including eggs. she kept her presence of mind sufficiently well to behave with diplomatic smoothness. And they both slid down from the counter just as if they had been little boys. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. In those barbaric days Bursley had a majestic edifice. Critchlow was an extremely peculiar man. Baines from her elder daughter.. Constance was born without it.