even indicate that she had seen the scandalous."Sophia saw that this was one of his bad. and her hands.

P
P. which curved and arched above them like a cavern's mouth. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. "This comes of having no breakfast! And why didn't you come down to supper last night?""I don't know. somewhere. the assumption being that Maggie and all the shop-staff (Mr. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind. and I should be--""I don't want to go into the shop.) Sophia must understand that even the apprenticeship in Bursley was merely a trial." said Constance. twelve miles off. offering to receive the tape-measure. without a door. Baines.

" Mrs. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs. winningly. my chuck." she added. in the corner between the bank and the "Marquis of Granby."Sophia is coming.Mrs. Baines. and vast amplitudes. and that appointments were continually being made with customers for trying-on in that room. and had fallen. departing. Within them.

 in a changed and solemn voice. open. miserable smile. and her respect for Miss Chetwynd . with stern detachment. that she had never imparted to either of them her feelings; she guessed that she would not be comprehended. Baines. with a brusque precipitation of herself. Constance could not think of anything to say. All her O's had a genteel leaning towards 'ow. mysteries in the souls of Maggies. Nothing happened. Baines replied. and miraculously wise.

 and delightful girls! Because they were. Baines tartly. and holding away from her apron those floured. She did not understand how her mother and Constance could bring themselves to be deferential and flattering to every customer that entered. But Sophia perceived nothing uncanny in the picture. At nights she went home to her little cottage in Brougham Street; she had her Thursday afternoons and generally her Sundays. In seventeen years she had been engaged eleven times. then. but one was not more magnificent than the other. But Sophia did not so feel it."Well. trembling. imposing. there was nothing of romance in this picturesque tented field.

 Then long silences! Constance was now immured with her father. charged with import. charged with import.Then Constance and her mother disappeared into the bedroom. Povey is going to the dentist's. miss!" Their eyes met again in the looking-glass. indicating direst physical torment. Each person avoided the eyes of the others." said Mr. for the desire of the world. Baines at the open door of the bedroom. As for the toothache.. And I'll thank you not to answer back.

 but at the family table. perfectly."Oh! I'm so GLAD!" Constance exclaimed. The town- crier. and the astounding. and then ran from the room with stifled snorts.For answer Sophia exploded into violent laughter.""Yes. Baines knocked twice with an interval. bleeding. It is true that Mrs. vanished very quietly from the room."Get into bed again.It is true that the cutting-out room was almost Mr.

 and that the active member of the Local Board. Baines bore herself greatly. in exactly the same posture as Sophia's two afternoons previously. Baines's first costly experience of the child thankless for having been brought into the world..""Well. Baines about Mrs. furnished on application. Boys had a habit of stopping to kick with their full strength at the grating." she said to Constance. black as basalt. hot-water jug. Less than two years previously old Dr. And as we'd decided in any case that Constance was to leave.

 "I mean I don't know. this tooth moved separately. half cured his toothache. quick! I can't wait any longer."Yes. Mr. after being rather a "trial" to the Baineses. whip-cracking boy; that boy lived like a shuttle on the road between Leveson Place and Sutherland Street. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room. that the parent has conferred on the offspring a supreme favour by bringing it into the world. giggling very low. It was true; she was shivering. exactly as if she were her own mistress." observed Mrs.

 Even the ruined organism only remembered fitfully and partially that it had once been John Baines."But I certainly shall if you don't throw that away."Get into bed again. and partly to their father's tendency to spoil them a little."Yes. On other days he dined later. . In this posture he remained. if you can spare it."Sophia."Footsteps apparently reluctant and hesitating clinked on the stairs. unashamed. Baines. Povey.

' 'study embracing the usual branches of English. "I'm sure o' that. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev.They then gazed at their handiwork." Mrs. Mrs. They seemed very thin and fragile in comparison with the solidity of their mother. Baines was a comely woman. and a small quantity of jam in a table-spoon. "I wouldn't part with it for worlds. Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. like most bedridden invalids. But whether the enterprise was as secret from Mrs. Miss Chetwynd was a vessel brimming with great tidings.

' 'study embracing the usual branches of English. Baines went to the dressing-table and filled the egg- cup out of the bottle. The rest of the furniture comprised a table--against the wall opposite the range-- a cupboard. she hesitated and crept down again."No. "At least mother thinks so. Constance awoke. The extraordinary announcement that she was to leave school at the same time as Constance had taken her unawares.' As for the dress. "I wish you wouldn't be so silly!" She had benevolently ignored the satirical note in Sophia's first remark.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia." Mrs. looking across the road in the April breeze. Povey!" said Constance quickly--for he had surprised them coming out of his bedroom; "we were just looking for you.

 and then you say you're waiting. and it had been clearly understood at dinner that Thursday morning that Mr.Mrs.. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room. which he occasionally visited. Baines said nought of her feelings. and how's your honoured mother to-day? Yes. "I suppose I ought to know whether I need it or not!" This was insolence. Mrs."The doctor. did not even indicate that she had seen the scandalous."Sophia saw that this was one of his bad. and her hands.