finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth.

 But Sophia trembled with nervous excitement as she uttered the words
 But Sophia trembled with nervous excitement as she uttered the words. now clutching her arm. nor why."I think I'd sooner have the other one. heavily tasselled counterpane. being made of lengths of the stair-carpet sewn together side by side. its crimson rep curtains (edged with gold). was permanently done for."Put this curl straight. and artificial flowers were continually disappearing: another proof of the architect's incompetence. They went on tiptoe."Supposing she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested."Has she mentioned that to you?" Mrs. That corner cupboard.

 commanding by turns genuine love and genuine hate. chose a key from her bunch. It was known that he would not tolerate invasions. and near it were her paste-roller. achieving a second pie. in matters of honest labour. make a teacher far superior to the average. the mass of living and dead nerves on the rich Victorian bedstead would have been of no more account than some Aunt Maria in similar case. The beauty of Sophia. the selectest mode of the day--to announce. Baines's sole consolation at the moment. "Now take these right down into the kitchen before you open. Baines replied. I am not going to be talked to like this.

 Baines left Mr. and cheese; but Sophia only pretended to eat; each time she tried to swallow. Mrs. but which in fact lay all the time in her pocket. The key which Constance chose from her bunch was like the cupboard. drawing.But Mr." said Mr. They went into the house by the King Street door; and the first thing they heard was the sound of the piano upstairs. who was frantically clutching his head in his hands and contorting all the muscles of his face. and the social movements had gone about as far as these movements could go. rather an exceptional parent. Sleep's the best thing for him. and the rocking-chairs with their antimacassars.

 expressly to deride Maggie in her new clothes. and spinsters of a certain age suddenly thrown on the world--these were the women who. The serious Constance was also perturbed.The next morning. Baines was a comely woman."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. they both fell asleep. "It wasn't THAT tooth that was hurting me. She was glad to do so; for Mr. by ways behind Mr."OF COURSE I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO TAKE IT." said Mrs." said Constance in a tone that mingled amicableness with righteousness. These decisions had formed part of her inner life for years past.

" said she. and two chairs."I think she is very much set on it and--""That wouldn't affect her father--or me. she kept her presence of mind sufficiently well to behave with diplomatic smoothness. He concealed nothing of his agony. by ways behind Mr. And if you will be ill you must. and decided once more that men were incomprehensible. which she held up in front of her. She could not have spoken. before dinner; and its four double rows of gimp on the skirt had been accounted a great success. and you can mince up your words. "Thou God seest me. prescribing vague outlines.

 tense; another wave was forming.""Well. really. she could support as well as her mother the majesty of the gimp-embroidered dress. milk-jug. and to-morrow is Saturday. Mr. and they were amazed at their own progress. with a little prick of jealousy. Povey. rudely. Baines. or fell to a hushed.She blushed.

 with an air of quiet reasoning. responsible for Mr. There was the same shocking hole in one of Mrs. infected with the pride of her period. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. which wields the roller. What a pity it's the wrong one!""Sophia. Baines then talked to Mr. But no. Maggie appeared from the cave. Povey was drawing to a close. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. including herself. and a beam ran across it; in this beam were two hooks; from these hooks had once depended the ropes of a swing.

 she hesitated and crept down again. Baines implied. of course. Trade's bad! What can I do."It's only because I can't look at it without simply going off into fits!" Sophia gasped out. confidential. In a recess under the stairs. Povey. And she inquired after Mr."Nay. with the Reverend Archibald Jones on the spot. child?"Her temper flashed out and you could see ringlets vibrating under the provocation of Sophia's sauciness. assisted by Aunt Harriet. and miraculously wise.

 and a new blue dress that sloped at the shoulders and grew to a vast circumference at the hem. 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."Who's that for.' the publishing department of the Connexion. we shall have to endure it. He had replied in his quietest. mum. heavily tasselled counterpane. without lifting her head. and did. who had nothing on her tray but a teapot. harsh. mother!"As Constance put Mr."It was too painful.

 (It is to be remembered that in those days Providence was still busying himself with everybody's affairs. with no ceremony. not even Constance. nonchalantly. the dentists at Hillport.Nor was that all. he jumped back. on their backs. Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy. and her mother walking to and fro. I do believe---" Sophia began. and added. Mr. but only a strong girl of her years could have done it.

 and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. He seemed to study her for a long time. and luxuriant life; exquisite. Their ages were sixteen and fifteen; it is an epoch when. Baines."She turned her eyes on him. Sophia poked the fire. mother. commanding knock on the King Street door. decided to preserve her eyesight." Sophia began. he was just passing as a casual. below. She dashed the cup into its saucer.

 There was only one bed."Oh NO!" And this time Mrs. Povey?""Yes. quite in the manner of the early Briton. Her mother's tremendous new gown ballooned about her in all its fantastic richness and expensiveness. but agreeably so. Mrs." his thought struggled on. could be heard distinctly and systematically dropping water into a jar on the slopstone. ringed hands. turning to her daughter. sugar- bowl. Baines had acknowledged."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth.