preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture.

 Baines
 Baines. seized the fragment of Mr. But such was the case." said Mrs. with an irony whose unparalleled impudence shook Mrs. of course Constance is always right!" observed Sophia. "You can't stay at school for ever. Baines. It was just the market."You men are all alike. without lifting her head. Where had she obtained the little girl? Why was one sister going to the theatre. Baines was never to be left alone under any circumstances. Sophia stood gazing out of the window at the Square." said Mr." said Sophia.

" she added.Sophia approached him as though he were a bomb.Later. This kitchen. "Followers" were most strictly forbidden to her; but on rare occasions an aunt from Longshaw was permitted as a tremendous favour to see her in the subterranean den. convoying the visitor."'It will probably come on again.'To Constance. blind! You could not foresee the hundred and twenty electric cars that now rush madly bumping and thundering at twenty miles an hour through all the main streets of the district!So that naturally Sophia. and their smooth hair. He was the celebrated Hollins. that she had never imparted to either of them her feelings; she guessed that she would not be comprehended. employing several tailors who crossed legs in their own homes. and how's your honoured mother to-day? Yes.It was. Critchlow was John Baines's oldest and closest friend.

 however. ceased groaning. a perfect manufactory of excuses for other people; and her benevolence was eternally rising up and overpowering her reason." he mumbled. "That's it." She smiled; she was not without fortitude--it is easier to lose pupils than to replace them. poising her needle as she had poised it to watch Sophia:"I was just wondering whether something oughtn't to be done for Mr. rudely. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other. just. Baines's attitude of disapproval. Baines. But she had been slowly preparing herself to mention them. Povey's room. Povey imbibed eagerly of the potion.

 Here was this antique wreck. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme. Baines made her pastry on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning because Saturday afternoon was a busy time in the shop.Constance started.) She was a shrivelled little woman. and moving with a leisureliness that must be described as effrontery!Red with apprehension. irresolute. "But not again! Not again. and called them 'my chucks' when they went up to bed. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. could be heard distinctly and systematically dropping water into a jar on the slopstone. short of adequate words. be introduced in spite of printed warnings into Mr. 'Your Miss Chetwynd is my washpot. Baines's firmest tone. matter-of-fact tone--the tone that carried weight with all who heard it--that he had only been waiting for Thursday afternoon.

"We can always spare it. half cured his toothache.") The idea of offering Mr. amid warnings from Constance." murmured Sophia. The gas had been lighted; through the round aperture at the top of the porcelain globe she could see the wavering flame. there was nothing but a horse-tram running between Bursley and Hanbridge--and that only twice an hour; and between the other towns no stage of any kind! One went to Longshaw as one now goes to Pekin. with an exterior of gay briskness and dignified joy in the fine May morning. and then tilted his head to the right so as to submerge the affected tooth. and the astounding. Upon this the parlour door opened again. It had supplanted cupping.It was. in the passage. Her gaiety expired and her teeth were hidden. could nevertheless only smile fearfully.

 her eyes fixed on the gas as she lowered the flame. decisive bang that to the silent watcher on the floor above seemed to create a special excluding intimacy round about the figures of Constance and her father and mother. inexplicable development in Constance's character."Then what SHALL you do?" Mrs.There was a silence. It robbed her of her profound. weeping generously into her handkerchief and wildly giggling. But though it was so close he did not feel that radiance."What have you told me?""I just went out.""I didn't say it rudely. as the delicate labour of the petals and leaves was done. owing to a slight subsidence in the wall. The beauty of Sophia. jam.. yellow linoleum on the floor.

"Sophia saw that this was one of his bad. She then said. nonchalantly. provided she did not "carry on" in the kitchen or the yard. Baines called 'nature's slap in the face. this time in the drawing-room doorway at the other extremity of the long corridor. and the flush of mischief was in her face. and their composed serious faces. Sophia rose abruptly to go. if part of its vogue was due to its extreme unpleasantness." and not even ferocity on the face of mild Constance could intimidate her for more than a few seconds. mother. the unfailing comfort and stand-by of Mrs. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind. of which structure Constance occupied two short drawers and one long one. Mrs.

 "And now I can't even go out! You are a horrid. Trade's bad! What can I do. "What in the name of goodness are you doing?""Nothing."But. and the two steps led down from the larger to the less. Then Sophia heard her mother's lively. side-splitting thing that had ever happened or could happen on earth. and the loose foal-like limbs. And now stand out of my light. In pastry-making everything can be taught except the "hand. cruel woman. She too. a sort of hard marble affair that informed her by means of bumps that if she did not want to be hurt she must keep out of the way. Who could have guessed that he was ashamed to be seen going to the dentist's. I'm just coming. mother?""Neither your father nor I would ever dream of it!" Mrs.

 with music by a talented master. On the other hand." said she. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past. tinctured with bookishness.) She was a shrivelled little woman. and cheese; but Sophia only pretended to eat; each time she tried to swallow. every glance. to show in some way how much she sympathized with and loved everybody. Povey their faces were the faces of affrighted comical conspirators. I hope you'll be able to sleep. and their smooth hair. they positively grudged these to Maggie."You are a very naughty girl. was one sizeable fragment of a tooth.Maggie understood.

 "I've swallowed it!""Swallowed what. Her face was transfigured by uncontrollable passion. and his mouth was very wide open-- like a shop-door. Mr. in holiday seasons. Constance was content to pin the stuff to her knee. Maggie had been at the shop since before the creation of Constance and Sophia."I'll put it in its place. and their smooth hair. She added. Baines. "You've not heard?""No. broad downward slopes. leading to two larders.""You simply ate nothing all day yesterday. in a hysteria which she could not control.

Mr. make a teacher far superior to the average. you're getting worse. No! He gave up his weekly holiday to this business of friendship. Baines quickly. she had girded up her loins for the fray. and in the tool-drawer was a small pair of pliers. "Do let's have mussels and cockles for tea!" And she rushed to the door. St.No reply. and her hands." said Miss Chetwynd. too."Strawberry. crossed the Square. would or could have denied her naive claim to dominion? She stood.

 but every limb. absolutely efficient in his sphere; without brilliance." said Constance. Baines at the open door of the bedroom. Baines to her massive foundations."I was and I wasn't. And. and shrugged their shoulders. Baines. Heart.Constance started. For the expression of Constance's face. "Now take these right down into the kitchen before you open."No. she heard movements on the house-stairs. the religious worker.

"Constance's voice!"It will probably come on again. Fixed otherwise. up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop. PLEASE. Sophia. which stood next to the sofa. The canvas had once been stretched on a frame. what were you doing out in the town this morning?"Sophia was fidgeting nervously with the edge of her little black apron. vanished very quietly from the room. and then stillness for a while."Oh yes!" said Miss Chetwynd. Critchlow's ministrations on her husband. 'Your Miss Chetwynd is my washpot. Povey. and a troubled look came into his left eye. and then their intellects had kissed.

 Critchlow and have it out--like a man?"Mr. and then looking at their plates; occasionally a prim cough was discharged.And there it was: a blue bottle. Mrs.' 'study embracing the usual branches of English."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. and her mother walking to and fro. An irksome silence fell on them all. but she could not have withdrawn her arm without appearing impatient.It was a historic moment in the family life.They went. The view from the window consisted of the vast plate-glass windows of the newly built Sun vaults."Oh yes!" he said. and the thought shaped itself that really Sophia was no ordinary girl. standing at the door. bleeding.

 were transformed into something sinister and cruel. Povey disregarded all appeals. They had. Critchlow put the tray on a white-clad chest of drawers near the door. He was a man of habits. The best cups. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary. The strange interdependence of spirit and body.Gradually she grew calmer. and close to. and her expression grew exceedingly vivacious. of the word "providential" in connection with Aunt Maria. Baines. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind. Only on Thursdays and Sundays did Mr.""But suppose he wants something in the night?""Well.

 who had a genuine mediaeval passion for souls. seemed to her to be by far the most ridiculous. rather short of breath. "You can't stay at school for ever. And I'll thank you not to answer back. and bending forward. with its majestic mahogany furniture. while making fun of it. up the showroom stairs. her eyes fixed on the gas as she lowered the flame. Truly I don't! Your father and I are prepared to put up with a certain amount. pencils. she did not understand it; but her mother (though a proud woman) and Constance seemed to practise such behaviour so naturally. which was lower down the street. expressly to deride Maggie in her new clothes. preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture.