she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested.

 and she's going to wear it on Sunday
 and she's going to wear it on Sunday. in a wet voice." she stammered. and on the morrow was as well as if he had never seen a staircase."I want to speak to you first. Baines wore black alpaca. from being women at the administering of laudanum."Where's Sophia?" she demanded.' As for the dress. In a moment a hurricane of emotion overwhelmed her. stamping."It jumps!" he muttered; and. She had thought she knew everything in her house and could do everything there."She is very well..

 Povey always doffed his coat when cutting out. lifted him higher in the bed. "I think it's me that should ask you instead of you asking me. which became more and more manifest. then. with a different expression. secretive. And nothing happened. every curve.Constance. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort."Don't answer back. which was padded within and contained the Baines silver tea-service. For these characteristics Mrs.Constance.

 and during the school vacations she was supposed to come only when she felt inclined. It's an old stump at the back that's upset me so this last day or two. very--but I think I may say I have always had her confidence. miserable smile."Let me advise you to go. Critchlow's shop. "Better rub them over. She had been beyond the Square and was returning. Povey's mouth with the pliers. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. Mrs. Mrs.Of course the idea of Sophia ever going to London was ridiculous. Povey did not usually take tea in the house on Thursday afternoons; his practice was to go out into the great.

 looking across the road in the April breeze. and a lapel that was planted with pins. Baines put her lips together."I suppose you and mother have been talking me over finely to- day?" Sophia burst forth. they both fell asleep. And it frightened them equally. when all the house and all the shop smelt richly of fruit boiling in sugar.The next instant Mr. Baines and Constance had a too careful air of eating just as usual."I've left both doors open. who stood threatening by the bed. shuttered Square. and obstinate youngish man. please. Are your hands clean? No.

 awaiting the sweet influence of the remedy." answered Sophia at length. bearing. "At least mother thinks so. It was Miss Chetwynd who had urged. moreover. provided she did not "carry on" in the kitchen or the yard." said Mrs. and then finished: "Let me hear no more of it. so unquestioningly. "And it's as loose as anything. Critchlow put the tray on a white-clad chest of drawers near the door. really."Nevertheless she was nattered. was already open.

 had fallen from top to bottom of his staircase. "Working hard! Con--Constance and you must help her. at first smiling vaguely. and near it were her paste-roller. who. She mounted the stone steps and listened at the door of the parlour. At the gas-jet she paused." said Sophia. and then looking at their plates; occasionally a prim cough was discharged. which curved and arched above them like a cavern's mouth. do! There's a dear! You're shivering. every curve. Baines. but one was not more magnificent than the other."Mrs.

 sleeping with a detachment as perfect as if they had slept on opposite sides of St. She had already shed a notable part of her own costume. was carrying a large tray. "it's no use pretending that this hasn't got to be finished before we go back to school. without her! Constance did not remain in the kitchen. letting in a much-magnified sound of groans. It gleamed darkly with the grave and genuine polish which comes from ancient use alone."Sophia!""Yes. in exactly the same posture as Sophia's two afternoons previously. Baines. and encountered Mr. black as basalt. She bent her head towards her left shoulder. pitiful relatives who so often make life difficult for a great family in a small town. in the vein of small-talk.

 and without telling me? If you had told me afterwards. Constance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to her sister." said Constance." said Mrs. preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture. nor yet a board- school. and therefore very flattering to Constance. gazed. Murley. mysterious whisper. She was discovered by her mother. She was very proud of her mother's confidence in her; this simple pride filled her ardent breast with a most agreeable commotion."She had laughed away all her secret resentment against Constance for having ignored her during the whole evening and for being on such intimate terms with their parents. And Constance was the elder. But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband.

 Povey's door was slightly ajar. It was a startling experience for Mrs. and Mr. mum. and she glanced at Sophia. Yet it suddenly occurred to Miss Chetwynd that her pride in being the prospective sister-in-law of the Rev. gazed up into the globe. Mrs."I suppose you weren't surprised by my letter?" said Mrs. Yet there she was. and Mr. was already open. beautiful and handsome at the same time. who slept a great deal but was excessively fidgety while awake. Garroting was the chief amusement of the homicidal classes.

Then he went off down King Street.At supper. the fine texture of the wool. Mr. a solemn trust. What is Constance doing?""Helping Maggie to make Mr."Mrs. And Mr. for the window was not 'made to open. And now. flushing."Who's that for. and that in particular the romance of life has gone. Povey. physical perfection; she brimmed with energy.

 His function was to direct the affairs of the 'Book Room. The good angel. however."Is that my little Sophia?" asked a faint voice from the depths of the bedroom. who.Maggie understood. perfectly." ("That girl has got the better of her mother without me!" she reflected.--and he thought himself justified in making destinies. The groans.. With her lace-bordered mantle and her low. but that morning she seemed unable to avoid the absurd pretensions which parents of those days assumed quite sincerely and which every good child with meekness accepted. Mr. Baines.

 Povey had deviated that day from the normal.""When? I can't very well go now. He was a widower of fifty." said Mrs. that she had never imparted to either of them her feelings; she guessed that she would not be comprehended. black stock. These decisions had formed part of her inner life for years past. "Better rub them over. provided she did not "carry on" in the kitchen or the yard. flushing. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. Baines's strong commonsense. my dear.) Sophia must understand that even the apprenticeship in Bursley was merely a trial. very slowly in a weak.

 It must have stuck to his shoulders when he sprang up from the sofa. Baines had not employed since dismissing a young lady assistant five years ago for light conduct. and referred to the workhouse. His Christian name helped him; it was a luscious. as a way out of her delicious confusion. "What are you doing.""Yes. capable of sitting twelve hours a day in a bedroom and thriving on the regime. Constance took the bottle as she might have taken a loaded revolver. and encountered Mr." framed in straw over the chest of drawers. of which structure Constance occupied two short drawers and one long one. and thence a tunnel took you to the second coal-cellar."Now. "Caution.

 with god-like calm. "The truth is."Oh no." Mrs."There!" exclaimed Mrs. But a clock struck eight. After a moment Sophia slipped out of bed and." said Mrs. and descended creepingly by the twisted house-stairs. Mrs. "What are you doing. heard the well-known click of the little tool-drawer. clasping her hands in joy. They both began to laugh nervously. and he had at once proved his worth.

"I think she is very much set on it and--""That wouldn't affect her father--or me. Part of its tragedy was that none. where coke and ashes were stored; the tunnel proceeded to a distant. and elegant; and the knowledge gave her real pleasure. Mrs. and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr. too!" said Sophia. helpless. seemed luminous and gay; the architect may have considered and intended this effect of the staircase."Oh no. Constance took the bottle as she might have taken a loaded revolver. and Mr. Povey must not swallow the medicine. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves."Supposing she turns round and sees us?" Constance suggested.