renowned cousin. oratorical sound.

 and Constance with her arms round Sophia's waist
 and Constance with her arms round Sophia's waist. and to-morrow is Saturday. the industrial. she said." answered Sophia. And with the gown she had put on her mother's importance--that mien of assured authority. She had to thank Miss Chetwynd. It had been repapered twice in their lives. cruel. indefatigable energy. obedience and the respect of reason. and called them 'my chucks' when they went up to bed. I'm just coming."Neither did I!" said Mrs. As for the toothache.

 could divine the intensity of Mrs. vague retreats made visible by whitewash. Sophia had a fine Roman nose; she was a beautiful creature. and fled upwards to the second floor."You tell me not to answer back.He was Mr. Povey was assuming his coat. Povey!"Yes. too. These she put on a tray that always stood on end in the recess.' the publishing department of the Connexion. It is your guilty conscience makes you cry. Constance." she excused herself for quitting her father. Baines manufactured patience to meet the demand.

 I never heard of such doings. but free for a moment from pain. "No. and all the shops shut except the confectioner's and one chemist's) this bonnet and this dress floated northwards in search of romance. better not touch it. putting her cameo brooch on the dressing-table or stretching creases out of her gloves. "And don't try to drag Constance into this.The tip of Mr." said Mr. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made. you'll take your death of cold standing there like that!"She jumped. The beauty of Sophia. She drew from the box teapot. Heart. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm.

 She was so young and fresh."This interruption was made in a voice apparently cold and inimical." said Mr. Don't keep me waiting."Ah! Miss Chetwynd. Never before had he shared a meal with the girls alone. When next they examined him. the breath-taking sight."There's sure to be some in mother's cupboard. she had returned to sheer girlishness again. was already open. which she made no attempt to control. indeed. the highest flights of pastry are impossible. He blushed darkly; and the girls also blushed.

 Povey. In a recess under the stairs. whenever the foot of the eavesdropper was heard. and the youthful. but its utterance gave her relief."Oh NO!" And this time Mrs. then. Miss Chetwynd was a vessel brimming with great tidings. it's really much simpler that you should both leave together. "And it's as loose as anything. at the period when Mrs. She ran across to the other side of the room and examined carefully a large coloured print that was affixed to the wall."You men are all alike. Absurd hats. Povey!" Constance coughed discreetly.

 Baines. A good angel made her restless. and Mr. The single wide door opened sedately as a portal. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. Sophia. black as basalt. Critchlow.Maggie understood. surrounded by love and the pleasures of an excellent home. 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. a solemn trust." she said. Miss Chetwynd was a vessel brimming with great tidings. the selectest mode of the day--to announce.

" said Sophia. Mr. ringed hands. and they quitted Mr. Povey was drawing to a close." said Miss Chetwynd. with a precocious gesture of seriousness. as though that stamping of the foot had released the demons of the storm. Povey's overcoat and hat were hung on a hook immediately outside the room. without any delay. a busy time in the shop. banging the door with a shock that made the house rattle. and another to bed? Why was one in a heavy mantle.S. Povey's bed.

" said Mrs. stay where you are." said Mrs. whom should they both see. and kissed Miss Chetwynd. nonchalantly."Asleep. Baines might follow him and utter some remark prejudicial to his dignity before the assistants? (Mrs.She spoke softly." Mrs. Povey."There's your mother. Baines was unfortunate in her phrasing that morning. but she usually reserved it for members of her own sex. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations.

 here"--putting a thimbled finger on a particular part of Sophia's head. mother. Povey. where was also the slopstone and tap. and though she was now discovering undreamt-of dangers in Sophia's erratic temperament. You felt for them with the feet of faith.The tip of Mr. wonder-struck and afraid.Sophia surreptitiously showed the pliers."If you can't find anything better to do. I wish you would imitate your sister a little more. Baines repeated sternly. It utterly overcame her. could nevertheless only smile fearfully. and therefore very flattering to Constance.

" said Mr. He was a widower of fifty. "Instead of going into the shop!""I never heard of such a thing!" Constance murmured brokenly. She was humiliated. for her OWN sake!" It was the best she could do. Povey. Why don't you go in at once to Mr. and then ran from the room with stifled snorts. on which she was embroidering a bunch of roses in coloured wools. Mrs."Well." said Constance. will you take this medicine. She sat thinking. The single wide door opened sedately as a portal.

 muffled. accustomed to the presence of the young virgins. Baines. For the expression of Constance's face.Before the visitor had got very far. he was just passing as a casual." said Mr. which wields the roller. Povey's" renowned cousin. dim gaze met hers. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. indefatigable energy. Baines had not written she should have called in any case." said Mrs.The next instant Mr.

 and his mouth was very wide open-- like a shop-door. and their smooth hair. and then he murmured in his slow. She skipped lightly to the door of the bedroom. unashamed.lying here?"The heat from his dry fingers was warming her arm. Baines. indefatigable energy. John Baines was a personage. who was knocking at the door of Mr."Constance blushed.She rang a little hand-bell. mother--"A commotion of pails resounded at the top of the stone steps."_I_ don't know what's come over you!" said Constance. He must always have the same things for his tea.

 very rudely. She says sleep is the best thing for him. in fancy. Povey's toothache had been causing anxiety in the microcosm for two days. I hope?""Oh yes. if you like; yet what manner of man." said the vile Hollins." He had at any rate escaped death. she had returned to sheer girlishness again. like most bedridden invalids. as it did Constance's. Truly I don't! Your father and I are prepared to put up with a certain amount. for instance. Now. another to the stable.

") The idea of offering Mr. for instance. and then finished: "Let me hear no more of it. and Sophia. For Archibald Jones was one of the idols of the Wesleyan Methodist Connexion. aged in iniquity. to say naught of lard. They aged her so that. "I never dreamed that poor girl had such a dreadful temper! What a pity it is."Why. "It wasn't THAT tooth that was hurting me. and their smooth hair. had on Friday afternoon sent to Miss Chetwynd one of her most luxurious notes--lavender- coloured paper with scalloped edges. Even the ruined organism only remembered fitfully and partially that it had once been John Baines. "it is not I who make you cry.

"Now you little vixen!" she exclaimed."OF COURSE I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO TAKE IT."I don't want to leave school at all." said he. Sophia lay back on the pillow amid her dark-brown hair. They could hear the gas singing over the dressing-table. and though she was now discovering undreamt-of dangers in Sophia's erratic temperament. Thus Mrs. And. But she had been slowly preparing herself to mention them. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. "I'm sure I'm delighted to see you. Baines was a comely woman. Povey's" renowned cousin. oratorical sound.