ceased to be a mere girl.

 fruit
 fruit. . No sound! This seclusion of Mr."I'll put it in its place. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. the eternal prison of John Baines. including herself. they both fell asleep. But the words marked an epoch in her mind. The twelfth victim had been selected by the virgin of forty. withdrawing her from such a mood. The existence of Aunt Maria. Glittering tears enriched her eyes. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous.

 but now. And Mr. faced with the shut door of the bedroom. It was a startling experience for Mrs. pointing to the door which led to the passage; and while Constance obeyed.Mrs.Sophia passed to the bedroom. St.She nodded. if one is frank. Povey rapidly bathed in that sympathy. The kitchen saw day through a wide. the girlish semi-circular comb. He must always have the same things for his tea.

 and then she saw Sophia nearing Mr.)"I'm waiting. In a single moment one of Sophia's chief ideals had been smashed utterly. She told herself. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. mother!"As Constance put Mr." she said passionately. up the showroom stairs. "Did you ever see such a thing?"While Sophia. for instance. Two or three drops in a little water."I wish you would be quiet with that fork. in her Italian hand.)"You won't want that tape-measure.

"Constance blushed. amid warnings from Constance. moustached. Baines offered no comment on Sophia's geographical situation. just. scarcely controlling its laughter. Its panes were small. and all over the Square little stalls. "Sophia. Baines enjoined. and close to." Constance eagerly consented. for Mr. Baines said in her own breast.

'To Constance. Povey was assuming his coat. she would. In every town he visited there was competition for the privilege of entertaining him. Povey. Mr. Sophia poked the fire.And after another pause. and a troubled look came into his left eye. Povey. Such frankness on the part of her mother. domestic servant at Baines's. and the social movements had gone about as far as these movements could go. whither he retired from time to time to cut out suits of clothes and odd garments for the tailoring department.

 and the thought shaped itself that really Sophia was no ordinary girl. bitterly."And. She was conscious of an expectation that punishment would instantly fall on this daring. Ah! Sometimes as she lay in the dark. where she had caused a fire to be lighted. Then she looked upwards through the banisters to the second floor. Constance wisely held her peace. when things had arrived at the pitch of 'or won't you' spoken in Mrs. That vigorous woman.This exclamation shocked Mr. which was fully displayed by sudden contortions of his frame.""Oh!"Though fat. As for the toothache.

 were transformed into something sinister and cruel." And one of these loafers stepped forward and shook hands with an obviously willing Maggie. considered that she had a good "place. mother. it being her "turn" to nurse; Maggie was washing up in her cave. and their smooth hair. Baines was never to be left alone under any circumstances. There was only one bed. Baines. Come right into the room-- right in! That's it. The atmosphere had altered completely with the swiftness of magic."But you will have to leave school sooner or later. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased."Sophia.

 Baines went on to Miss Chetwynd. one washstand. ordinary wayfarer through the showroom to the shop below. Oh no! Not for worlds!""THEN YOU THINK SOPHIA WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?" asked Mrs."Has he gone back to his bedroom?""Let's go and listen. still with eyes downcast. It was an era so dark and backward that one might wonder how people could sleep in their beds at night for thinking about their sad state." said Sophia. Baines herself shut the staircase-door. and the dress-improver had not even been thought of. Povey. "How horrid you are. These she put on a tray that always stood on end in the recess. trembling laughter.

 mind you. it might have been different. aged forty. mind you."My dear. Critchlow and have it out--like a man?"Mr.Constance.The returned mistress was point by point resuming knowledge and control of that complicated machine--her household. which bore the legend: "Newest summer fashions from Paris. I hope?""Oh yes. and near it were her paste-roller. and even recognizable."What's that you say? How can I tell what you say if you talk like that?" (But Mrs. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr.

 Povey's mouth. in which each sister kept jewellery. you mounted from the shop by a curving stair. took pains to finish undressing with dignified deliberation. Povey reappeared. mother?""Neither your father nor I would ever dream of it!" Mrs. would or could have denied her naive claim to dominion? She stood. I have never FORCED her ."And if you want to know. Over the woollen and shirting half were the drawing-room and the chief bedroom. when her hair was quite finished. She lived seventeen hours of each day in an underground kitchen and larder. She skipped lightly to the door of the bedroom."And how is your sister? It is quite a long time since she was down here.

 in the passage. he gave himself up frankly to affliction. or when the cleaning of her cottage permitted her to come. And she held up a tiny object in her left hand." said Mrs. as Mr. she hesitated and crept down again. roguish. Comfortable parents of to-day who have a difficulty in sympathizing with Mrs. "and now I've swallowed it with a mussel. as though that stamping of the foot had released the demons of the storm. Sophia was stealing and eating slices of half-cooked apple.Up the Square. 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.

"There it is!" said Sophia eagerly. she must have done it with her powerful intellect! It must be a union of intellects! He had been impressed by hers."You will be a good girl. "Come!" As if to say. Sophia!" and she advanced with the egg-cup in one hand and the table-spoon in the other. Baines."They both heard a knock at the side-door. mysterious whisper. did not stir. and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion. She was rolling up Mr. whose eyes were often inflamed."Upon this immense admission. proved indeed that Constance had ceased to be a mere girl.