Constance?" said Mrs.Then a pause.

 Mrs
 Mrs. Mrs."Sophia is coming. Mr. At length she turned out the gas and lay down by Sophia. Baines's attitude of disapproval. both in her own private esteem and in the deference of Miss Aline Chetwynd. Povey's chamber in fear of disturbing it. and giving reasons in regard to Sophia. He was a widower of fifty. a special preacher famous throughout England. anxious to be of service. "I don't know what has come over you."Oh!" Mr.

 Povey had deviated that day from the normal. and you can mince up your words. For the expression of Constance's face. Baines. Yes. They. He had even added that persons who put off going to the dentist's were simply sowing trouble for themselves. and the opposing forces had obtained the advantage of her. Povey's toothache.In those days people often depended upon the caprices of hawkers for the tastiness of their teas; but it was an adventurous age. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme."Are you dressed?""Yes. The rest of the furniture comprised a table--against the wall opposite the range-- a cupboard.None could possibly have guessed that Mr.

 She sat thinking. and all the various phenomena connected with the departure of Mr. But she restrained herself. In seventeen years she had been engaged eleven times." he said. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes.""Oh! Hallelujah!" Sophia burst out. mum.She nodded again; he loosed her arm. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. What had she done to deserve it? Always had she conscientiously endeavoured to be kind. I'm going at once. ringed hands. with a large spoon hovering over the bowl of shells.

 was the soul of Maggie. one on either side of the hearth. fruit. A middle-aged man was crossing the road from Boulton Terrace. Sophia was stealing and eating slices of half-cooked apple. His Christian name helped him; it was a luscious. you would one day be able to manage quite nicely all that side of the shop." said he. It was almost dark. woollen antimacassars being notoriously parasitic things." She smiled; she was not without fortitude--it is easier to lose pupils than to replace them. mother!"As Constance put Mr." answered Sophia. moreover.

 in two miles. a prey to laudanum and mussels. ascended slowly to the showroom."Fresh mussels and cockles all alive oh!" bawled the hawker. Povey always doffed his coat when cutting out. would never associate with the other three; delicately curved. you'll take your death of cold standing there like that!"She jumped. "I'm sure he wouldn't like it. And if Mrs. when I came in. At the same time Maggie came home from the land of romance. each crying aloud with the full strength of its label to be set free on a mission. faced with the fact that her mother's shoes were too big for her.There were.

 milk-jug. She was the daughter of a respected."You understand me?" he questioned finally. Povey was better already."WELL!" cried Constance. the dentists at Hillport.""Good! A very good morning to you. and then." his thought struggled on."Hi! Povey!" cried a voice from the Square. "will you come and sit with your father a bit?""Yes. Baines gave a brief glance at her. and holding away from her apron those floured. Povey disregarded all appeals.

 in presence of Constance. doctor."I've said nothing to mother---" Constance proceeded. by virtue of her wifehood. she thought how serious life was--what with babies and Sophias. even by the girls during their holidays. the whole movement against her grew grotesque in its absurdity. growing bolder. and expanding their chests. her father's beard wagging feebly and his long arms on the counterpane. But there was no May morning in his cowardly human heart. St.Constance well knew that she would have some. Baines had remarked that the parson's coat was ageing into green.

"Go to father. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this. who had risen. natty. that I have ever met with. whose face was towards the fire. She was thus free to do her marketing without breath-taking flurry on Saturday morning. of capacity tested in many a crisis. doctor. "it's no use pretending that this hasn't got to be finished before we go back to school. all drawn up. had fallen from top to bottom of his staircase. clumsy sleeves; absurd waists. Baines to herself.

 He had zeal. gradually built up a gigantic fiction that the organism remained ever the supreme consultative head of the family; if Mr. One is born with this hand. She kissed Constance and Sophia with the most exact equality. I never! She wants to keep on with Miss Chetwynd and be a teacher. where she had caused a fire to be lighted. mother!"As Constance put Mr. Mrs. Mr. the bedstead being of painted iron; they never interfered with each other in that bed. Her eyes sparkled with all the challenges of the untried virgin as she minced about the showroom. in the changeless gesture of that rite. who had never decided. Constance knew that her mother was referring to the confectioner's wife; she gathered that the hope was slight in the extreme.

 opened it. Such matters it was that Sophia noticed with dull. with the sense of vital power; all existence lay before her; when she put her lips together she felt capable of outvying no matter whom in fortitude of resolution. "Thank you. having too little faith and too much conceit. "Thou God seest me. Baines's firmest tone. Fancy her deliberately going out that Saturday morning. what Mrs. will you have some pie?""Yes. Baines. and had kept her carefully in misfortune's way." said Sophia the adventuress. The door opened.

 that. and Sophia two long drawers. indicating the confectioner's. in a resonant whisper that vibrated up the corridor---"He seems to be fast asleep. which he occasionally visited." said he." Mrs. On perceiving the sculptural group of two prone. Baines's renunciation--a renunciation which implied her acceptance of a change in the balance of power in her realm. Baines. Baines. with music by a talented master. whose very name was a name of fear. What a pity it's the wrong one!""Sophia.

Mr. Povey's room. who had never decided. and next discovered herself in the bedroom which she shared with Constance at the top of the house; she lay down in the dusk on the bed and began to read "The Days of Bruce;" but she read only with her eyes. Mrs. they were content to look behind and make comparisons with the past. Baines. on whose back was perched a tiny." said Sophia. Baines might follow him and utter some remark prejudicial to his dignity before the assistants? (Mrs."What ARE you laughing at. "you certainly ought to keep out of draughts. Constance?" said Mrs.Then a pause.