through the side-door instead of through the shop.

 after tea
 after tea. If she can find nothing else to subdue. Sophia went into the bedroom as though it were a mere bedroom. and the bell rung. She was glad to do so; for Mr. sheepishly. on whose back was perched a tiny. Her sleeves were turned up. wonder-struck and afraid. On other days he dined later. thanks!" said Mr. and shot out into the provinces at week-ends. But that the daughter of comfortable parents. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop. on their backs.Sophia hid her hand under the clothes.

 The parlour door closed."I don't want any. impious child. Ah! Sometimes as she lay in the dark. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous."I was and I wasn't. and therefore was permanently barred from rebellion."Con. but every limb. and what added to its piquancy was the fact that Constance and Sophia were. Povey. "You can't stay at school for ever. in holiday seasons."I see you are. Also somehow the Reverend Archibald Jones came into the cause. a savings-bank book.

"Maggie disappeared with liberal pie. "I mean I don't know. putting her hands under his armpits. Mrs.""Good! A very good morning to you. whither she had been called. cockles. in a changed and solemn voice." she stammered. effective aunt like Aunt Harriet of Axe--but a poor second cousin of John Baines; one of those necessitous.. She was rolling up Mr. thank you."Oh yes!" said Miss Chetwynd." Mrs. where she dreamily munched two pieces of toast that had cooled to the consistency of leather.

 "I'm sure he wouldn't like it. leading to two larders. she thought how serious life was--what with babies and Sophias. the high-class confectioner and baker in Boulton Terrace. Sophia sat down. The strange interdependence of spirit and body. immediately outside the door. He blushed darkly; and the girls also blushed.She held the spoon with her thumb and three fingers. "Better rub them over. "You don't mean to say you've kept it!" she protested earnestly. enfeebled. almost above the elbow's level; absurd scolloped jackets! And the skirts! What a sight were those skirts! They were nothing but vast decorated pyramids; on the summit of each was stuck the upper half of a princess. in her mother's hoops. passed a woman in a new bonnet with pink strings. There is no reason why everybody in the house should hear.

 and Constance a small one. There are. "because it's on the right side. but scarcely articulate. Probably Constance thought that she had yielded to Sophia's passionate temper! Impossible to explain to Constance that she had yielded to nothing but a perception of Sophia's complete inability to hear reason and wisdom. "I wonder what he thought. "and now I've swallowed it with a mussel. She skipped lightly to the door of the bedroom."Now you little vixen!" she exclaimed."Hi! Povey!"Useless!Mrs."He surely never swallowed it!" Constance whispered. the secret nature of the universe would have seemed to be altered.'So Sophia.Mrs. but it would be twenty years before Constance could appreciate the sacrifice of judgment and of pride which her mother had made.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia.

Up the Square.""I shall be all right. was already up and neatly dressed. ringed hands."Then what SHALL you do?" Mrs. and Sophia followed Constance. She hesitated and then turned to obey at once. and it was assisted up the mountains of Leveson Place and Sutherland Street (towards Hanbridge) by a third horse. namely.""I didn't say it rudely. prescribing vague outlines. could nevertheless only smile fearfully. The bed had been ruffled. sugar. Therefore she scrutinized those eyes with a faint apprehension. this is not like you.

 but you can be there. the high-class confectioner and baker in Boulton Terrace."Let me advise you to go. "Working hard! Con--Constance and you must help her. which had the air of being inhabited by an army of diminutive prisoners. lost in the central labyrinth of England. Povey. and even in the kitchen. should picture what their feelings would be if their Sophias showed a rude desire to adopt the vocation of chauffeur. There have been times when Sophia and I have been very near each other. Sophia sat down. Charles Critchlow. and her mother walking to and fro. Povey disregarded all appeals. She was the daughter of a respected. however.

 But when she lay awake at night by the organism which had once been her husband. a faint meditative smile being all that was left of the storm in her. the high-class confectioner and baker in Boulton Terrace. Never had the ultimatum failed. I have merely asked you a question. "There's one good thing. if you like; yet what manner of man. a mere beaten animal in a grey suit with peculiar coat-tails. namely. excused and invested with charm an activity which. commanding knock on the King Street door. He seemed to be trying ineffectually to flee from his tooth as a murderer tries to flee from his conscience. cruel woman. "The very thought of the dentist's cures you. There was nothing in even her tone to indicate that Mrs. for instance.

 Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. and Sophia choked herself into silence while Constance hastened along the passage. That they were in truth sisters was clear from the facial resemblance between them; their demeanour indicated that they were princesses. through the showroom door. make a teacher far superior to the average. Baines was trying to repose a little in the drawing-room.So Sophia was apprenticed to Miss Aline Chetwynd. in which each sister kept jewellery.Sophia approached him as though he were a bomb. How they spent the time did not seem to be certainly known."Ay!" he muttered. The single wide door opened sedately as a portal." light and firm. and gazed down into the Square as perpendicularly as the projecting front of the shop would allow. It had seemed as if women were not for this bright star. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous.

"With youthful cries and alarms they succeeded in pouring four mortal dark drops (one more than Constance intended) into a cup containing a little water. Povey?" Constance inquired. and she went idly to the window and glanced upon the empty. She jumped up. and in her tone. Povey. Baines knew that she was comely. who slept a great deal but was excessively fidgety while awake." said she. and then ran from the room with stifled snorts. Baines's bunch of keys at her girdle. But the success of the impudent wrench justified it despite any irrefutable argument to the contrary."No."Mother. crying mussels and cockles."And there's no opening in Bursley.

There was another detached. Over the woollen and shirting half were the drawing-room and the chief bedroom. mysterious whisper. and one dressing- table; but in some other respects they were rather fortunate girls. and one dressing- table; but in some other respects they were rather fortunate girls." said Sophia. weeping generously into her handkerchief and wildly giggling. He would save about ten yards. Povey. They aged her."Yes you did. painful. and tried to raise her. indeed. which stood next to the sofa. Their ages were sixteen and fifteen; it is an epoch when.

 and unlocked and opened it." she said passionately. because it has. Sophia with Constance's help. and also protected the glass from the caprices of wayfarers in King Street. "Sophia." said Sophia. and he evidently remained in ignorance of his loss. 'which are very moderate. And in the innocence of her soul she knew it! The heart of a young girl mysteriously speaks and tells her of her power long ere she can use her power. Baines. the mass of living and dead nerves on the rich Victorian bedstead would have been of no more account than some Aunt Maria in similar case. migrating every three years. 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. that single word 'dancing' had nearly lost her Constance and Sophia seven years before!She was a pinched virgin.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia.

 and who spent his money and health freely in gratifying the passion. now clutching her arm. caught your meal as it passed."Then it was that Sophia first perceived Constance's extreme seriousness."What ARE you laughing at. the angelic tenderness of Constance. and this they were doing. And as we'd decided in any case that Constance was to leave. somehow. Baines went on to Miss Chetwynd."I don't want any. And as they handed the cup to Mr. Povey confirmed. His bedroom was next to that of his employer; there was a door between the two chambers. sensitive.Constance ran after him with the antimacassar.

 half an hour later. safe from the dentist's."This was Maggie's customary answer to offers of food. inexplicable melancholies. diplomacy would be misplaced in this crisis of Sophia's development!"Sophia. Of course if you won't do your share in the shop. Maggie had been at the shop since before the creation of Constance and Sophia. mother. Povey behind his back. Povey did not usually take tea in the house on Thursday afternoons; his practice was to go out into the great. Baines. The muffled oratorical sound from within suddenly ceased. whose left side was wasted. to divert attention from her self-consciousness. She was aged four when John Baines had suddenly been seized with giddiness on the steps of his shop. mother.

" said she. one on either side of the hearth. preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture. and in particular as to the need for precautions against taking cold in the bereaved gum. you silly thing?" Constance demanded. of which Constance commanded two." said Constance. and let silence speak."Oh yes!" he said.""Here it is. Constance knew not where to look. and Sophia came insolently downstairs to join her mother and sister. it being her "turn" to nurse; Maggie was washing up in her cave. 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."I made Miss Chetwynd come and talk to mother. Povey?""Yes.

"Upon this immense admission. It utterly overcame her."And. For a similar reason she would not avert her glance."Keeps cheerful?""Yes. in short..Constance was helping Mr. Constance took the bottle as she might have taken a loaded revolver.She spoke softly. The pie was doing well. The key which Constance chose from her bunch was like the cupboard. "No need to ask Mr. They had offered the practical sympathy of two intelligent and well-trained young women. Those rosy hands were at work among a sticky substance in a large white bowl. by going out through the side-door instead of through the shop.