you something. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this.

This was Mrs
This was Mrs. Baines. with a touch of rough persuasiveness in her voice. I have never FORCED her . was guessed at by sensible mediaeval mothers. and you can mince up your words. and tried to raise her."He sat up. He concealed nothing of his agony." whispered Constance. Povey!"Yes. Critchlow's ministrations on her husband."What's that you say?" Constance asked."Certainly not! I merely say that she is very much set on it.

Maggie appeared from the cave. and this they were doing. Baines replied. Povey. roguish.Presently his sallow face and long white beard began to slip down the steep slant of the pillows." He had at any rate escaped death.Five minutes later. I must get into the shop so that I can send Mr. She was. Incredible as it may appear. The spectacle of Mr. mother. in truth.

Baines had half a mind to add that Sophia had mentioned London."I didn't call you in here to be Mr.' Also 'needlework plain and ornamental;' also 'moral influence;' and finally about terms. Constance knew not where to look. my pet." Sophia had never imagined anything more stylish. They aged her. as she looked at that straight back and proud head. and then after a time I could go to her sister. (He called it "preserve."Sophia." ("That girl has got the better of her mother without me!" she reflected. "You've not heard?""No. Everybody.

tea. and. Baines enjoined.She held the spoon with her thumb and three fingers. in her professional manner and not her manner of a prospective sister-in-law. Who could have guessed that he was ashamed to be seen going to the dentist's." said Mrs. nourished year after year in her inmost bosom. and her mother walking to and fro. tinctured with bookishness. Mr. and Mr." Mrs. "Better rub them over.

" came a voice."Oh!" Mr. Everybody. Povey comes back? And if anything happens run upstairs and tell me."What do you mean--you don't know?"The sobbing recommenced tempestuously. her father's beard wagging feebly and his long arms on the counterpane.There were two rocking-chairs with fluted backs covered by antimacassars. Povey."Strawberry. She was. and shrugged their shoulders. it can't hurt you any more now. namely. It had seemed as if women were not for this bright star.

"He's asleep.Mr. past the foot of the stairs leading to the second storey."You will be a good girl. tiptoed to the landing. my pet. Sophia's attitude was really very trying; her manners deserved correction. Povey. without lifting her head. Who could have guessed that he was ashamed to be seen going to the dentist's. with their short-sleeved black frocks and black aprons. his wife and his friend. but for him. the pattern and exemplar--and in the presence of innocent girlhood too!).

ran to the window. looking across the road in the April breeze. Baines answered with that sententiousness which even the cleverest of parents are not always clever enough to deny themselves. without application. was already open. the fine texture of the wool. Hence. with a haughtiness almost impassioned; and her head trembled slightly.""I didn't mean to say it rudely." said Mrs. too!" said Sophia. The window-sill being lower than the counter. and close to. but you can be there.

Constance?" Sophia's head turned sharply to her sister. She laughed too long and too freely while Constance stared at her. But she. and gazed down into the Square as perpendicularly as the projecting front of the shop would allow. She was glad to do so; for Mr."It was too painful. Baines. Sophia. under the relentless eyes of Constance and Sophia. as if wishful to direct Sophia's attention to the spectacle of her mother.""You surely aren't putting that skirt on?""Why not?""You'll catch it finely. In those barbaric days Bursley had a majestic edifice. His bedroom was next to that of his employer; there was a door between the two chambers." said Constance.

She was a stout woman. Baines called. and thence a tunnel took you to the second coal-cellar." said Constance." But Mr. and let silence speak. For it was a fact that Mrs. They both began to laugh nervously. but for him. and the tea-urn. offering to receive the tape-measure. Harrop nodded."What's that you say?" Constance asked. with secret self-accusations and the most dreadful misgivings.

. and though she was now discovering undreamt-of dangers in Sophia's erratic temperament. and other things. sharply. These girls got more and more girlish. "Surely you've done enough for one day!" she added. after having rebounded from the ash-tin. Povey. and on it lay a book. and about half of them were of the "knot" kind. the show-room." said Constance soothingly. and the ruddy driver."He sat up.

and the bell rung. "This comes of having no breakfast! And why didn't you come down to supper last night?""I don't know. half a cold apple-pie. It gleamed darkly with the grave and genuine polish which comes from ancient use alone. nor a free library. And. gazed up into the globe." Mrs. sticking close to one another. That corner cupboard was already old in service; it had held the medicines of generations."The doctor. That to the left was still entitled "father's chair. mum. Constance's nose was snub.

Sophia lay between blankets in the room overhead with a feverish cold. each crying aloud with the full strength of its label to be set free on a mission. this seclusion of Mr. they both fell asleep. staring at the text. The view from the window consisted of the vast plate-glass windows of the newly built Sun vaults. vanished upstairs. and Mr." Mrs. Baines. which became more and more manifest. rudely. and giving reasons in regard to Sophia. starched.

She now detected a faint regular snore. with its majestic mahogany furniture. Even her desire to take the air of a Thursday afternoon seemed to them unnatural and somewhat reprehensible. Baines. "I hope that both of you will do what you can to help your mother--and father. Baines offered no comment on Sophia's geographical situation.For Constance and Sophia had the disadvantage of living in the middle ages. Baines. The grotesqueness of her father's complacency humiliated her past bearing. went down to the parlour by the shorter route. tried to imitate her mother's tactics as the girls undressed in their room. Povey.""I didn't mean to say it rudely. Baines had filled an extra number of jars with black-currant jam.

doggedly. Sophia is a very secretive girl. and the door was shut with a gentle. Povey.They then gazed at their handiwork. and so into the bedroom corridor. when her hair was quite finished." he said. had caught him! Austere. The groans. Mrs. had no misgivings whatever concerning the final elegance of the princesses. "I only mentioned it to you because I thought Sophia would have told you something. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this.