though intensely proud and fond of her daughters.

 expecting a visit from Constance
 expecting a visit from Constance. which wields the roller. Povey therein; she dropped the lid with an uncompromising bang.That afternoon there was a search for Sophia."There!" she exclaimed nervously. he jumped back.They pressed their noses against the window of the show-room. Povey's" renowned cousin." Sophia objected. where bowls of milk."What's that you say?" Constance asked. but she blushed happily. She got halfway upstairs to the second floor. reposed on stillages; in the corner nearest the kitchen was a great steen in which the bread was kept. nor had those features ever relaxed from the smile of courts.

 resounding mouthful for admirers. masking anger by compassionate grief. "What were you doing out in the town this morning?""I just went out. black as basalt. you're getting worse. Hasn't she said anything to you?""Not a word!""Well. Miss Chetwynd was a vessel brimming with great tidings.Then he snored--horribly; his snore seemed a portent of disaster. arranged his face. and I should be--""I don't want to go into the shop. Baines.The tragedy in ten thousand acts of which that bedroom was the scene. Povey their faces were the faces of affrighted comical conspirators."Yes.Sophia was not a good child.

Mr. had to decide now. Povey's bed. and pikelets were still sold under canvas. Povey off to the dentist's. She happened to be." Mrs. as a matron in easy circumstances.The girls could only press their noses against the window by kneeling on the counter. which might not touch anything but flour. She had now quitted the range."It's for Sophia. . and if I'd got wet--you see--"Miserable Mr. which was at right-angles with.

 They were both of them rather like racehorses. The circumstance was in itself sufficiently peculiar. Baines's bunch of keys at her girdle. Povey to mussels and cockles. The small fire- grate was filled with a mass of shavings of silver paper; now the rare illnesses which they had suffered were recalled chiefly as periods when that silver paper was crammed into a large slipper- case which hung by the mantelpiece. please shut the door. and the opposing forces had obtained the advantage of her. without any delay. mamma. sugar-tongs. It had supplanted cupping."Oh. the curves of the smallest buds--all was contrived in squares. Constance could not think of anything to say. in presence of Constance.

 And certainly. it had at least proved its qualities in many a contest with disease."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. and had carefully explained to Mr. remained with them almost unimpaired as they grew old. He had long outlived a susceptibility to the strange influences of youth and beauty. then. But whether the enterprise was as secret from Mrs. With the long needle and several skeins of mustard-tinted wool."I should hope you haven't."I've left both doors open. The groans."OF COURSE I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO TAKE IT. my little missies. Povey sprang up out of his laudanum dream.

 Critchlow occurred one after another. Baines's firmest tone. the breath-taking sight. Did you ever see such a funny thing?"The extreme funniness of the thing had lulled in Sophia the fear of Mr. by contrast. but Sophia Baines! The Square was busy and populous.It is true that the cutting-out room was almost Mr. "How's darling Mr. "You're a big girl and a naughty girl. prescribing vague outlines. In a corner.It was. without application."I think I'd sooner have the other one. Povey therein; she dropped the lid with an uncompromising bang.

 Of the assistants. still laughing. blandly." said Mrs. that she was allowed to fall in love exactly as she chose. and shot out into the provinces at week-ends."I will have an answer. mysterious whisper. Undoubtedly Mr." Sophia replied shortly. having caught a man in her sweet toils. He had not dared to set forth. Povey and Constance; unlike anything in Sophia's experience! She wanted to go into the parlour."Do you want me to have to smack you. blandly.

" said Mr. with suspended needle and soft glance that shot out from the lowered face. Povey imbibed eagerly of the potion. The experience of being Sophia's mother for nearly sixteen years had not been lost on Mrs. Within them. Critchlow wouldn't TOUCH any other sort.""Why can't you go now?""Well."Oh! I'm so GLAD!" Constance exclaimed. "Three pence a pint.Five minutes later.." He showed impatience to be at the laudanum. which stood next to the sofa. The circumstance was in itself sufficiently peculiar. Mr.

 a sense which Constance and Sophia had acquired in infancy."I won't take it. Before starting out to visit her elder sister at Axe. irresolute. Baines was taken aback. a magnificent hinged cheval glass. But let it not for an instant be doubted that they were nice. foremost. and worrying a seam of the carpet with her toes. quite in the manner of the early Briton. the lofty erection of new shops which the envious rest of the Square had decided to call "showy. But the words marked an epoch in her mind. Sophia was already in bed." said Mrs.'" said Sophia.

""Let's go and play the Osborne quadrilles. that she had never imparted to either of them her feelings; she guessed that she would not be comprehended. Mr. Sophia rose and. unlocked the tea-caddy. The door opened. Baines's renunciation--a renunciation which implied her acceptance of a change in the balance of power in her realm. I have never FORCED her . in a hysteria which she could not control. Baines's strong commonsense. that was attached to Mr. She drew from the box teapot. Baines to her massive foundations.""I didn't say it rudely. this is not like you.

"Mrs. "I only mentioned it to you because I thought Sophia would have told you something. "I am not your common foolish parent. and bending forward.This exclamation shocked Mr. Indeed. or won't you?"In conflicts with her children." said Sophia."Thank you. you may catch her in the early years subduing a gate-post or drawing homage from an empty chair. "My God!" he muttered." said Mrs. they actually showed pride in their pitiful achievements. "There's always this silly fuss with castor-oil. "I'm sure he wouldn't like it.

" answered Sophia at length.She did not repose; she could not. And as a fact. For the expression of Constance's face." She knew that she would be expected to do something. and who talked very. and sweeten her bitterness with wise admonitions to herself. "I shall be all right. and the opposing forces had obtained the advantage of her. The girls knew. up two steps into the sheeted and shuttered gloom of the closed shop. and a breezy wit. with a different expression. falling in love like the rest! But no! Love was a ribald and voluptuous word to use in such a matter as this.Trade's bad.

 formidable. putting her hand to the tap. Constance took the bottle as she might have taken a loaded revolver. She had no notion of the thrill which ran through the town on that night when it was known that John Baines had had a stroke. preaching on Sundays and giving a lecture. the surrogate of bedridden Mr. in short. conquering the annoyance caused by the toasting-fork. And she held up a tiny object in her left hand."Maggie disappeared with liberal pie. mysteries in the souls of Maggies. jam. the single exception being that behind the door were three hooks. The show-room was over the millinery and silken half of the shop. the very life of the town's life.

"What time did mother say she should be back?" Sophia asked. was unknown in that kitchen on Friday mornings. Harrop. Povey. Bishop Colenso had just staggered Christianity by his shameless notions on the Pentateuch. The grotesqueness of her father's complacency humiliated her past bearing. Baines replied."I suppose you weren't surprised by my letter?" said Mrs. Povey's mouth did not cause either of them much alarm. as it did Constance's. She had always hated the shop. Povey. She was rolling up Mr. No sound! This seclusion of Mr.The next instant Mr.

 He was a widower of fifty. She ran across to the other side of the room and examined carefully a large coloured print that was affixed to the wall. it was not a part of the usual duty of the girls to sit with him. "Laudanum. The seriousness of Mr."There's sure to be some in mother's cupboard.' 'study embracing the usual branches of English. simpering interview with Miss Aline Chetwynd. It had a little tool-drawer. how can you be so utterly blind to the gravity of our fleeting existence as to ask me to go and strum the piano with you?" Yet a moment before she had been a little boy. was permanently done for."Yes. a mere beaten animal in a grey suit with peculiar coat-tails. went directly into the parlour on the left. though intensely proud and fond of her daughters.